• SUPPORT & DEVELOP BUSINESSES IN EXISTING AND EMERGING WATER-RELATED INDUSTRIES
• STRENGTHEN OUR REGIONAL IDENTITY WITH A FOCUS OF WATER AS OUR COMMON BINDING INTEREST
• SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 208 CLEAN WATER PLAN
• SUPPORT DEDICATED FUNDING FROM NEW REVENUES TO IMPLEMENT WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS

Blue Economy
The Blue Economy is an initiative that seeks to balance and grow the region's economy by focusing on its water and coastal resources.  Its rooted in acknowledgement that the environment is our economy and that the two are inextricably linked.  The focus of this project is to address the challenge of how to grow and evolve in a sustainable way, consistent with being surrounded by water.  It confronts this by building awareness around the importance of our water resources to our way of life and integrating that into our regional identity, and fostering growth in existing and emerging Blue economy sectors such as marine science and technology, wastewater solutions, and traditional marine trades.  Check out our  introductory video and visit the  Cape Cod Blue Economy Project site to learn more.
 
Clean Water
Clean water and healthy coastal resources are critical to keeping Cape Cod viable as a place to live and work and visit.  Cape Cod is facing a $4 billion wastewater infrastructure challenge.  It has 4% of the state’s population, but 20% of its septic systems and they are having a profound effect on water quality.  Wastewater infrastructure planning is done, now it is time to implement.  Support for this infrastructure on all levels is one of our most critical needs. 
 
Short Term Rental Tax with Dedicated Wastewater Funding
The Commonwealth should update the tax code by expanding the types of properties taxed for lodging to include short-term rentals.  With over 253,000 rental units sold per year sold on Airbnb alone*, Cape Cod produces a major piece of this market for the Commonwealth.  Our water infrastructure is built for maximum flows created by peak summer usage which is driving up the price of clean water solutions.  We support legislation that asks visitors to help fund this expensive but critical need through a regional allocation from income derived though short-term rentals. A portion of the new revenue from Barnstable County would be re-invested to support wastewater infrastructure.  Degraded water quality is one of our greatest economic threats.  This will help us to maintain the water quality critical to our economic and environmental future and create tax relief for residents and business owners. 
* Airbnb units sold, Cape Cod, MA from October 2016 – September 2017.