The Guam Green Growth (G3) Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) Corps, facilitated by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, has been named to 50 States, 50 Breakthroughs, a national showcase highlighting transformative public service initiatives across the United States and its territories.

The showcase features one project from every U.S. state, along with Washington, D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico, and recognizes initiatives advancing public impact in areas such as artificial intelligence and emerging technology, climate and disaster response, digital transformation, workforce development, policymaking, transportation and infrastructure, housing and health, and citizen engagement.

The G3 GROW Corps was selected in the climate, energy, and disaster response category for its work restoring Guam’s watersheds, strengthening environmental resilience, and developing a sustainability-focused workforce.

UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez, DBA, who also serves as the co-chair for the G3 initiative, underscored the institutional significance of the inclusion in the list. “Being featured in this national showcase underscores the University’s leadership in advancing community-driven solutions. It signals that the work happening with UOG and Guam Green Growth is contributing to conversations and progress well beyond our shores.”

Austin Shelton, Ph.D., the director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant), emphasized the broader meaning of the recognition.

“Through Guam Green Growth, we are integrating workforce development, environmental restoration, and community partnership into a unified strategy for long-term resilience. We are grateful for this recognition as a Top 50 Breakthrough, and we’re pleased to continue sharing the green growth model with our island neighbors, as well as other U.S. states and territories,” said Shelton.

The initiative was created by Apolitical, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), and Humans of Public Service. Projects were reviewed by a panel of expert practitioners and leaders from across the public service ecosystem, spanning government, academia, technology, and civic innovation. Drawing extensive experience in public sector leadership, scalable impact, and emerging technologies, reviewers identified initiatives demonstrating measurable results, originality, and strong potential for adaptation by governments nationwide. Collectively, the selected projects offer an encouraging vision for the future of public service in the United States.

“At a time when trust in government matters deeply, 50 States, 50 Breakthroughs show what effective, innovative public service looks like in action,” said James-Christian Blockwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Academy of Public Administration. “These solutions improve outcomes in our state and local communities and offer powerful examples that strengthen public service nationwide.”

According to Brian Whittaker, Executive Director of Humans of Public Service, the stories of the honorees highlight that public servants across the country are deeply committed to their communities and are finding new, thoughtful ways to serve them better.

The G3 GROW Corps marked the successful completion of the first cohort earlier this year and helped to reach a landmark of over 7000 trees planted in watershed restoration efforts alongside UOG CIS & Sea Grant GROW team members.

The GROW initiative aims to reforest Ugum watershed badlands to prevent more sediment runoff into the rivers that provide water for the southern villages of Guam and have led to smothering of coral in close by coastal zones.