Subject: What the governor is talking about today
What the Governor’s Talking about Today
Friday, April 9, 2010
 
Governor Praises Congressman Stupak as Champion for Michigan
 
The governor today issued the following statement on Congressman Bart Stupak’s decision to not seek re-election in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District:
 
“Bart Stupak has been a stalwart fighter for the 1st District and Michigan.  As chairman of an Energy and Commerce subcommittee, he has been a champion for the Great Lakes State.  His example of service with civility should be a model for all to follow.  While the recent negative and personal attacks on this man of conscience over his position on health care reform have been shocking, I hope the bitterness will not deter other good citizens from choosing to serve our country and our communities.  I send my best to Bart and Laurie and my deepest thanks for serving Michigan with dignity and honor.”
 
Governor Meets with Fincantieri Marine Group CEO in Italy, Offers Support for Potential Defense Contract

The governor began her tenth overseas investment mission in Rome today meeting with CEO Giuseppe Bono and other senior leadership of Fincantieri Marine Group LLC, a global designer and manufacturer of merchant and naval vessels.
 
Marinette Marine-Fincantieri, which operates a shipbuilding facility in Marinette, Wis., on the Michigan-Wisconsin border, is partnering with Lockheed Martin to win the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract from the Department of Defense.  The LCS, established in 2003, is an innovative, high-speed, shallow-draft, reconfigurable warship.
 
The LCS contract has the potential to create an initial 2,630 Michigan jobs in both the upper and lower peninsulas.  The governor has offered full state support, including $1.4 million in workforce training assistance.
 
While in Italy, the governor also will meet with officials from Magneti Marelli, a supplier of engine, powertrain and electrical components to Fiat, and with Sergio Marchionne, Fiat S.p.A and Chrysler Group LLC CEO.  Approximately 25 executives from Italian auto suppliers will attend the Association of the Automotive Industry (ANFIA) luncheon where the governor will highlight Michigan’s automotive research and development strengths and diversification efforts.
 
Meetings are scheduled in Germany with executives from various divisions of the Bosch group; MITEC AG, a global auto propulsion technology company; Kostal, a manufacturer of electromechanical and mechatronic products; and Daimler.  Approximately 100 company officials, government leaders and members of the German press are expected to attend a reception in Stuttgart co-hosted by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Stuttgart Region and the Byrnes Institute where the governor will discuss Michigan’s focus on clean-energy manufacturing and jobs.
 
Key messages:
 
•  Aggressively pursuing opportunities in the homeland security and defense sector is part of the Granholm administration’s ongoing efforts to diversify Michigan’s economy and create new jobs.
 
•  This trip to Italy and Germany is the governor’s tenth overseas investment mission since 2004.  Her previous missions to Austria, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Japan, Jordan and Sweden have resulted in 47 companies announcing more than $1.6 billion in new investment in Michigan and 12,995 (7,344 direct) jobs created and retained.
 
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