From: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Sent: Thursday, December 17,
2009 4:02 PM
Subject: What the Governor is talking about today
What the Governor’s Talking about
Today
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Governor Speaks at Magna, Chrysler Events
Celebrating Michigan Investments
The governor spoke today at events in Grand Blanc
Township and Auburn Hills to celebrate investments in Michigan by Magna
Electronics and Chrysler.
This morning the governor joined Magna Electronics
President Carlos Mazzorin at the company’s Grand Blanc Township facility.
Magna is investing more than $70 million to expand its existing facility and
develop an adjacent brownfield facility to begin producing next-generation
motors and state-of-the-art electric propulsion systems for hybrid and electric
vehicles.
On Tuesday the Michigan Economic Growth Authority
board approved a tax credit for the project which will create 525 direct jobs
and an estimated 1,241 indirect jobs.
The governor said the Flint area has “a wonderful
history of manufacturing the automobile with the internal combustion
engine. But now, the transformation to produce the next vehicle – with the
next vehicle being the electric vehicle – that’s a great story for this
community, a community that has been disproportionately battered by the
challenges the auto industry has been experiencing.”
“For the 525 people who will be newly employed – on
behalf of them, thank you,” the governor said. “And on behalf of the 10
million citizens in Michigan, for whom this represents a huge beacon of hope,
thank you.”
In Auburn Hills, the governor and Chrysler CEO
Sergio Marchionne celebrated Chrysler’s $179 million investment in its Dundee
engine plant to build a 1.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine for the Fiat 500
minicar. The project will create 155 direct jobs and an estimated 418
indirect jobs with production slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Chrysler’s investment also was aided by a state tax
credit, and the governor pledged that the state would continue to work with
Chrysler to develop a strong business case for future investment.
Key messages:
• Today’s celebrations are further evidence
that our economic strategy to focus on economic sectors such as alternative
energy and advanced manufacturing is working. This strategy capitalizes on
Michigan’s existing strengths in automotive research and
manufacturing.
• Magna’s project supports our vision of
making Michigan a center for vehicle electrification, with Magna producing
next-generation motors and state-of-the-art electric propulsion systems for
hybrid and electric vehicles.
• Chrysler’s project, which features a
flexible workforce, aligns with our strategy to make Michigan a leader in 21st
century advanced manufacturing.
• Strong partnerships between the state and
local communities also are necessary to secure investments like these in
Michigan.
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