From: Hernandez, Angelita (GOV)
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 5:07 PM
Subject: What the Governor's Talking about Today

Importance: High

Attachments: TPs 7-15-10.doc

What the Governor’s Talking about Today

Thursday, July 15, 2010

 

Governor Joins President Obama in Celebrating New Advanced Battery Manufacturing Plant in West Michigan

The governor today joined President Barack Obama in Holland to celebrate the construction of Compact Power’s new lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing plant.  The facility, expected to create approximately 440 direct jobs and more than 800 spin-off jobs in West Michigan by 2015, is part of the state’s long-term strategy to make Michigan a center for advanced battery research and production.

 

Compact Power, a subsidiary of LG Chem Ltd., won a $151.4 million U.S. Department of Energy grant last August to begin production of lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles — one of 13 Michigan-based projects awarded more than $1.35 billion in Recovery Act funding to support advanced battery and electric vehicle manufacturing and development.

 

The new Compact Power facility in Holland will be able to manufacture up to 20 million battery cells a year, enough for about 150,000 vehicle battery packs.  Ford Motor Company announced this week that Compact Power will supply lithium-ion batteries and battery packs for the company’s Ford Focus electric vehicle which goes into production next year.  Compact Power also will provide cells for the Chevrolet Volt, General Motors’ electric vehicle.

 

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Governor Visits Charter House Innovations, Inc. in Holland Promoting Entrepreneurship and Small Business Success

The governor today visited Charter House Innovations, Inc., a manufacturing company located in Holland, where she reiterated her commitment to helping small and medium-sized businesses that are the sources of innovation and job creation.

 

Charter House designs and manufactures seating and décor for quick-service restaurants.  The company showcased its metal, design and woodworking operations as well as some of its finished products, including furnishings for the newly-remodeled Brody Complex at Michigan State University.  Charter House owner Charles Reid, Michigan’s 2010 Small Business Man of the Year award winner, was honored by President Obama at a White House ceremony in May.

 

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