From: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 2:26 PM
Subject: What the Governor is talking about today
What the Governor’s Talking about Today
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
 
Governor Announces More Than 9,000 New and Retained Jobs for Michigan
 
The governor announced this afternoon that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is helping 10 companies grow in Michigan and also is backing eight brownfield redevelopment projects.  Combined, the 18 projects are expected to create 6,804 new jobs (2,236 direct and 4,418 indirect), retain 2,263 jobs and generate over $672 million in new investment in the state. 
 
The Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) approved incentives for the 18 projects at its meeting today. The companies include GlobalWatt, a new-to-Michigan business that will assemble crystalline silicon solar panels in Saginaw, and Skilled Manufacturing, a Traverse City automotive parts manufacturer that plans to expand into the aerospace sector.  The eight brownfield redevelopments – two each in Benton Harbor and Detroit, and single projects in Cadillac, Grand Rapids, Livonia and Traverse City – will transform abandoned and contaminated sites into new centers of economic growth and activity.
 
Key messages:
 
•  Companies are taking advantage of our excellent work force, competitive business climate and innovative economic development tools to locate or expand in Michigan.  Our aggressive strategy to diversify and grow Michigan’s economy is working.
 
•  Today’s announcement reflects three levels of diversification occurring in Michigan: new industries that previously didn’t exist, existing companies such as auto suppliers diversifying into other sectors such as aerospace, and diversification within the auto industry itself with vehicle electrification.
 
•  These projects demonstrate that the state and local communities can partner and make strong business cases to win investment and jobs from the world’s most innovative companies over competing locations not only in the United States, but all over the world.
 
•  Since January 2009, nearly 100,000 new and retained jobs have been announced as a result of the MEGA program.
 
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