From: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
5:11 PM
Subject: What the Governor is talking about today
What the Governor’s Talking about
Today
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Governor Announces More than 7,180 New Jobs
Planned for Michigan
The governor today announced that the Michigan
Economic Development Corporation is helping 11 companies grow in Michigan and
also backing two brownfield redevelopment projects. Combined, the 13
projects are expected to create 7,182 new jobs (2,790 direct and 4,392
indirect), retain 781 total jobs and generate more than $742 million in new
investment in the state.
The projects include an overseas company launching
its U.S. operations in Muskegon Township to research and develop rechargeable
batteries; a new-to-Michigan renewable energy, water and telecommunications
company planning a new headquarters in Flint; and an expansion in Plymouth
Township by a company that specializes in three-dimensional, medical-image
processing used to help injured soldiers returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan.
In terms of both investment and job creation, the
largest project announced today is one by fortu PowerCell. The company
plans to invest $623 million in a new integrated battery-cell manufacturing
plant in Muskegon Township. The multi-phase project is expected to create
1,971 new jobs, including 726 directly by the company and an estimated
additional 1,245 indirect jobs.
Key messages:
• Michigan has the most aggressive strategy
of any state to grow jobs and diversify our economy, and the strategy is working
as demonstrated by these projects announced today. From advanced batteries
to homeland security and life sciences to building materials, companies across
all industry sectors are choosing Michigan for their growth plans because this
is a great state in which to do business.
• Economic development is a team sport, and
the state collaborated with local communities across Michigan to win these
projects against intense national and global competition. At the end of
the day, it was the one-two punch of our competitive business climate and
innovative incentive tools that helped convince these companies that Michigan
was the best place for them to invest and grow.
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