From: Hernandez, Angelita (GOV)
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 4:56 PM
Subject: What the Governor's Talking about Today

What the Governor’s Talking about Today

Thursday, August 19, 2010

 

Governor Announces $21.3 Million in Federal Funding to Increase College Access

The governor today announced that Michigan will receive $21.3 million from the U.S. Department of Education to dramatically increase college participation and completion rates, particularly among low-income and first-generation students.

 

Michigan’s proposal under the federal College Access Challenge Grant Program aims to increase the proportion of Michigan residents with high-quality degrees and credentials from 34 percent to 60 percent by 2025.

 

Here’s the link to the full press release: http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168--242363--,00.html

 

Key messages:

 

 

Governor Celebrates Launch of American Process Incorporated Clean Energy Project in Alpena

The governor today joined company and local officials in Alpena to celebrate the launch of American Process Incorporated’s (API) waste-to-cellulosic ethanol clean energy project, which will create 58 jobs (20 direct) and 80 construction jobs.  API is one of Michigan’s bioenergy Centers of Energy Excellence (COEE).

 

In November 2008, API, in partnership with San Antonio’s Valero Energy Corporation, received $4 million from the COEE program to establish a pilot scale biorefinery at the Decorative Panels International hardwood plant in Alpena.  The biorefinery will convert the process waste effluent from the plant into cellulosic ethanol, sodium acetate and clean, warm water.  The project has potential to be replicated across the state in other biorefineries, pulp and paper mills, and food and agricultural processing plants.  Michigan Technical University will contribute research to improve fermentation processes and also on the use of sodium acetate for novel de-icing applications.

 

The $4 million in COEE funding to API helped secure a U.S. Department of Energy grant for $17.9 million.  API has invested $10 million in the project and estimates that replication across Michigan in existing industries alone could create annual economic value of $200 million within 10 years.

 

Key messages:

 

 

# # #