What the
Governor’s Talking about Today
Wednesday,
January 20, 2010
Granholm
Announces $34 Million in Recovery Act Grants to Expand Broadband Access in
Michigan
The governor announced today that
two Michigan applicants for federal broadband
funding will receive more than $34 million to expand access to broadband service
in communities throughout Michigan.
Merit Network Inc., a not-for-profit
broadband service provider, will receive more than $33.3 million to build a
fiber optic network through a large portion of Michigan’s Lower
Peninsula.
Michigan
State University will receive $895,482
to expand more than 80 existing library computer centers, and establish new
centers to provide access for citizens in 15 underserved counties. The
counties include: Chippewa, Clare, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Huron,
Leelanau, Marquette, Menominee, Oakland, Oscoda, Otsego,
Sanilac, Tuscola and Van Buren.
The competitive grants, administered
by the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA), are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).
Key Messages:
- In today’s global
economy, communities large and small must have access to broadband service to
compete and thrive.
- These Recovery Act
dollars will transform communities all over Michigan, bringing broadband access to the
state’s most underserved counties and citizens.
- The funding will
assist Michigan in extending the benefits of its
technology infrastructure. It will serve as an economic engine by
providing people in underserved areas personal connectivity, networking and
myriad educational and economic opportunities.
-
Governor
Announces Nearly $6 Million for Green Jobs
Training
The governor announced today that
Michigan has been awarded a $5.8 million
federal grant to train more than 1,000 Michigan citizens and place them into green
jobs.
The grant is a State Energy Sector
Partnership and Training grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor and
funded through the Recovery Act. It was awarded to the Michigan Department of
Energy, Labor and Economic Growth in partnership with the Council for Labor and
Economic Growth, the state’s workforce investment board.
People who receive training through
this grant will work in the fields of advanced battery production,
energy-efficient building construction and solar energy. They’ll be
training for occupations such as engineers, technicians, assemblers and
installers.
Key
messages:
- This grant will train
1,000 Michigan workers for green, in-demand jobs
in our state and place them into jobs.
- Michigan has been
at the forefront nationally in the effort to promote a new clean energy
economy and programs leading to good jobs. This grant will connect
Michigan
workers to jobs and career pathways in targeted industries, helping to
simultaneously advance the state’s integrated energy, workforce and economic
development vision and supporting programs.
- This grant also
demonstrates the Obama administration’s strong support for Michigan’s Green Jobs
Initiative.
# # #