From: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
5:32 PM
Subject: What the governor is talking about today
What the Governor’s Talking about
Today
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Governor Announces $20 Million for
Clean-Energy Manufacturing Projects
The governor today announced
that her administration will make an additional $20 million available to small
Michigan manufacturers looking to diversify, retool and create jobs in clean
energy. Michigan companies will compete for $15 million in grants and $5
million in loans through the Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing (CEAM)
initiative funded by the federal Recovery Act.
In December, five
Michigan companies were awarded a total of $15 million in the first round of
Recovery Act-funded CEAM grants.
The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and
Economic Growth will issue an official request for proposals for the second
round of CEAM funding on April 23. Any small to medium for-profit business
located in Michigan, or which will locate in Michigan by the time grants are
awarded, is eligible to apply. Proposals for projects involving renewable
energy systems and components are due May 7 while proposals for energy
efficiency manufacturing are due May 21. Applicants who applied for first
round funding will be required to update their application with specified
supplemental information to be considered for funding in round two.
Key messages:
•
The second round of Recovery Act CEAM funding is the latest step in the Granholm
administration’s efforts to create jobs by growing the state’s new energy
economy. In the last six years, Michigan has committed more than $2.4
billion to help alternative energy and advanced-battery companies locate and
grow in Michigan. Under the Granholm administration, Michigan
has:
- established itself as the nation’s advanced-battery
capital with investments of $5.7 billion since January 2009 which are expected
to create more than 54,000 new jobs
- increased solar industry investment from
2004 to 2010 by $3.27 billion which is anticipated to create more than 23,000
jobs
- created a growing wind-energy industry in Michigan of
more than 100 companies, in part by pushing for and signing legislation for
changes in Michigan’s energy laws to require utilities to use renewable
energy
- enrolled more than 123,000 workers in job-training
through Michigan’s No Worker Left Behind initiative. Michigan colleges and
training providers have added or updated more than 12,000 educational programs
to help ensure that Michigan workers have the skills they need to transition to
good-paying jobs in fast-growing sectors like renewable energy manufacturing.
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