From: Hernandez, Angelita (GOV)
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 4:50 PM
Subject: What the Governor's Talking about Today

Importance: High

What the Governor’s Talking about Today

Thursday, January 14, 2010

 

Governor Applauds $224 Million in Recovery Act Funds to Stabilize Neighborhoods, Rebuild Local Economies

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that HUD is awarding $2 billion in Recovery Act funding to states, local governments and nonprofit housing developers under HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program to spur economic development in hard-hit communities and create jobs.

 

Michigan’s share of the $2 billion is almost $224 million.  The funds are going to a consortium of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, 12 cities and eight land banks.

 

Michigan will now have the resources we need to help some of the state’s hardest-hit communities, thanks to HUD’s generous investment of Recovery Act dollars,” the governor said.  “We have identified the scope of the challenge we face and our ability to tackle it.  We’re ready to put these dollars to good use shoring up Michigan communities and families, creating jobs and boosting local economies.”

 

The 12 cities are Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Pontiac, Saginaw and Wyandotte.  The eight land banks are Berrien County Land Bank, Calhoun County Land Bank, Genesee County Land Bank, Ingham County Land Bank, Kalamazoo County Land Bank, Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority, Saginaw County Land Bank and Wayne County Land Bank Corporation.

 

Governor Celebrates Advanced Battery Manufacturer’s Expansion That Will Create More Than 500 Jobs

The governor today joined employees of A123 Systems to celebrate the company’s expansion into plants in Livonia and Romulus, and its plans to hire more than 500 skilled workers beginning this year.

 

A123 Systems develops and manufactures advanced lithium-ion batteries and battery systems.  Today’s jobs creation announcement is the first by a battery cell manufacturer since Michigan established its first-in-the-nation advanced battery credits last year.

 

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