Subject: What the governor is talking about today
What the Governor’s Talking about Today
Friday, June 4, 2010
 
Governor Says Diversification, Education Efforts Must Continue
 
The governor today said at the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual policy conference on Mackinac Island that Michigan must continue diversifying its economy and educating its citizens to be competitive globally.
 
The governor’s diversification plan has been to target and grow six economic sectors: new energy, including advanced battery, solar and wind manufacturing; advanced manufacturing; life sciences; homeland security and defense; film and tourism.  She said global competitiveness also requires unprecedented partnerships.
 
“Business, labor and government must partner together so we can continue to diversify and create jobs,” the governor said.  “To compete, we must also cooperate.”
 
Regarding education, the governor said the goal remains doubling the number of college graduates in Michigan.
 
“Four years ago, we created a rigorous college prep curriculum to prepare every Michigan high school graduate for college or technical training,” the governor said.  “Some people worried that the tougher curriculum would increase the state’s dropout rate.  But the dropout rate actually fell 3 percent from 2008 to 2009.”
 
The governor said other key changes to K-12 education came with the package of reforms she signed into law in January as part of the state’s Race to the Top application.  She also cited encouraging numbers in the state’s No Worker Left Behind job training program and in community college enrollment.
 
“Enrollment is now 125,000 in our No Worker Left Behind program,” the governor said.  “And we’ve seen a 50 percent increase in community college enrollment this decade.”
 
Key messages:
 
•  The world has changed, and we must change, too, by continuing to diversify and educate.  Since the beginning of the Granholm administration, we’ve focused on diversifying our economy and creating jobs, educating our children and training our workers so they can compete in a global economy, and protecting people during this transition from the old Michigan economy to a new one.  These will remain our priorities right through the end of the year.
 
•  Through our diversification and education initiatives, we have laid a foundation for the new Michigan economy.  We’ve put in place the best policies to promote Michigan’s long-term economic health, and we must continue moving forward on this path. 
 
Great Lakes Will Benefit from 99 Michigan Projects Funded by EPA
 
The Great Lakes will benefit in many ways from more than $60 million in Environmental Protection Agency funding for 99 Michigan-based projects selected through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative competition, said Ken DeBeaussaert, director of the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes.  DeBeaussaert made his remarks in delivering this week’s radio address on behalf of the governor.
 
“For example, thousands of acres of Great Lakes shoreline can be improved and restored by removing invasive plants and hardened banks,” DeBeaussaert said.  “Fish and wildlife habitat can be enhanced as local groups remove dams, restore fish passage and stop shoreline erosion.”
 
“The funding also will mean better water quality monitoring to protect families swimming at many Michigan beaches,” DeBeaussaert continued.  “It will also enable local groups to identify and correct problems that might otherwise lead to beach closures that hurt local economies.  Additionally, the funding will result in better health data about Great Lakes fish consumption and provide local decision makers the information needed to protect our waters.”
 
To listen to the radio address, click on the following link:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov252Full_323653_7.mp3
 
Key messages:
 
•  In addition to improving the Great Lakes, the 99 Michigan projects also mean economic opportunity and jobs.  Economists at The Brookings Institute found that investing in Great Lakes restoration provided both short and long-term economic benefits.  These benefits include rising local property values, growing sport fishing and recreational boating opportunities, and increased tourism.
 
•  Michigan’s identity is tied to the Great Lakes.  With that comes an enormous stewardship responsibility.  The Great Lakes restoration funding is a new opportunity for Michigan to protect our water legacy – and we’re ready to act.
 
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