Subject: What the governor is talking about today
What the Governor’s Talking about
Today
Monday, July 12, 2010
Governor Signs Bills Promoting Michigan
Agriculture
The governor today signed legislation that promotes
Michigan agriculture by encouraging the production and sale of certain foods
made by Michigan residents in their home kitchens.
These foods,
called cottage food products, don’t require temperature control for safety and
include jams, jellies, granola, dried fruit and herbs, cereal, dry mixes, candy
and baked goods. The production or packaging of cottage food products by
someone in their home kitchen is defined by the legislation as a cottage food
operation.
Regulatory barriers in the state’s food production and
distribution laws presently discourage many farmers from organizing cottage food
operations. The legislation signed by the governor today removes these
barriers by exempting cottage food operations from the licensing and inspection
provisions of the Food Law of 2000 if they have annual gross sales of $15,000 or
less. To ensure food safety, cottage food operations would still be
subject to enforcement actions by the Michigan Department of
Agriculture.
Cottage food products would have to be pre-packaged
and properly labeled prior to sale. Certain information is required to be
on the product label, including ingredients, allergen information as required by
federal law, and the name and address of the cottage food
operation.
The legislation also specifies that cottage food
products can be sold only directly from the cottage food operation to the
consumer. Internet and mail order sales are prohibited, as are sales by
consignment or at wholesale.
The bills signed by the governor today
are House Bill 5837, sponsored by State Representative Pam Byrnes (D-Chelsea),
and House Bill 5280, sponsored by State Representative John Proos (R-St.
Joseph).
Key message:
• This legislation promotes the production
and sale of Michigan-made food products. It will be a boost to small and
medium-sized farms, local farmers markets and entrepreneurs throughout the
state.
Governor Visits Solidica in Ann
Arbor
The governor today visited Solidica, a growing
defense contractor and three-time winner of the Technology Tri-Corridor and 21st
Century Jobs Fund commercialization and business plan competitions. She
told Solidica’s employees that the company’s success provides a strong
demonstration of Michigan’s growing entrepreneurial culture.
Solidica is focused on development and commercialization of advanced
materials and electronics for truck fleets with military and commercial
applications. The company has leveraged $2.8 million from the 21st Century
Jobs Fund and its predecessor, the Technology Tri-Corridor program, into $5
million from the U.S. Department of Defense and $8 million in
sales.
The company has 23 employees at its Ann Arbor manufacturing
operations and was named among the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch in 2007.
More than 60 percent of the company’s employees are alumni of Michigan
universities.
The 21st Century Jobs Fund is a $2 billion,
10-year initiative proposed by Governor Granholm, approved by the Michigan
Legislature in 2005, and administered by the Michigan Economic Development
Corporation to accelerate the diversification of Michigan’s economy. Since
1999, through the 21st Century Jobs Fund and its predecessor programs, the state
has invested more than $850 million in technology commercialization and
start-ups with projected job creation and retention of more than 26,000 jobs to
date.
Key message:
• Solidica is a shining example of the kind
of entrepreneurial, high-tech company we’re partnering with to diversify and
grow Michigan’s economy. Through the 21st Century Jobs Fund, there is now
a portfolio of 106 companies like Solidica growing and creating jobs in the
competitive-edge technologies of life sciences, clean energy, advanced
manufacturing, and homeland security and defense.
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