From: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010
4:32 PM
Subject: What the Governor is Talking About Today
What the Governor’s Talking about
Today
Friday, February 5, 2010
Recap of Governor’s State of the State
Address
In her final State of the State address on
Wednesday evening, Governor Granholm said her administration has set the
foundation for a new Michigan economy by diversifying and creating jobs,
educating people to fill and create jobs, and helping people transition from the
old economy to the new. Work on these priorities continues, she said.
“Step by step, we have been making it happen,” the governor
said. “We have purposefully laid the foundation for Michigan’s new
economy, steadily building each of six new sectors.
“Where the old Michigan economy was all about autos
and manufacturing, the new Michigan economy is much broader: clean energy,
life sciences, homeland security and defense, advanced-manufacturing, film and
tourism. We have steadily focused on the unique attributes that give us a
competitive advantage. No state has the skilled workforce we do.
Nobody has the capacity and the manufacturing know-how we have. Nobody has
the natural resources we have. Combine that with our great universities
and colleges, and we’re using these unique assets to attract new companies and
whole new industries.”
Members of next year’s legislature will have new
ideas and new plans, the governor said, but a course has been set.
“Democrats, Republicans and independents alike will
have to confront this truth: We cannot turn back,” the governor
said. “This plan – diversifying, educating, protecting people – this is
the path forward.”
To continue moving forward, the governor said next
steps include passing a balanced budget that helps create jobs; further
reforming government to make it more efficient, less costly, and more focused on
job-creation and education; and continuing to grow jobs in
Michigan.
The governor said she’ll present her comprehensive
proposal for the 2011 fiscal year budget next week, but did touch on a few
areas.
“My budget for the year ahead will restore the
Michigan Promise scholarship, identify a creative way to pay for it, and give it
a new focus – keeping our young people in Michigan when they earn their
degrees,” the governor said. “And we have to draw the line against
additional education cuts in the year ahead.”
The governor also called on the legislature to
follow the recommendations of the bipartisan Transportation Funding Task Force
for investing in roads and infrastructure, and said the state will gain $2
billion in federal road funds over the next four years if it can provide a 20
percent match.
“Without the match, we lose the federal funds and
10,000 construction jobs each year going forward,” the governor
said.
She also said the award-winning Pure Michigan
tourism campaign should continue, noting that for every dollar invested in the
ads, Michigan gets back $2.23 in state tax revenues from tourists spending money
here.
To further advance economic diversification,
job-creation, education, and protection of Michigan citizens, the governor
called for:
Fighting hard for Michigan’s fair share
of federal funding so that the state can invest in jobs and
education. The governor thanked the Obama administration and supportive
members of Congress on behalf of the 42,000 Michigan citizens who now have jobs
through Recovery Act funding.
Making more than $40
million available for business start-ups through a Michigan Small
Business Financing Alliance created by the Granholm administration and the
Michigan Credit Union League. About 2,150 new businesses are expected to benefit
from $43 million in credit union loans.
Improving access
to capital for small businesses by asking the legislature to
approve a new income tax credit for investment in small businesses and asking
Washington to give small and medium-sized auto suppliers greater access to
capital so they can diversify.
Training 1,000
prospective entrepreneurs in 12 small business assistance centers
across the state through a nationally-recognized training
program.
Opening 10 new learning labs in
the metro Detroit area to provide tutoring and computer-assisted learning to
adults to help them succeed in technical training.
Transforming abandoned auto factories into new
job-creating enterprises through a state-local partnership called
Project Phoenix.
Demolishing or refurbishing 5,000
blighted homes and buildings this year through a $223 million grant
from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Constructing a 21st century health-care
information system in Michigan, with federal assistance, that will
improve patient care and reduce costs.
“For me, it comes down to
this: to fight every day for the jobs the people of Michigan want and
need,” the governor said. “And help them make the difficult, often painful
transition from an old economy that’s disappearing, to a new economy that’s only
just beginning to emerge.”
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