In this week’s radio address, Governor Granholm talks about how we are creating jobs in the new Michigan economy.

Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

As governor of this great state, I’m fighting every day for jobs for the people of Michigan. In my State of the State speech earlier this week, I talked about job-creation and economic diversification. My message was clear: Our world has changed. The old Michigan economy, dependent so long on one industry, is gone. Its epitaph was written last year.

However, the grim events of 2009 confirmed that our long-standing plan for a new Michigan economy is the right one. Through this plan, we’re creating jobs by diversifying our economy, educating our people to fill jobs and to be entrepreneurs, and helping people transition from the old Michigan economy to the new. My administration has laid the foundation for the new Michigan economy by steadily building six sectors. These sectors are:

• clean energy, like solar and wind power;
• life sciences, such as bio-economy and medical devices;
• advanced manufacturing, including nanotechnology and robotics;
• film, tourism, and homeland security and defense.

In the fight for new jobs and businesses in these sectors, Michigan has several competitive advantages to every other state. No state has the skilled workforce that we do. Nobody has the manufacturing capacity and know-how that we have. No one has the natural resources – the water, the forests and the diverse agriculture – that we have. Add in our great colleges and universities, and we have many assets to attract new companies and whole new industries.

Our auto companies also are part of the new Michigan economy as they gear up for electric-vehicle production. Advanced batteries will power these electric vehicles, and we’ve worked hard to attract battery companies to Michigan and make our state the worldwide center for advanced-battery production.

To continue moving forward on diversifying our economy and creating jobs, we need to do the following things this year.

First, we have to pass a balanced budget that helps to create jobs. And I’ll provide more details about my budget when I present it to the Legislature next week.

Second, we need to continue reforming government to make it more efficient, less costly, and more focused on job-creation and education.

And third, every day we must continue fighting to create and grow jobs in Michigan.

When a new governor and a new Legislature take office next year, I’m sure they’ll have their own ideas. But Democrats, Republicans and independents alike will have to confront this truth: We cannot turn back. Our plan – creating jobs by diversifying, educating people and protecting people – that is the path forward.

Thank you for listening.

Governor Granholm visited one of our new economy businesses today – Energetx Composites is building industrial-size wind turbine blades in Holland, and expects to create up to 1000 jobs in the next few years. WOOD TV8 has the story:

From the Governor’s office:

In her final State of the State address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today 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,” Granholm 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, Granholm said, but a course has been set.

“Democrats, Republicans and independents alike will have to confront this truth: We cannot turn back,” Granholm 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,” Granholm 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,” Granholm 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 2,100 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,” Granholm 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.”

You can read the full text of the address here.

Governor Granholm sits down with CNN’s John King to talk about current events in Michigan and across the nation.

In today’s radio address, Governor Granholm outlines her proposals to attack the state’s structural deficit, facilitate greater service- sharing and cost-savings among local governments and schools, improve management of the state’s finances, and enhance accountability in government. Governor Granholm addressed the Lansing Rotary Club with more details on the proposals, you can read the entire speech here. This is an outline of the basics:

“Government cannot afford to be all things to all people but must focus on the things that matter most: job creation, education and providing critical services to those most in need,” Granholm said. “We need to trade in our 1960’s model state government for a new sleeker, smaller state government designed for the 21st century.”

Included in the governor’s agenda are steps to further reduce the structural deficit, facilitate local government and school district cost-cutting, enhance accountability in government, and modernize the budget process. To advance these goals, the governor is proposing to:

- reduce costs by providing positive and negative incentives to encourage 7,000 eligible state employees and 39,000 eligible public school employees to retire;

- increase state employee participation in a new health-care plan that maintains critical benefits for new state workers and their families while reducing the cost to state government by 21 percent;

- eliminate lifetime health care for legislators;

- continue reforming Michigan prison policies to reduce costs;

- shift to a two-year state budget cycle;

- audit state contracts annually and review all tax expenditures biennially to identify needed changes and savings;

- implement pay-as-you-go budgeting;

- give local government, school, university, and other public employees the option to participate in the state of Michigan’s new, cost-effective health-care plan;

- require competitive bidding of contracts and additional shared services among local governments and schools;

- end immunity for prescription drug companies to enable recovery of Medicaid dollars as in 49 other states;

- streamline elections by allowing no-reason absentee voting, on-line registration, and elections-by-mail in some cases;

- require financial disclosures of all state elected officials and candidates;

- tighten ethics standards for elected officials, appointed officials, and state contract managers; and

- better regulate corporate special-interest campaign spending.

“Businesses and workers and families all have made tough choices and are adapting to the realities of this new economy,” said Granholm. “State government must fundamentally change as well.”

The steps outlined by the governor today are just the latest in a series of actions she has taken to streamline services and reduce costs. Since taking office, Granholm has eliminated five state departments and more than 300 obsolete boards and commissions; cut more from state government than any governor before while resolving more than $10 billion in budget shortfalls; saved $1.1 billion by requiring competitive bidding and review of all state contracts; reduced energy usage in state buildings by 23 percent; and leveraged technology to make government less costly and more accessible.

Today was the first of three speeches that will cover the Governor’s proposals, the next will be the State of the State Address next Wednesday night, and more will follow during the executive budget recommendation to the Legislature on February 11th.

You can also find more details on the Governor’s proposals at the Transforming Michigan Government web page.

Governor Granholm issued this statement on President Obama’s State of the Union address:

“I think the president gave a wonderful speech tonight, and I believe the people of Michigan will take heart that President Obama is focused like a laser on the one thing we need most – jobs.  Among the programs he outlined tonight, I particularly applaud him for giving tax breaks to those who create jobs here rather than for those who ship jobs overseas.  I appreciate his no nonsense call to unity at this challenging moment for many Americans who are hurting, and I look forward to working with him to ensure full economic recovery for Michigan and the United States.”

“I think the president gave a wonderful speech tonight, and I believe the people of Michigan will take heart that President Obama is focused like a laser on the one thing we need most – jobs.  Among the programs he outlined tonight, I particularly applaud him for giving tax breaks to those who create jobs here rather than for those who ship jobs overseas.  I appreciate his no nonsense call to unity at this challenging moment for many Americans who are hurting, and I look forward to working with him to ensure full economic recovery for Michigan and the United States.”

This week’s radio address looks at how Recovery Act grants are helping to train Michigan workers and place them into the jobs of the new green economy.

Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Michigan’s green economy continues to grow. This week Michigan was awarded a federal grant of almost $6 million to train more than 1,000 workers and place them into green jobs.

Green jobs can mean anything from, for example, the construction workers who install solar panels or insulation in your house to the factory worker who helps to manufacture those solar panels or wind turbines or batteries, to the engineer who researches and designs the product.

People who receive training through this grant will work in the fields of advanced battery production, energy-efficient building construction and solar energy. They’ll be training for occupations such as engineers, technicians, assemblers and installers.

This U.S. Department of Labor grant is funded by the federal Recovery Act. Our Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth will administer the grant in partnership with the Council for Labor and Economic Growth, which is the state’s workforce investment board.

This week’s federal grant is the third one Michigan has received this month for training people for green jobs. Earlier, Michigan received more than $18 million in Recovery Act funds to train workers for the green, clean energy economy.

These federal grants complement Michigan’s Green Jobs Initiative which is helping to ensure that green companies have the trained workers that they need to grow and prosper.

The Green Jobs Initiative is using federal funds to train Michigan workers for all kinds of green jobs. Some of the money is being used to develop training programs for specific industries such as wind and solar, while other dollars are helping community colleges and universities and other organizations expand their training capabilities.

Half of the money in the Green Jobs Initiative is providing job training through our No Worker Left Behind program. About 110,000 people have enrolled in No Worker Left Behind since we launched it in 2007 – it’s become a national model for workforce investment policy.

A recent state report showed that Michigan has more than 109,000 green jobs, but that number is growing. In 2009 alone, the work of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Economic Growth Authority set the stage for more than 20,000 green jobs to be created or retained.

The Recovery Act funds for job training received by Michigan this month reinforce the economic strategy that we developed seven years ago. In that time Michigan has invested more than $1 billion to help nurture the growth of clean energy and green manufacturing in our state, from advanced batteries and electric vehicles to solar panels and wind turbines. Our investments, together with Recovery Act dollars, are producing green jobs and making Michigan’s economic future brighter… and greener. Michigan is moving from the Rust Belt to the Green Belt.

Thank you for listening.

Big announcement from the Governor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation today:

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is helping seven companies grow in Michigan and is backing one brownfield redevelopment project. Combined, the eight projects are expected to create 5,210 new jobs (2,581 direct and 2,629 indirect), retain 415 jobs and generate over $76.8 million in new investment in the state.

The projects include a Mumbai, India-based IT company that plans to establish a Business Protection Services center in Midland; the manufacturer of alternative-energy products building a research and development facility in Blissfield, and a brownfield redevelopment in Wyandotte that will transform an abandoned site into a new center of economic growth and activity.

Details on the projects are as follows:

BioDri – The manufacturer of alternative-energy products plans to invest $39.5 million to build a research and development facility, business development offices and a repair and maintenance facility in Blissfield. The project will create 653 new jobs, including 337 directly by the company. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) estimates increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 316 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) board today approved a state tax credit valued at $3.1 million to help convince the company to locate in Michigan over competing sites in Florida. The village of Blissfield is considering a 12-year abatement in support of the project.

ilumisys – The spinoff company of leading global technology provider Altair Engineering plans to invest $7.4 million to expand research and development of LED lighting technology, as well as ramp up manufacturing operations in Troy. The project will create 555 new jobs, including 213 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 342 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $4 million to help convince the company to expand in Michigan over competing sites in China and Ontario. Troy is considering a 12-year abatement to support the project.

Magneti Marelli Holiding USA – The subsidiary of Fiat Holdings plans to invest $4.5 million to consolidate its Michigan operations into one facility and expand operations in Auburn Hills. The project will create 200 direct jobs by the company. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $4 million to encourage the company to consolidate in Michigan over competing sites in Tennessee and North Carolina. The city of Auburn Hills is considering an abatement to support the project.

Colwell & Salmon Communications – The provider of inbound and outbound contact services to Fortune 500 companies plans to invest $4.9 million to expand its current call center in Livonia. The project will create 704 total jobs, including 502 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 202 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $1.3 million over four years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over a competing site in Texas. Livonia is considering an abatement to support the project.

Quality Metalcraft – The automotive prototyping, engineering and small-run production and assembly company will invest $1.7 million to design and manufacture aerodynamic fairings in Livonia. The project will create 137 total jobs, including 64 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 73 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $455,648 over five years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over competing sites in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Tata Consultancy Services – The IT services and consulting company based in Mumbai, India, plans to invest $12.5 million to establish a Business Protection Services center in Midland to provide core business services including finance consulting, order processing, information technology and other services. The project will create 500 jobs during the initial phase. In a subsequent phase, TCS plans to create 750 additional jobs in support of the project. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 1,119 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $22.1 million over 10 years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over a competing site in Ohio. The city of Midland is considering an abatement in support of the project.

AxleTech LLC – A leading global supplier of planetary axles, brakes, drive train assemblies and transfer cases for specialty vehicles plans to invest $5.4 million in the project, which will consolidate four facilities into one in Troy. The project will retain 415 total jobs, including 107 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project will retain an additional 308 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $1 million over five years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over a competing site in Wisconsin. The city of Troy is considering an abatement valued at $35,404 in support of the project.

City of Wyandotte – State and local tax capture valued at $118,750 will support the redevelopment of a contaminated half-acre property on Biddle Avenue. The proposed project will demolish an abandoned auto service center to construct a new single-story building with space for a restaurant and retail use. The project will generate $1 million in new capital investment and create up to 15 jobs.

For more information on the MEDC’s initiatives and programs, visit the Web site at www.TheMEDC.org.

From the Governor’s Office:

“In difficult times we pull together to help one another.

“There are hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti who need food, water, shelter and medicine, and the need is urgent and immediate. Monetary donations are the most efficient and effective way to help in the relief effort. They allow humanitarian organizations to purchase the exact type and quantity of items needed by those affected by the crisis.

“I encourage anyone who is able to contribute to the American Red Cross to help with the relief efforts in Haiti. You can donate through your local Red Cross or online at www.redcross.org. You can also donate via cell phone by texting HAITI to 90999. An amount of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross and charged to your cell phone bill.

“Please keep the people of Haiti and their families and friends around the world in your thoughts and prayers.”

Additional information on how to help the Haiti relief effort can be found through www.whitehouse.gov and www.redcross.org.

This week’s radio address takes a look at some of the great announcements happening in and around the North American International Auto Show.

Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Every year the North American International Auto Show is a great place to see the newest cars and trucks. But this year something else is on display in Detroit: the future of the American auto industry.

I got a sneak peek of the auto show earlier this week, and here’s what I saw: the future of the automobile and the American auto industry is electric. Electric cars were on display everywhere throughout Cobo Hall. These electric cars are going to be powered by advanced batteries, and both the cars and the batteries are going to be made in Michigan.

It’s already happening. Just last week at General Motors’ Brownstown Township facility, the nation’s first advanced lithium-ion batteries for mass production vehicles began rolling off the assembly line.

And those batteries will power the Chevy Volt which goes into production late this year. The Volt will be made in Michigan, with General Motors investing $700 million in eight of its Michigan facilities to produce it. These advanced batteries are extremely technologically sophisticated so it is an entirely new manufacturing process and skill that will be required to make sure it ends up in the electric vehicle.

And earlier this week, Ford announced plans to invest an additional $450 million in Michigan, for a total of $1 billion, to produce its electric vehicle. Ford’s electric car also will be assembled in Michigan, and the company will move its battery pack assembly here from Mexico – that’s right, jobs are moving from Mexico to Michigan, not the other way around. Ford and GM’s production of advanced batteries means jobs for Michigan, and other companies that produce advanced batteries also are popping up across the state.

Advanced battery manufacturing in Michigan isn’t happenstance. In 2006, we identified the electric car battery as a growth sector. We enacted aggressive first-in-the-nation battery tax credits to attract battery companies to Michigan. And America elected a president committed to the same goal of a domestic battery industry.

Our hard work was rewarded this past August when 12 Michigan battery projects won more than $1.35 billion in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. Michigan won more advanced battery grants than all of the other states combined.

Federal assistance has been crucial to advanced battery and electric vehicle manufacturing and development. President Obama and his administration, Congress and in particular the Michigan congressional delegation all have been instrumental in supporting a domestic battery industry and electric cars made in America.

If you can, visit the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, or next month’s Michigan International Auto Show in Grand Rapids. You’ll see the future of the American auto industry – a future made in Michigan.

Thank you for listening.

Governor Granholm visited MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to talk about the rebirth of the auto industry in Michigan. Take a look: