Representative Robert Dean is the first House member to be featured for the Granholm Leadership Team, and I am proud to say he is my representative! Say hello to Robert Dean-

Representative Robert Dean of Grand Rapids is a perfect choice for the Granholm Leadership Team. His record of service to the people of the 75th House District began long before he was elected to office, serving previously as a member of the Grand Rapids School Board, the Grand Rapids City Commission, and as the pastor and founder of the New Life Church of God in Christ.

Rep. Dean’s work is not limited to just Grand Rapids, though. Since his election to the House in 2006, he has worked to expand access to healthcare and quality education and to grow our state’s economy. Recently, Rep. Dean introduced legislation to create new incentives for businesses to create jobs in Michigan, and he was a driving force behind the recently signed “Save the Dream” bills to help working families keep their homes.

When tough choices needed to be made last year about how to responsibly balance the state budget, Rep. Dean stood up for the people of Michigan against the special interests, ensuring that education, public safety, and health care remained intact. As John Van Solkema, Grand Rapids’ Fire Chief said at the time: “Representative Dean’s courageous decision to invest in Grand Rapids and the state of Michigan’s public safety officers should be applauded by all of the state’s residents.”

By contributing to the Granholm Leadership Team, you can help support leaders like Representative Dean who take bold steps to move Michigan forward. You can make a one-time contribution right now, or sign up to make a contribution every month when we unveil a new member of the team. Your contribution — whether it’s $100, $50, or even $25 will ensure we keep Lansing focused on the issues most important to Michigan citizens.

I would like to thank Rep. Dean for all his hard work, courage, and dedication to the citizens in the 75th district. This constituent is very happy to have him represent me in Lansing!

(This post not authorized by any candidate committee)

In her weekly radio address recorded from her residence in Lansing, Governor Granholm today paid tribute to nurses and state employees during a week that has been set aside to recognize them, and thanked citizens who have extend their get-well wishes as she recovers from surgery.

This is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Now, typically, this time each week is my opportunity to talk with you about important events happening in our state. In fact, I expected to be reporting to you today on the exciting possibilities for new jobs in Michigan resulting from my investment mission to the Middle East.

But unfortunately that trip had to be postponed last week when I had unexpected surgery. So instead of giving you a progress report on jobs, this week, I simply want to say thank you.

Thank you to the many citizens who took the time to send me a note or a card or flowers and those who made a contribution to one of my favorite nonprofit organizations, Mentor Michigan.

I want to thank everyone who kept my family and me in their thoughts and prayers as surgery addressed a complication that resulted from a taxi cab accident I was in over 15 years ago.

And to the outstanding team of doctors, nurses, and medical technicians at Sparrow Hospital who provided me with top-notch care…thank you. It seems only right that I share my gratitude for their amazing professionalism during this time when we celebrate Michigan Nurses Week.

This week, we pay tribute to all of the men and women who work as nurses in our hospitals, nursing homes, and medical facilities across our state. It takes a very special person with a servant’s heart to give care the way that nurses do, and I want to thank them for their service.

This is also State Employee Appreciation Week, and this year, more than ever I am also grateful for the 50,000 men and women whose commitment to their fellow citizens has led them to a career in public service.

Thanks to their dedication, our vulnerable citizens, our seniors, our children, people with disabilities are cared for. Thanks to them, our fantastic natural resources are protected, our communities are patrolled and safe and welcoming, our government is accessible and responsive, and so much more.

So to them, our public servants, our state employees, and to all of you, I say thank you. I intend to have a speedy recovery and look forward to getting back to the office very soon.

Thank you for listening.

Click on the picture below to watch a video-streamed archive of Governor Jennifer Granholm’s recent (April 25, 2008) appearance on MGTV Forum. Granholm discussed her economic plan for the state and the role that alternative energy will play during the 45-minute interview.

Governor Granholm and the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) have allocated over $3 million in funding through the No Worker Left Behind program to 25 Michigan Works! centers across the state, to be used for customized job training for individuals in the Jobs, Education, and Training (JET) Program.

“Providing targeted job training for our displaced workers will help ensure their success in getting good-paying jobs,” Granholm said. “A highly skilled workforce is key in transforming Michigan’s economy.”

Governor Granholm announced the NWLB initiative on August 1, 2007; an ambitious plan to train 100,000 citizens in three years for jobs in high demand occupations and emerging industries or entrepreneurial endeavors. NWLB gives Michigan workers the opportunity to acquire the skills they need to win good-paying jobs in today’s global economy. By reorganizing and augmenting federal funds currently used for workforce development, NWLB will provide up to two years of free tuition at any Michigan community college, university, or other approved training program for qualifying participants. The governor has asked the Michigan legislature to appropriate $40M of state funds in order to train enough eligible workers to help diversify and re-energize Michigan’s economy.

The JET Program is a partnership between DHS, DLEG (the Bureau of Workforce Transformation and Michigan Rehabilitation Services), and the MWAs to help Michigan’s families overcome barriers to work and connect them with the kind of jobs, education, and training opportunities that will help them achieve self-sufficiency and meet the workforce and skill needs of Michigan’s businesses. The JET Program was designed to give MWAs more flexibility in providing services to cash assistance participants.

Funding amounts by location can be found on the state press release. For a list of the Michigan Works! locations, visit the Michigan Works! website for a breakdown by county across the state. Learn more about the JET program here.

The Bay City Times reports the Saginaw based Michigan Works! will receive over $170 thousand for job training for workers in the area, and the local director indicates that the $40 million that Governor Granholm has requested for additional funding for No Worker Left Behind would be very welcome so they can assist more Michigan citizens that are currently on the waiting list.

The $170,555 announced Tuesday is welcome, but not enough to meet demand for No Worker Left Behind programs, said Edward Oberski, director of the Saginaw-based Michigan Works agency.

”Every little bit we get from the state is nice, but it doesn’t take care of the big picture,” Oberski said Tuesday.

His agency is enlisting help to push for $40 million in No Worker Left Behind funding included in Granholm’s upcoming state budget. The funding was approved by the House and is now under review by a Senate committee, he said.

The funding would include $30 million for job-training tuition, $5 million to help community colleges and $5 million for remedial math and reading programs to get people qualified for more advanced training, Oberski said. Michigan Works agencies statewide would share the money.

The agency has joined with Delta College and local Saginaw businesses to encourage support for the program.

”We have the need for talent,” said David Herrala, Dow Chemical Co.’s global learning leader for North America. ”We’re looking for post-secondary-level skill in the work place today.”

The initiative will give Michigan workers an opportunity to find new careers, Herrala said.

Dow and Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw have worked with Delta College to develop courses to train workers and provide continuing education.

Over 20,000 people have entered training using the existing No Worker Left Behind funds, and the program has a waiting list of over 12,000 Michigan workers at this time.

Volunteers from all over the state will be honored at the Fox Theatre in Detroit at a gala event entitled “A Night with the Stars” on Thursday, June 19th. The governor’s office has released a list of the 40 finalists in eight different categories for the Governor’s Service Awards, and they are as follows-

Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award
This award, the most prestigious of the Governor’s Service Awards, honors an individual who has taken his or her volunteer service to the highest level - year after year. It honors an individual, usually a senior citizen, who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to community involvement and volunteer service. Individuals nominated in this category have made service a way of life for many, many years. The finalists are:
- Leslie Algren of Grand Ledge
- Dr. Karl Gregory of Southfield
- Bill Heaton of Livonia
- Lois Herbage of Saginaw
- Howard King of Traverse City

Mentor of the Year Award
This award honors an individual who has made a significant difference in a child’s life over time through mentoring. For the purpose of this award, mentoring is defined as a structured and trusting relationship that brings a young person together with a caring individual who offers guidance, support, and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee. The finalists are:
- Nathan Bender of Holland
- Cary Levy of Troy
- Kent and Laura Maurer of Jackson
- Cory Rowe of Negaunee
- Merianne Tappan of Comins

Outstanding Mentoring Program Award
Mentoring programs are responsible for developing and maintaining high-quality experiences for both the mentor and mentee. Outstanding programs have systems in place for recruitment, retention, background checks, ongoing support, evaluation, and more as recommended by the Mentor Michigan Quality Program Standards. The finalists are:
- The Art of Leadership Foundation (ALF) of Detroit
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit
- The Carson City-Crystal Mentoring Program
- The Michigan State University Extension Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring Program in Grand Haven
- The Oscoda County Michigan State University Extension Mentoring Program

Outstanding Volunteer Program Award
This award acknowledges the importance an organization or club makes in community life. The nominees in this category strive to make communities better places to live through a variety of activities or by focusing on one issue of primary importance in their community. Schools, faith-based organizations, national service programs, nonprofit organizations, and service clubs are potential nominees. The finalists are:
- Brother Dan’s Food Pantry of Petoskey
- City Mission of Detroit
- Detroit Executive Service Corps
- Medical Care Access Coalition of Marquette
- The Third Street Transition Center of Muskegon

Senior Volunteer of the Year
This category honors individuals who are age 65 or older. These nominees may be involved with many activities or given significant time to one particular cause. The finalists are:
- Sarah Brooks of Grand Rapids
- Jai Jaglan of Okemos
- Gerard Perry of Ionia
- Bill Sanford of Milan
- Robert Spencer of Battle Creek

Volunteer of the Year Award
This award is reserved for an individual who strives to improve the lives of neighbors, friends, community, or congregation. Individuals nominated for this award could be adults, national service members, educators, and more. The finalists are:
- Jonathan Adams of Southfield
- Dr. James Fahner of Grand Rapids
- Leon Judd of Northville
- Eleanor Miller of Cedar
- Terri Thomas of Kalamazoo

Corporate Community Leader Award
Corporations and businesses that excel in community involvement are honored with this award. The commitment to serve is made by employees, both hourly and salaried, and can take many forms including, but not limited to, corporate volunteer programs, monetary contributions, in-kind gifts, and employee-driven volunteer service. The finalists are:
- Compuware of Detroit
- Great Lakes Capital Fund, based in Lansing
- Huntington Bank - West Michigan of Grand Rapids
- Alticor, Incorporated of Ada
- Panera Bread of Detroit

Youth Volunteer of the Year Award
This category honors individuals who are 21 or younger. These nominees may be involved with many activities or given significant time to one particular cause. The finalists are:
- Jeanette DeVito of Crystal
- Kelly Doughman of Kingsford
- Adam Harris of Lathrup Village
- Katherine Johnson of Lake Orion
- Olivia Thomas of Kalamazoo

In addition to the honors awarded in these categories, Governor Granholm and First Gentleman Dan Mulhern will also present the Carter Partnership Award, the Russell G. Mawby Award for Philanthropy, and the Community Foundation Award for Philanthropy.

Thanks go out to the corporate sponsors who have made contributions to make this event possible!

To date, the Ford Motor Company Fund is the Platinum Sponsor. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is a Premier Sponsor; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan/Accident Fund and MASCO Corporation Foundation are Pacesetters; CMS Energy, Council of Michigan Foundations, Lear Corporation, Meijer, and Michigan Nonprofit Association are Governor’s Champions; and Comer Holdings, Health Alliance Plan, and Hudson-Webber Foundation are Governor’s Heroes.

To purchase tickets to attend the event or for more information about the Governor’s Service Awards, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc or contact Kathie Vasilion Robinson at vasilionk@michigan.gov or (517) 373-4200.

Thanks also go out to the thousands of volunteers across Michigan who help make this state a great place to live! To read more about the impact these people and organizations have had in their communities, check out the MCSC’s 2006 annual report for some facts and figures. If you are interested in volunteering, call 1-800-VOLUNTEER, or visit the Volunteer Centers of Michigan website for a list of organizations in your area.

Pinch-hitting for Governor Granholm in this week’s radio address, Lt. Governor John Cherry reminds graduating high school seniors about the Michigan Promise Scholarship, and the importance of a college education in this new global economy.

This is Lt. Governor John Cherry speaking to you this week on behalf of Governor Jennifer Granholm. As spring is upon us and the school year begins to wind down, thousands of Michigan high school seniors are beginning to look forward to the next phase of their educational journey. And when they take those critical first steps toward a higher education, they will have a revolutionary new scholarship to handle the costs.

The $4,000 Michigan Promise Scholarship is available to every student who continues their education after high school. That’s the equivalent of two years of community college tuition that a student can put toward a technical certificate, or part of a university degree, or a community college program.

This scholarship was a critical recommendation made by the Cherry Commission – the blue-ribbon education panel the governor asked me to lead. I’m particularly proud to have been a part of the creation of this program, because it plants the seeds of economic growth, moves Michigan forward, and makes higher education a reality for more families.

Thanks to this transformative change, our students can meet the challenge of the global marketplace head-on and will – in time – give our great state the best-educated workforce in the nation.

Today, it’s almost a given that continuing education beyond high school is necessary for the students of today to become the workers of tomorrow. Whether it’s enrolling at a four-year university, technical training, or a community college education, these pathways are critical to success in the 21st century global workplace.

Here in Michigan, it was not always so. A generation ago, thousands of Michigan citizens went from high school directly to the auto factories. For many men and women, the decision not to go on to college was an easy one – working in our auto plants was the quickest way to a comfortable middle-class lifestyle.

During that era, the high school diploma had different meaning as well. Being a high school graduate meant that you were prepared for life, work, and citizenship. Because the high school diploma signified that readiness, our parents and grandparents said every child in Michigan was entitled to a free public education from kindergarten through 12th grade. That was their gift to us. It was the American Dream at work.

But Michigan employers today need workers who possess skills that go far beyond high school. That’s why the governor and I believe we must make it as easy for students to earn a college degree today as it was for an earlier generation to earn a high school diploma. Thanks to the Michigan Promise, thousands of students will again achieve that dream this year.

You can read more about the Michigan Promise Scholarship and other forms of student financial aid here.

Thanks go out to the Lt. Governor for filling in on the radio address this week, and thanks also for all your excellent work on this issue!

As you probably know by now, Governor Granholm underwent surgery Tuesday evening and had to postphone her investment mission to Israel/Kuwait.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm’s office today announced that her investment mission to Israel and Kuwait - where she was scheduled to meet with representatives from 50 companies interested in doing business in Michigan - has been postponed.

The mission was postponed due to a medical situation that arose in the past two days that the governor’s physician recommended be treated immediately.

The governor underwent successful, emergency surgery last evening to treat a bowel obstruction that is believed to be a complication from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in 1993. Physicians indicate that her prognosis is good, and she is resting comfortably. Information on the governor’s condition will be released as it becomes available.

The investment mission was to be the governor’s sixth overseas investment mission since 2004. Granholm’s previous investment missions to Germany, Austria, Japan, and Sweden resulted in 37 companies announcing over $818 million in new investment and more than 9,000 jobs created and retained.

At last report, the governor is doing fine, and looking forward to rescheduling the mission for a later date.

Well-wishers who would like to send a card are encouraged to do so! Send your card to: Governor Granholm, P.O. Box 30013, Lansing, MI, 48909.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, Governor Granholm and First Gentleman Dan Mulhern suggest a donation to the Mentor Michigan program. Their address is : Mentor Michigan, 1048 Pierpont Street Suite 4, Lansing, MI 48913.

This bill extends the time period that those who serve on active duty in the armed forces or National Guard have to regain their civilian jobs upon completion of their service.

“I am honored to sign legislation that protects our men and women who serve our country in military service - protecting their jobs is the least we can do to honor their service,” Granholm said. “They can be assured that when they return to their families and their communities here in Michigan, they have the opportunity to work.”

The legislation amends Public Act 133 by guaranteeing citizens who serve on active duty in the armed forces or National Guard the opportunity to be reemployed at their jobs upon return. If their active duty military service is less than 180 days, they have 45 days to regain their jobs. If their active duty military service is longer than 180 days, they have 90 days to regain their jobs.

The legislation allows qualified military personnel to file civil actions against employers if they are denied reemployment.

The previous law gave returning personnel 15 days to regain their civilian job.

This week’s radio address highlights the largest jobs announcement in Michigan in decades, and talks about the governor’s upcoming investment mission to the Middle East.

This is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

It’s no secret that bringing good jobs to Michigan has been my top goal since I was elected your governor. And whether it’s working the phones with CEOs here in Michigan or traveling the world to meet with company leaders to encourage them to invest in our state, I am going anywhere and doing anything to create jobs for our citizens.

Our strategy has been to build new, diverse sectors of the economy to add to our manufacturing bedrock. Michigan offers the perfect mix of skills, background, and environment to grow new high-tech jobs, alternative energy jobs, bioscience jobs, and homeland security jobs. This week is a great example of how that strategy is paying off and how we’re continuing to work it.

On Tuesday, bioscience company MPI Research announced that they will add 3,300 new jobs in the Kalamazoo area – it’s the largest jobs announcement in Michigan in decades. In fact, it’s the largest life sciences announcement in the history of Michigan.

And a global defense company, BAE systems, announced that they would create 460 new engineering jobs in Sterling Heights.

Auto supplier Von Weise chose Michigan over Indiana and Missouri this week. They will expand their Eaton Rapids facility, creating 159 new jobs.

In total, the projects announced this week are expected to generate nearly $469 million in investment and create more than 9,000 jobs for Michigan workers in our bedrock industries and in new ones! All of these companies could have chosen to take their investment and their jobs somewhere else … but they chose Michigan. They chose Michigan because of our outstanding workforce, our competitive business climate, and our unmatched quality of life.

And that’s the message that I will take with me next week when I embark on my sixth international investment mission. Literally, we’ll go anywhere to target homeland security and energy and environmental technology companies and jobs. And this time it’s to Israel and Kuwait.

This 8-day mission will give me the opportunity to talk with more than 50 CEOs and executives from companies that are world leaders in alternative energy production, homeland security, water preservation technology, advanced automotive research – all of whom are considering investing in the United States. I’ll tell these company leaders the same thing I told job creators in Japan and Germany and Austria and Sweden … that Michigan is the right place to invest and grow jobs if you want to do business in America.

Michigan is where innovation, education, research and high-tech know-how come together. We have an outstanding workforce that is getting even better because we are investing in new training. We are committed to diversifying our economy and giving businesses the tools they need to succeed.

Michigan has long been identified by our auto jobs…and tomorrow, we’ll be defined by auto and bioscience and high-tech and alternative energy jobs. This week is just the start.

Thank you for listening.

Next Wednesday, Governor Granholm leaves for a week long overseas investment mission to Israel and Kuwait - this will be the governor’s sixth jobs and investment mission since 2004. Previous overseas missions resulted in 37 companies announcing over $818 million in new investment and more than 9,000 jobs created and retained for Michigan.

Whie overseas, the governor will focus on companies that can bring us investment and jobs in the areas of high-tech automotive, alternative energy, homeland security, and environmental technology industries.

In Israel, Granholm will meet with companies already doing business in Michigan as well as companies considering expansions into North America, including Cleantech Ventures (alternative energy), Raviv ACS (automotive), Inspire Investments (venture capital), Mekorot (water re-use), Tadir Gan Group (automotive), and Elbit Systems (homeland security/defense).

The governor will also meet with members of the American Israel Chamber of Commerce, the Manufacturers’ Association of Israel, the American Israel Friendship League, and the country’s leading government and industry experts in water treatment technologies. Granholm also is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other senior officials of the government.

The governor will then travel to Kuwait to meet with top government officials and visit Dow Chemical’s joint venture EQUATE.

“Israel and Kuwait have a mix of industries that closely mirror the new industries we want to grow in Michigan,” said Granholm. “We think there are rich opportunities to partner and create jobs here in Michigan.”

Stay tuned for updates!