Governor Granholm signed the bills today on the Oprah Winfrey Show; the Detroit News has the story and some photos of the “No Phone Zone” rally here.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today signed a package of bills that ban text messaging while driving. The new laws take effect July 1, 2010.

“While any form of distraction can endanger a driver’s safety, texting is the riskiest behavior, because it involves three types of distraction – visual, manual and cognitive,” Granholm said. “By signing this law and making texting while driving a primary offense, we are giving Michigan’s law enforcement officers the tools necessary to identify and stop this dangerous behavior before it results in a crash causing injury or death.”

House Bill 4394 amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to prohibit a person from reading, typing or sending text messages using a wireless two-way communication device, including a wireless phone located in a person’s hand or lap, while operating a moving motor vehicle on a street or highway in the state. A violation is a civil infraction that results in a $100 fine for a first offense and a $200 fine for a subsequent offense.

Other bills in the package include: House Bill 4370, which prohibits points from being entered on a person’s driving record for texting while driving; and Senate Bill 468, which specifies that a violation of this law will not be entered on the master driving record.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving distracted drivers, and more than half a million were injured. The National Safety Council, which estimates that 80 percent of all crashes are related to driver inattention, reports that nearly 40 percent of teenagers and young adults surveyed admitted to sending or receiving text messages while driving. Also, a recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that drivers who use hand-held devices are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.

House Bill 4394 was sponsored by Representative Lee Gonzales of Flint; House Bill 4370 was sponsored by Representative Gino Polidori of Dearborn; and Senate Bill 468 was sponsored by Senator Roger Kahn of Saginaw.

WXYZ provides video from the ceremony, and takes a look at the rally in Detroit:

Governor Granholm talks about the dangers of second-hand smoke and the benefits of Michigan’s new smoke-free law in this week’s radio address

Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Beginning May 1, there’s one thing you won’t find in any Michigan bar or restaurant – smoke.

On May 1, most public places in Michigan, including restaurants, bars and worksites, will be smoke-free. And it’s been a long time coming. I first called for a smoke-free law in my 2007 State of the State address. And Michigan now joins 37 other states with similar laws.

Many years from now, when people look back at Michigan’s smoke-free law, they’ll ask, “Why did it take so long?” It does seem to be a no-brainer.

After all, tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, 60 of which are known carcinogens. Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in Michigan, resulting in about 2,500 deaths in our state every year.

In adults, secondhand smoke can cause heart attacks and deaths from lung cancer and heart disease. Children and adolescents exposed to secondhand smoke are at higher risk for infections of the ear and lower respiratory tract. And secondhand smoke is particularly troublesome for people with allergies or asthma, because it aggravates their symptoms.

Some people opposed Michigan’s smoke-free law, because they felt it would hurt business at bars and restaurants where smoking was permitted. But a 2008 analysis done by Public Sector Consultants concluded that smoke-free laws do not have a negative economic impact on bars and restaurants.

In fact, studies done in California, Florida, New York and other states indicate that after smoke-free laws are enacted, revenues increase and jobs are created. Many restaurants and bars find themselves welcoming new customers: non-smokers and families who otherwise would not have patronized a smoky bar or restaurant.

Even some Michigan restaurant owners who allowed smoking are admitting that being smoke-free may be a boon to their business. The Lansing State Journal recently quoted a local restaurant owner as saying, “I’ve had people tell us they love to come to our restaurant, but it’s too smoky. We’ll gain some restaurant customers.”

In addition to bars and restaurants, Michigan’s smoke-free law covers hotels and motels, bowling alleys, shopping malls and many other facilities. To learn more about the law, visit www.michigan.gov/smokefreelaw .

A top priority of my administration is protecting the health and safety of Michigan citizens. Michigan’s smoke-free law provides cleaner indoor air for all to breathe, workers and customers alike. It’s a law that was long overdue. And now that the law is taking effect, it’s like a breath of fresh air.

Thank you for listening.

In this segment of CNN’s “State of the Union“, Governor Granholm talks about the recent upturn in the auto industry, the new jobs and renewable energy industries coming to Michigan, how state budget issues are affecting education all across the country, and her views on President Obama’s approach to global trade.

For the rest of the Governor’s interview, visit CNN’s video page for additional clips.

In this week’s radio address, Governor Granholm highlights some examples of how Michigan is the best place in the world for the wind-manufacturing industry to locate and create jobs.

Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

This week, we announced that $20 million will be available to small Michigan manufacturers who are looking to diversify and create jobs in the new energy economy.

Michigan companies will compete for $15 million in grants and $5 million in loans in this second round of the Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing initiative, which is funded by the federal Recovery Act. We’ve already seen job-creating results from the first round when five Michigan companies were awarded a total of $15 million in December.

Some of the companies applying for the new funding may be looking to diversify into wind manufacturing. As part of our economic diversification efforts, we want to establish a wind- manufacturing industry in Michigan that includes the entire supply chain. Michigan is the best place in the world for it. Why? Because we solve problems in Michigan. Let me give you a few examples.

Astraeus Wind Energy – a partnership between two Michigan companies, Dowding Industries and MAG Industrial Automation Systems – they’re going to begin using newly designed advanced tooling machinery to produce wind turbine hubs in four and a half hours. Now that’s six times faster than anywhere else in the world – a major breakthrough.

Another example: Merrill Tool and Machine is a leader in wind manufacturing. Merrill has developed an innovative direct-drive technology that improves gearbox reliability, which is one of the big problems that wind turbine manufacturers have been wrestling with for years.

Overall, Michigan has a growing wind supply chain of more than 100 companies doing hundreds of millions of dollars in business annually. We also have hundreds more companies that are hungry to get into this industry.

The enormous promise of offshore wind will create demand all over the world for the largest, most powerful wind turbines manufactured anywhere. And we’ll make those wind turbines and their components here in Michigan, and we’ll be able to ship them throughout the United States and the world thanks to our strategic location on the Great Lakes.

As we stand ready to supply the world with Michigan-made wind turbines and components, we’re also looking at offshore wind energy production in our own state. Since January last year, our Great Lakes Wind Council has worked to identify favorable areas for the development of offshore wind in Michigan’s Great Lakes. The most favorable areas must be at least six miles offshore and avoid shipping lanes and sensitive fish and wildlife habitats. The council’s recommendations are now before the state Legislature.

From manufacturing to energy production, wind power holds great promise for Michigan. Wind energy is part of our ongoing efforts to diversify Michigan’s economy, create jobs and make our state the leader in new energy.

Thank you for listening.

News laws will make it easier for those out of the country to let their voice be heard on election day.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today signed legislation that protects the rights of Michigan voters who are out of the country to participate in Michigan elections. The new laws allow voters abroad to receive their absentee ballots via electronic mail and also standardize and increase the time prior to an election that absentee ballots are available to county clerks.

“Our armed forces serve to protect our democracy,” Granholm said. “The least we can do is reform our absentee voting procedures to allow them to participate in our democracy at home by ensuring absentee ballots are sent in time to count on Election Day. These new laws help our military and Michigan citizens living or working outside the country to have their voices heard.”

While voters abroad have had the right to vote absentee, mail delays and short deadlines have made it difficult for many to exercise that right. Prior to the new laws, ballots could be only mailed to voters out of the country, which meant that mail delays often prevented valid ballots from being cast. The new laws require county clerks to deliver absentee ballots to local clerks at least 47 days before all elections and also allow for ballots to be transmitted to voters abroad via electronic mail.

The bills signed today are House Bill 5279, sponsored by State Representative Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield), and House Bill 5530, sponsored by State Representative Jennifer Haase (D-Richmond). Both bills passed the House and Senate with no dissenting votes. HB 5530 is effective immediately, and HB 5279 will take effect June 1, 2010.

Governor Granholm spoke at the Michigan Wind Energy Conference at Cobo Center in Detroit today, and announced new Recovery Act funding for Michigan manufacturers who are looking to diversify their product lines and hire new workers for our growing clean energy economy.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that her administration will make an additional $20 million available to small Michigan manufacturers looking to diversify, retool and create jobs in clean energy. Michigan companies will compete for $15 million in grants and $5 million in loans through the Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing (CEAM) initiative funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

In December, five Michigan companies were awarded a share of $15 million in the first round of Recovery Act-funded CEAM grants.

“The companies initially funded under this program have put their Recovery Act funds to good use, leveraging private sector dollars and aggressively moving into high-growth renewable energy industries,” Granholm said. “They are creating jobs and helping to diversify Michigan’s economy. With this second round of grants and loans, we’re helping more businesses build on our world-class manufacturing tradition, and in the process, continuing to grow the new energy economy in Michigan.”

The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth (DELEG) will issue an official Request for Proposals (RFP) for the second round of CEAM funding on Friday, April 23. Any small to medium for-profit business located in Michigan, or which will locate in Michigan by the time grants are awarded, is eligible to apply. Proposals for projects involving renewable energy systems and components are due May 7; proposals for energy efficiency manufacturing are due May 21. Applicants who applied for first round funding will be required to update their application with specified supplemental information to be considered for funding in round two.

“The goal of these grants and loans is to build new markets for Michigan’s manufacturers and create anchor companies to attract new businesses to Michigan,” said DELEG Director Stanley “Skip” Pruss. “Not only will these companies help grow Michigan’s economy, their innovations will help the country and the state reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our reliance on fossil fuels.”

The second round of Recovery Act CEAM funding is the latest step in the Granholm administration’s efforts to create jobs by growing the state’s new energy economy.

In the last six years, Michigan has committed more than $2.4 billion to help alternative energy and advanced-battery companies locate and grow in Michigan. Under the Granholm administration, Michigan has:

- established Michigan as the nation’s advanced-battery capital with investments of $5.7 billion since January 2009, which is expected to create over 54,000 new jobs;

- increased solar industry investment from 2004-2010 by $3.27 billion, which will create over 23,000 jobs;

- created a growing wind-energy industry in Michigan of over 100 companies, in part by pushing for and signing legislation for changes in Michigan’s energy laws to require utilities to use renewable energy;

- enrolled more than 123,000 workers in job-training through Michigan’s No Worker Left Behind initiative. Michigan colleges and training providers have added or updated more than 12,000 educational programs to help ensure that Michigan workers have the skills they need to transition to good-paying jobs in fast-growing sectors like renewable energy manufacturing.

Among the companies awarded CEAM funding in 2009 were:

- Astraeus Wind Energy, Inc. located in Eaton Rapids – $7 million to manufacture large-scale, advanced-composite wind turbine blades and hub-related components;

- Energetx Composites, LLC located in Holland – $3.5 million to manufacture large-scale, advanced-composite wind turbine blades;

- Loc Performance Products, Inc. located in Plymouth – $1.5 million to manufacture planetary gears and gearboxes for utility-scale wind turbines;

- LUMA Resources LLC located in Rochester Hills – $.5 million to manufacture products for the residential photovoltaic solar market;

- Merrill Technologies Group located in Saginaw – $3 million to manufacture large-scale, advanced-composite wind turbine blades and system components.

To learn more about this opportunity, visit http://www.michigan.gov/energyoffice on the web, or call the Bureau of Energy Systems at 517-241-6228 for a grant application or additional information.

Major announcement from Governor Granholm and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation today:

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is helping nine companies grow in Michigan and backing a brownfield redevelopment project. Combined, the 10 projects are expected to create 15,795 new jobs (8,133 direct), retain 1,493 total jobs and generate $128 million in new investment in the state.

The companies planning expansions in Michigan represent a diverse cross section of traditional and high-tech sectors from metal stamping to pharmaceuticals to aerospace.

“Our aggressive diversification strategy is paying off,” Granholm said. “Very few places have the one-two punch of a competitive business climate and highly skilled workforce like Michigan that can attract new investment and jobs from companies competing across a wide spectrum of industries.”

The Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) board today approved incentives to win the following projects for Michigan over competing states and countries:

• The Minacs Group USA – The provider of marketing solutions and business support services focused on Fortune 500 companies, plans to invest $11 million to expand in a new facility in Southfield. The project is expected to create 2,756 new jobs, including 1,928 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 828 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $9.1 million over four years to help convince the company to expand in Michigan over a competing site in Ontario. The city of Southfield is considering an abatement in support of the project.

• Aeroflex/Inmet – The designer, manufacturer and marketer of microelectronic components used in a wide variety of wireless communications applications plans to invest $3 million to expand its Scio Township operations to house a product line currently made in New Jersey. The project is expected to create 288 total jobs, including 47 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project is expected to create an additional 241 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $466,004 over seven years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over a competing site in New Jersey. The township of Scio is considering an abatement to support the project.

• Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy – One of the nation’s largest, privately held specialty pharmacy offering dispensing and delivery services, patient call-center support and patient database management plans to invest $12 million to consolidate and expand in Flint. The project is expected to create up to 139 jobs in the first year, 1,039 jobs over the next five years, and up to 4,000 jobs over the next 18 years. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project may create an additional 3,274 indirect jobs over 18 years. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $61.5 million over 18 years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over a competing site in Ohio. Flint is considering a property tax abatement in support of the project. In addition, Genesee/Shiawassee Michigan Works will provide up to $14 million over 10 years for worker retraining.

• GalaxE. Solutions Inc. – The New Jersey-based IT provider in the business of developing and modifying software, particularly in the healthcare, retail, and financial services industries, plans to invest $4.2 million to expand its U.S. presence in Detroit. The company’s first operation in Michigan is expected to create 987 total jobs, including 500 directly by the company. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $4.6 million over five years to convince the company to locate in Michigan over a competing site in New Jersey. The city of Detroit is considering a personal property tax abatement in support of the project.

• Lenawee Stamping – The producer of metal stamping and welded fabrications for the automotive industry plans to invest $2.5 million to expand its Tecumseh facility to accommodate new GM programs. The project will create 136 total jobs, including 78 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 58 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $414,322 over four years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over a competing site in Ohio. The city of Tecumseh is considering an abatement valued at $241,381 over 12 years to support the project.

• Magna Holdings of America – The designer, developer, and manufacturer of automotive components and systems plans to invest $49.2 million to expand its manufacturing, engineering and product-testing operations in Michigan, including sites in Auburn Hills, Troy, Lansing and Shelby Township. The project is expected to create 1,828 new jobs, including 508 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 1,320 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $5.6 million over seven years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over competing sites in other states. The cities of Auburn Hills and Troy are considering abatements in support of the project.

• Parker Hannifin – The global corporation that engineers and produces products and technology in numerous industries, including aerospace and electromechanicals, plans to invest $15.5 million in its Kalamazoo facility to accommodate new work in hydraulic systems in many new aircraft models. The project will retain 1,493 total jobs, including 608 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project will retain an additional 58 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $4.3 million over five years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over a competing state. The city of Kalamazoo is considering an abatement valued at $305,868 over five years to support the project.

• PSCU Holding Services – The financial service provider to credit unions across the country plans to invest up to $12 million to expand its software development, sales and technology-based call center and related support services in Auburn Hills. The project is expected to create 1,792 new jobs, including 837 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 955 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit with a maximum value of $3.5 million over five years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over competing sites in Florida and Arizona. The city of Auburn Hills is considering an abatement in support of the project.

• Tenneco Automotive – The manufacturer of automotive emission and ride control products plans to invest up to $15.6 million to expand to make next-generation emissions products for light-duty and commercial vehicles in Litchfield, Marshall, Grass Lake and Monroe. The project is expected to create 684 total jobs, including up to 185 directly by the company. The MEDC estimates the increased economic activity created by the project could create an additional 499 indirect jobs. Based on the MEDC’s recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $1.8 million over seven years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over competing sites in North America. The city of Litchfield is considering an abatement valued at up to $554,000 in support of the project. The city of Marshall and village of Grass Lake are also considering abatements in support of the project.

• City of Grand Rapids – State and local tax capture valued at $296,187 and a Brownfield MBT worth $556,000 will support the redevelopment of three vacant buildings on Cherry Street and Lake Drive, and construction of two new LEED buildings that will encompass a mixed-use development with residential, commercial/retail and light industrial space. The project will generate $3 million in new capital investment and create up to 50 new jobs.

For more information on the MEDC’s initiatives and programs, visit the website at www.MichiganAdvantage.org.

Today Governor Granholm stopped in Battle Creek to highlight the four year anniversary of the state’s rigorous graduation requirements, and then later in the day addressed the Governor’s Education Summit in Lansing. Here is the state release on some of the details of what the Governor had to say:

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said Michigan has an unprecedented opportunity to reform public education in Michigan as the nation prepares to move forward on Phase Two of Race to the Top and a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act commonly referred to as No Child Left Behind.

“This is our moment to be aggressive and bold,” Granholm told educators at the Governor’s Education Summit in East Lansing. “We don’t need to spend energy reinventing the wheel. There are successful models across the country, and the Obama administration has put in place Race to the Top that outlines a specific roadmap of best practices to achieve success.”

Granholm said the state is beginning to experience the benefit of reforms, having implemented some of nation’s most rigorous graduation requirements. Programs designed to help students meet the new requirements are impacting dropout rates, further illustrating why the status quo is unacceptable.

Granholm cited preliminary reports indicating a three percent improvement in the four-year dropout rate for the graduating class of 2009 compared to 2008, but over 16,000 students dropped out of school between 9th and 12th grades. Statewide, graduation rates remain stagnant at 75 percent, which the governor called “unacceptable.”

The governor also noted that with the rigorous graduation requirements came other reforms in testing entrance readiness of high school juniors in English, math, reading and science.

This year, Michigan Merit Exam scores increased in math, writing and social studies, stayed the same in English, and fell just slightly in reading and science. When comparing 2007 to 2009, students gained or maintained scores in five of six subjects with the exception of a slight decrease in social studies.

Economically disadvantaged students made significant gains over the past two years; Hispanics made progress in all six subjects this year; and African American students made gains in five of six subject areas.

“Michigan is committed to elevating the quality of K-12 schooling not just so our students can compete with kids in Indiana and Kansas but so they can compete with kids in India and Korea,” Granholm said. “It is an urgent economic and global imperative. As President Obama has said, education is no longer just a pathway to success. It’s a prerequisite to success.”

Granholm restated the administration’s commitment to be successful in Phase Two of Race to the Top, which she said can be achieved only with support from all stakeholders. Applications for the funds are due June 1.

Also unacceptable, Granholm said, is the ongoing dispute over governance in the Detroit Public School District. The governor said Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb needs to be allowed to assert his authority over both the district’s finances and academics, given the two are inextricably bound.

Granholm’s remarks came on the eve of the fourth anniversary of having signed legislation putting in place some of the nation’s most rigorous high school graduation requirements, which were one of the positive aspects of the state’s initial Race to the Top legislation.

Members of the Class of 2011 will be the first to graduate having completed the tougher college-prep curriculum that includes at least four years of math, four years of English, three years of science, three years of social studies, two years of a foreign language, and one year of the arts. Rounding out the requirements are an online learning experience and one year of physical education and health.

In addition to the reforms in high school graduation requirements, Granholm has pushed for and signed into law significant reforms making it clear that improving student achievement will be the driving force in Michigan’s education system and a factor in how we evaluate teachers, principals and schools.

Those reforms include allowing the state to intervene in the lowest-performing schools; permitting new high-quality charter schools to open if they meet certain standards, and permitting the closure of low-performing charter schools; requiring administrators to be certified; requiring an annual evaluation of teachers and administrators using data on student growth; creating alternative routes to teacher certification to help bring the best and brightest into our classrooms; and raising the dropout age from 16 to 18, effective for the high school class of 2016.

This week’s radio address marks the four-year anniversary of the creation of a rigorous college prep curriculum for Michigan high school students.

Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

There will be something different about the Michigan high school students who graduate next year. They’ll have achieved something that none of their predecessors has.

Members of the Class of 2011 will be the first to graduate having completed Michigan’s new rigorous high school curriculum.

Next week marks the fourth anniversary of the creation of the tougher curriculum. In my 2006 State of the State address, I called on the Legislature to adopt recommendations for a new curriculum – a college prep curriculum – that were approved by the State Board of Education. Legislation was passed, and I signed it into law on April 20, 2006. The requirements were in place for incoming eighth graders in the fall of 2006.

When members of the Class of 2011 receive their high school diplomas next year, they’ll have completed at least four years of math, four years of English, three years of science, three years of social studies, two years of a foreign language and one year of the arts. Rounding out the requirements are an online learning experience and one year of physical education and health.

The more rigorous curriculum is an essential part of our efforts to diversify Michigan’s economy and keep young people in our state. Our goal is to double the number of college graduates in Michigan. If Michigan is to compete in a global economy and attract jobs and investment here, we must have a well-educated workforce. What this curriculum does is to help ensure that every high school graduate in Michigan is prepared for college or technical training.

We still need to do more, though, to ensure that high school graduates have received the best K-12 education possible. Earlier this year, we adopted several education reforms. They include authorizing the state to intervene in the lowest-performing schools and expanding the number of high-quality charter schools while closing low-performing charters. Most importantly, the reforms established the importance of student achievement and make student academic growth a key element in evaluating teachers, principals, schools and districts.

Although reforms are important to ensuring a quality education, it’s also critical that there be no more cuts to K-12 education. I’ve made this clear to the Legislature. I will not sign a budget that cuts school funding.

Next week, there will be an education summit in Lansing. Educators from across the state will gather to discuss what more needs to be done to move Michigan in the direction that education reform is headed nationally. While we may differ on how to get there, we all share the same goal: providing Michigan children with the very best education possible to compete in the global economy.

Thank you for listening.

The Governor wrapped up her investment mission yesterday with a speech to German business executives and government officials. Here is a recap of the main events:

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today capped her overseas investment mission to Italy and Germany by highlighting Michigan’s new energy economy and job creation in a speech before 100 company leaders, government officials and members of the German press. The event was co-hosted by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Stuttgart Region and the Byrnes Institute in Stuttgart.

“This mission is about going anywhere and doing anything to bring new investment and jobs to Michigan,” Granholm said. “The overwhelmingly positive response I received from Italian and German business executives demonstrates that we have done a solid job making our case: an aggressive economic diversification strategy, a competitive business climate, and a highly-skilled and highly-productive workforce.”

While in Germany, the governor also made the case for Michigan in a plant tour and meetings today with executives from the Bosch Group and Daimler AG. Yesterday Granholm pitched officials from Kostal, a manufacturer of electromechanical and mechatronic products; and the Rexroth Bosch Drive and Control. Kostal is interested in a manufacturing site for patented connector products for solar, stationary battery and EV battery applications, and will make a decision soon on a U.S. location.

The governor also connected with Dieter Zetsche while in Germany, and underscored her support for the Daimler Truck engine plant project in Redford Township. She took note of Daimler’s new joint venture with Renault Nissan and encouraged Zetsche to consider Michigan for any new investment opportunities.

Granholm and Michigan Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Greg Main began their two-country investment mission April 9, encouraging companies to expand or establish their presence in Michigan. In all, the governor met with CEOs and senior leadership from 10 companies and reached dozens more during speeches in Italy at the National Association of the Automotive Industry (ANFIA) luncheon and in Germany at the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce event.

“Michigan has a great story to tell and doing so in person with C-level executives and decision-makers enables us to continue to win investment and jobs from global companies who want to benefit from the exciting things happening here,” Main said.

While in Italy, the governor met with:

- Fincantieri Marine Group LLC CEO Giuseppe Bono and other senior leadership, a global designer and manufacturer of merchant and naval vessels. Marinette Marine-Fincantieri, which operates a shipbuilding facility in Marinette, Wis., on the Michigan border adjacent to Menominee, is partnering with Lockheed Martin to win the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract from the Department of Defense that has the potential to create an initial 2,630 Michigan jobs in both the upper and lower peninsulas;

- Italian Secretary of State Stefania Craxi to discuss the importance of the Italian Consulate in Detroit;

- Officials of Magneti Marelli, a supplier of engine, powertrain and electrical components to Fiat, who have announced they will add at least 200 jobs at an Auburn Hills location;

- Fiat S.p.A and Chrysler Group LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne to thank him for his company’s past commitment to Michigan and make the case for additional investment and jobs in the future. Approximately 25 executives from Italian auto suppliers attended a National Association of the Automotive Industry luncheon where the governor highlighted Michigan’s automotive research and development strengths and diversification efforts;

- FIAMM officials and Comec senior leaders, both leading Italian automotive suppliers.

The tour to Italy and Germany was the governor’s tenth overseas investment mission since 2004. Her previous missions to Austria, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Japan, Jordan and Sweden have resulted in 47 companies announcing over $1.6 billion in new investment in Michigan and 12,995 (7,344 direct) jobs created and retained.