Granholm Touts Jobs Announcements, Long Term Job Creation Strategy .(MP3- 3MB)

Granholm, Detroit Business Leaders Agree: Health Care Strategy Would Produce Jobs for Southeast Michigan

Last weekend, thousands of runners from around the world were in downtown Detroit competing in the 30th annual Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon. And thousands more were on hand to cheer. It was a great celebration of Detroit.

But it was not the only marathon giving Detroit a boost. Earlier in the week, the state approved a tax credit to help Marathon Petroleum Company invest $1.5 billion in southwest Detroit, creating 135 new permanent jobs. And we made more great jobs announcements last week as well: Camshaft Machine Company, Chrysler, and NEAPCO Driveline Company were also awarded tax credits to help them grow jobs. Together with Marathon and a community redevelopment project in Detroit, these companies can create and retain more than 3,000 Michigan jobs.

It is great news, but the 26.2 mile race on Sunday is a reminder that economic development isn’t a sprint . . . it is a marathon. And we need to do everything we can to be competitive. Other states – including Indiana and Nebraska – competed for these jobs, but Michigan won because we have a lot to offer growing companies. And we need to keep working hard and making smart decisions to bring companies to Michigan and to help these companies thrive in our state over the long-haul.

Putting Michigan’s fiscal house in order with a comprehensive budget agreement was a critical step. And our Michigan Business Tax, which takes effect in January, is one measure that will pay dividends for years to come. It includes incentives for businesses to create jobs in Michigan. It encourages research and development that can lead to technological advancements that will make Michigan thrive. And it will foster entrepreneurship so that new businesses can get off the ground and create jobs.

As important as a pro-jobs tax structure is, that alone can’t create the jobs we need in Michigan. That’s why we also need to diversify our economy into cutting-edge sectors that will continue to grow. And we need to invest in education and a world-class workforce so that Michigan citizens can keep up with the demand for high-tech workers.

Our long-term strategy in this marathon race for jobs and economic development is to make sure that Michigan continues to be the epicenter for engineering talent and that we have the best workforce in the world. In fact, our No Worker Left Behind program is training Michigan workers to fill job vacancies that exist right now in areas like nursing, biotech, and even production work in renewable energy facilities.

I’m working every day on the next steps in Michigan’s jobs plan so that we continue to be competitive while we lay the groundwork for economic growth in the years ahead. I have no doubt that Michigan can win this race for economic development and new jobs.

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