Reflections on 2007 .(MP3- 3MB)

Radio Address: Governor Granholm Says 2007 Marked with Progress Despite Challenges Granholm Signs Bill Protecting Foster Children by Requiring Nationwide Criminal Background Checks Granholm Establishes Idlewild Centennial Commission; EO Among Three Promoting Cultural Heritage Granholm Pays Tribute to Those Serving Others During the Holiday Season Granholm Signs Bad Contractor Bills; Legislation Creates Additional Consumer Protection Granholm Signs Bills Protecting Michigan Kids from Toxic Toys Granholm: 2007 Marked By Progress Despite Challenges

2007 was a year marked by progress despite the state’s economic and budget challenges. We continued to make progress in four key priority areas: creating jobs, affordable health care, quality education, and safe places for families to live and play.

Looking back on last year, we can look ahead knowing that a comprehensive budget solution is in place, and we can focus solely on the work of growing our economy and creating jobs.

There were several key steps that my administration took to continue our efforts to diversify the economy and create jobs, including: replacing the state’s Single Business Tax with the Michigan Business Tax, including incentives for research and job creation, two more international investment missions that created or retained more than 1,000 jobs so far, and a clear focus on the alternative energy sector and its potential for job creation.

Michigan has the potential to be a world leader in alternative energy, and last year we made significant progress to attract the jobs that this growing industry will create.

Additional successes in 2007 include:

1. Working our comprehensive economic plan by continuing to go anywhere and do anything to attract and retain job providers.

• We helped 163 job-creating high-tech and alternative energy companies start and expand through the 21st Century Jobs Fund and other economic development tools. We made more than $50 million in critical start-up capital available through the Capital Access Program.
• The second year of our Local Jobs Today program provided $282 million in state and federal funds for 267 local road and bridge projects, creating more than 5,000 jobs.
• My No Worker Left Behind initiative and MI Opportunity Partnership helped more than 7,800 displaced workers get into training for new careers and placed more than 48,500 citizens in jobs.
• We succeeded in getting the state’s onerous Single Business Tax replaced by the Michigan Business Tax, which is more competitive, provides significant personal property tax relief, and creates incentives for companies to locate and create jobs here.
• On two international investment missions and eight trips throughout the United States, we fought to bring jobs to Michigan, including Mascoma, which will build the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol plant here.
• Sixteen companies announced they would locate or expand their headquarters in Michigan in 2007.

2. Preparing all students for success.

• In fall 2007, more than 119,000 students started college or technical training with our $4,000 Michigan Promise scholarship to help them pay the cost.
• Five revolutionary new “early college” high schools opened last year, giving students the opportunity to prepare for a career in health care. These schools, which we fought to fund, create relevancy for students looking for hands-on experience.
• Despite severe budgetary challenges, we were able to push spending for public education to an all-time high.
• In September 2007, the first class of high school freshmen started school knowing they will fully benefit from the new rigorous graduation requirements.
• We announced the creation of the Michigan Transfer Network, an online system that eases the transfer of credits from one post-secondary institution to another.
• In November 2007, legislation to help other communities create Kalamazoo Promise-like scholarship opportunities passed the state House.

3. Making health care affordable and accessible.

• In 2007, we continued our fight to make health care affordable and accessible to every citizen, and thanks to these efforts, Michigan now has the lowest rate of uninsured children in the country (tied with Hawaii).
• We fought for additional funding for the MI Choice program which allows seniors to receive the care they need and remain in their own homes.
• The Michigan Health Information Network offered more than $5 million in grants this year to create a statewide infrastructure for health information, making Michigan a national leader in this effort.
• We proposed and received partial funding for the Michigan Nursing Corps to train more nurses to meet the growing demand.

4. Protecting our families and our quality of life.

• We fought for and won funding for more than 300 additional workers to provide services to vulnerable families and to help keep our children safe. Funding was also increased for foster parent recruitment and training to ensure that the state has enough safe, stable homes for children.
• My administration increased gas pump inspections to the highest level since 1996 to ensure that motorists are protected at the pump.
• The Michigan State Police continued their efforts to track down fugitives and sex offenders not in compliance with the law. Through ongoing Project SAFE Streets and Operation Verify sweeps, more than 700 fugitives and 400 sex offenders were arrested in 2007.
• My administration’s Safe Routes to School program, which received national recognition this year, has more than 250 elementary schools participating to make sure students are safe as they travel to and from school.

2007 will long be remembered as a watershed year in Michigan . . . the year when we made the hard decisions to put our fiscal house on the road to stability while choosing to invest in our citizens and our economy.

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