January 14, 2005

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today offered her congratulations to the Michigan businesses that have been awarded coveted spots on Fortune Magazine’s "100 Best Companies to Work For" list. Placement on the list is highly competitive and determined by a number of factors, including evaluations by the company’s own employees, pay, benefit packages, and corporate culture.

Five Michigan-based companies made the Fortune list, including Republic Bancorp which was ranked third on the national list. Republic was joined on the list by Quicken Loans, Bronson Healthcare Group, Plante & Moran, and Valassis. All five companies have made Fortune’s lists in previous years. Michigan had the fifth-highest number of companies of any state on the 100 best list.

"These companies are true Michigan success stories; they remind us that success in business is not measured in just dollars and cents," said Granholm. "These companies are doing more than creating jobs; they are creating jobs that change the lives of their employees for the better. Great business cultures attract high-level employees and cultivate talent. Their achievements benefit all of us in Michigan."

Granholm explained Michigan’s quality of life and natural resources are magnets for drawing people to this state, especially young people fresh out of college. The promise of working for an outstanding employer offers another extremely powerful draw.

Granholm has asked First Gentleman Daniel Mulhern to work with the companies that have been honored to identify best practices and cultivate them statewide. Mulhern’s work will utilize the tremendous assets these companies (listed below) represent and help promote the creation of outstanding work environments as a goal for every company.

Republic Bancorp: commercial banks. Headquartered in Owosso, this company employs 1,292 people.

Quicken Loans: commercial banks. Headquartered in Livonia, this company employs 1,911 people and created 230 new jobs last year.

Bronson Healthcare Group: health care. Headquartered in Kalamazoo, this company employs 3,172 people and created 196 new jobs last year.

Plante & Moran: consulting services. Headquartered in Southfield, this company employs 1,242 people and created 68 jobs last year.

Valassis: advertising/marketing. Headquartered in Livonia, this company employs 1,754 people and created 90 jobs last year.

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