May 19, 2006

LANSING – After three days of meetings with executives and business leaders at major Japanese companies, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today highlighted the success of her investment mission with the state’s economic development team to Japan in her weekly radio address.  Granholm returned to Michigan with commitments from 12 companies to create more than 400 jobs and over $84 million in new investments in Michigan.

“This jobs mission was a great opportunity to insource jobs to Michigan.  This week in Japan has made me even prouder of Michigan – the business people I’ve met with and worked with have been so excited about the opportunities to grow in our state,” Granholm said in her weekly radio address, which she recorded from Nagoya, Japan.  “You can bet that I’ll be back on the road soon, going anywhere and doing anything to create jobs here in Michigan.”
 
Granholm, who was joined in Japan by Michigan Economic Development Corporation President and CEO James C. Epolito, said this investment mission had similar success to her mission last July, which brought jobs back from companies like DENSO and Tokai Rika.  Epolito and members of the economic development team continued on to South Korea and China following their meetings in Japan.
 
Company expansions announced from Japan include:

• Konica Minolta Holdings that recently purchased newspaper printing plate manufacturer American Litho in Grand Rapids. Konica plans to invest $13.3 million in expanding their facility.

• Meiden American, a heavy electrical equipment manufacturer, is planning to expand its Michigan presence.  The company will invest $10 million to open a new facility. The company currently employs seven people at their Novi office.

• Shikoku Cable Company that plans to invest $250,000 to expand its sales operations in Novi. The company manufactures coaxial cable for the satellite and cable television industry.

• Taichi-S, an automotive seating manufacturer, is planning to invest $700,000 to expand its existing engineering facility in Farmington Hills. The company also operates a subsidiary know as Technotrim in Livonia that makes automotive seat covers.

• JTEKT, a partnership formed earlier this year between Toyoda Machinery and Koyo Seiko, has announced the company will expand operations in Plymouth.  The company manufactures auto parts including steering systems, bearings and drivelines. 

• Takao Metals, which currently has an engineering facility in Wixom, has recently begun construction on a new facility in Canton to expand engineering and light assembly operations. The parent company of Takao America, and one of the core automobile parts manufacturers for Honda, will invest $10 million.

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, which currently has an office in Sterling Heights, will locate a new facility in Wixom this summer.  The company produces heavy equipment, including engines and power systems.

• Mitsui Chemical, one of the world’s largest producers of chemical products, has announced the company will consolidate production at its Adrian facility this summer.  The consolidation will generate approximately $6 million in investment and move jobs from the company’s Indiana plant.

While in Japan, Granholm also pitched the 21st Century Jobs Fund to several companies looking to invest in Michigan and met with potential buyers of Delphi plants in the state.  Members of her economic team also presented Honda with a site proposal for their new North American plant and met with company officials from Mazda.
 
“We will continue to build the strong relationships with business leaders that resulted in these expansions, and that will lead to future growth to make Michigan an even stronger competitor in the global 21st century economy,” Granholm said. 
 
In 2004 and 2005, Granholm led investment missions to Germany and Japan, respectively.  Following her 2005 mission to Japan, a total of 10 companies stated their intentions to expand in Michigan for a total investment of $116 million and 630 new jobs.  Granholm’s 2004 investment mission to Germany resulted in eight companies investing approximately $30 million and creating more than 150 new Michigan jobs over the next several years, including Behr Industries, Eberspacher, and Bosch.

The Governor’s weekly radio address is released each Friday at 10:00 a.m. and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state through an affiliation with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.  The address will also be available on the Governor’s website on Mondays as a podcast for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers

Broadcasters Note: Governor Granholm’s radio address can be accessed through Sunday evening exclusively through the Members Only page of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters website. 

Publishers Note: The text of today’s address is attached.