August 18, 2006

Governor presents transportation funding, promotes alternative energy at U.P. State Fair

LANSING – During a stop at the U.P. State Fair, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said her economic plan is beginning to pay dividends for the state and for citizens in the Upper Peninsula.

Granholm also presented a check for more than $6 million for the improvement of U.P. roads, part of her Jobs Today plan, and highlighted the important role alternative energy development and production has in diversifying the state’s economy.

“We are working to strengthen our Upper Peninsula job providers,” Granholm said.  “We have a comprehensive plan that puts Michigan and its people first while creating jobs. We are working this plan every day across the state and we are seeing dividends even as we speak.”

Granholm highlighted businesses such as Systems Control in Iron Mountain and Global Response North in Iron River as examples of companies that chose Michigan to expand their business.

Earlier in the day, Granholm attended the grand opening of Ag Solutions, Inc. in Gladstone.  The company is Michigan’s first operating commercial biodiesel processing plant and will produce 5 million gallons of biodiesel fuel a year. Though just beginning its operations, the company is already planning to expand to 20 million gallons a year based on growing demand for alternative fuels, Granholm said.

Granholm has been a leader in promoting alternative energy use in Michigan.  A portion of the $2 billion 21st Century Jobs Fund, which is part of the governor’s economic plan, is being targeted to developing alternative energy technology and production.  In its first round of funding, more than 80 alternative energy companies applied for funding from the 21st Century Jobs Fund.

In addition to promoting alternative energy use, Granholm’s economic plan is:

• Improving the state’s business climate by eliminating more than $4 billion in budget deficits, cutting business taxes, including a $600 million tax cut for manufacturers, reducing permitting time for businesses and making permits available online, and spending state dollars with Michigan companies.

• Connecting workers to available jobs through the MI Opportunity Partnership.  By partnering with businesses and community colleges, the program has already helped more than 100,000 people get jobs.

• Creating jobs today by accelerating ten years of public infrastructure projects into three years.  More than 40,000 jobs will be created while our roads and bridges are improved, older nursing homes are modernized, and environmentally-contaminated land is made usable again.

• Preparing all students for success by increasing public education funding to a record high, pushing for and signing a new rigorous core curriculum for high schools, doubling the number of college graduates in ten years, and giving every child a $4,000 New Merit Award Scholarship.

• Diversifying Michigan’s economy through the 21st Century Jobs Fund, a $2 billion investment in alternative energy, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and homeland security/defense technology. 

• Expanding access to affordable health care through the MiRx Card that cuts the cost of prescription drugs for those without coverage and the Michigan First Health Care Plan which will make affordable health care available to every Michigan citizen.