July 20, 2007
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said she is eager to welcome governors from across the nation to discuss plans and policies for the future at this weekend's National Governors Association Annual Meeting in Traverse City. This year's meeting, with the theme Innovation America, will focus on using innovation to drive economic growth and success in a global economy.
"We've already seen that globalization - and our response to it - can have an enormous impact on Michigan families," Granholm said. "For some, like the displaced workers whose jobs have been sent to China or Mexico, the global economy can be devastating. And for others, like those who are trained in new skills and get high-tech, high-paying jobs that didn't exist a decade ago, globalization can mean amazing opportunities."
While Michigan is not the only state that has been battered by the forces of globalization, no state has been affected more. Granholm, vice-chair of the Economic Development and Commerce Committee, will co-host a forum that will give the governors the opportunity to discuss how states can use innovation to spur economic growth and create jobs. This is of particular importance as Michigan diversifies its economy beyond manufacturing and the automotive industry. The session will also allow business leaders and policymakers to present ideas on competing and winning in the global economy.
Governor Granholm pointed to Michigan's innovative education initiatives as an example of the groundbreaking, comprehensive approach that she has put in place in Michigan to improve competitiveness and promote economic growth. The Michigan Promise scholarship offers all students an opportunity to get $4,000 for college, allowing Michigan students to benefit from training that is critical for success in a knowledge-based economy. And, rigorous new high school curriculum standards ensure that students are well-prepared to enter the workforce and to continue education beyond high school. All of these measures bolster Michigan's position as a desirable location for cutting-edge technology businesses to locate and grow jobs.
"We've already set in motion an aggressive economic plan to help those families who are hurt by globalization get back on their feet," Granholm said. "Our plan is to bring more good-paying jobs and create more knowledge-economy success stories - the key to everything we are doing is innovation."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday morning 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 web site 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 Web site.
Publishers Note: The text of today's address is attached.
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