Governor committed to going anywhere and doing anything to bring jobs toMichigan

LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today previewed her seventh international jobs and investment mission.  Departing today, the governor will travel to Israel and Jordan, returning on November 21.  During the seven-day trip, Granholm's first to the Middle East, the governor and her delegation will meet with company executives considering investment in Michigan or that are ripe for international investment.

"With my economic team, I will be traveling to Israel and Jordan to meet with CEOs and leaders in alternative energy, homeland security, water preservation technology, and advanced automotive research - industries that are primed to invest right here in Michigan," Granholm said. "In total, our team will travel to three countries where we'll hold 48 meetings to meet with as many as 130 companies."

The governor highlighted some of the companies she will meet with to maximize Michigan's unique opportunity to lead the world in alternative energy development, for example, Project Better Place in Israel, a company building battery-powered vehicles; Powermat, a high-tech Israeli company bringing efficient wireless electricity to surfaces including walls, tables, floors and desktops; and Millennium Solar, a Jordanian company that is using solar energy to power all kinds of devices,         

"My pitch to these companies is simple:  If you want a world-class workforce, if you want flexible and extensive economic development incentives, if you want a great business climate and outstanding quality of life, then Michigan is your place to invest," Granholm said.

The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday morning and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state.  The address is available on the governor's Web site at (www.michigan.gov/gov) for download, together with a clip of the quote above.  The radio address is also available as a podcast on the Web site, as well as on iTunes and vi2a RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers.  Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm

Radio Address - Middle East Jobs Mission Preview

November 14, 2008

Full:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov171_Full_256181_7.mp3

Edited:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov171_Edit_256197_7.mp3

Quote:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov171_Quote_256199_7.mp3

Hello.  This is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

This week, I continue my commitment to go anywhere and do anything to create jobs for Michigan as I embark on my seventh international jobs and investment mission - this time to the Middle East.

With my economic team, I will be traveling to Israel and Jordan to meet with CEOs and leaders in alternative energy, homeland security, water preservation technology, and advanced automotive research - all industries that are primed to invest right here in Michigan.  In total, our team will travel to three countries, where we'll hold 48 meetings to meet with as many as 130 companies.

My pitch to these companies is simple:  If you want a world-class workforce, if you want flexible and extensive economic development incentives, if you want a great business climate and outstanding quality of life, then Michigan is your place to invest.

My previous investment missions to Germany, Austria, Japan, and Sweden have resulted in 42 companies announcing over $944 million in new investment and the creation or retention of more than 10,600 jobs here in Michigan.

On this seven-day mission, we will lay the groundwork for new jobs and investment, and there is great opportunity for both in Israel and Jordan.  Israel is a world-leader in homeland security and water preservation technology development and has a unique mix of industries that closely parallel the industries we want to grow in Michigan.

To maximize Michigan's unique opportunity to lead the world in alternative energy development, we will meet with a number of companies who can help us meet that goal, including Project Better Place in Israel, a company building battery-powered vehicles.  We'll meet with Powermat, a high-tech Israeli company bringing efficient wireless electricity to surfaces, including walls, tables, floors and desktops; and we'll meet with Millennium Solar- a Jordanian company that is using solar energy to power all kinds of devices.  I will also meet with the U.S. Ambassador to Israel and several other government officials to promote all that Michigan has to offer to companies creating new energy jobs here.

While in Israel, we will also take a close look at that country's water re-use technology.  Water re-use is a major issue throughout the Middle East due to limited water resources, and Israel has developed innovative ways to make the best use of their short supply.  So, Michigan's location on the Great Lakes makes us the ideal partner to Israel on this issue to create technology jobs here as we protect our own water.

And as our automotive industry leaders continue to make tough decisions in the face of an evolving global economy and massive restructuring, it is critical that we diversify our industrial base.  As I have said time and again, Michigan's economic future depends on the jobs we create, retain, and attract, and that is why I will continue to go anywhere, and do anything to fight for every Michigan worker and every Michigan job.

Thank you for listening.

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