LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today summarized her international jobs and investment mission to the Middle East, where she and her delegation met with company executives considering investment in Michigan or that are ripe for international investment.  The governor also said that as positive as her seventh jobs mission was, she returned early so she could help argue the need for quick action to help the auto industry.

"My team and I met with companies that specialize in the same kinds of industries that we are working to create here in Michigan - alternative energy, homeland security, medical technology and more," Granholm said.  "We have the workforce and manufacturing expertise that is a perfect fit for these types of companies.  Our team made a strong case for Michigan, and I believe that in the coming months, we will have a number of exciting jobs announcements."

Granholm said that even with the success of the jobs mission, this was a difficult week to be so far from Michigan.  The governor underscored that the on-going debate in Congress about help for the automakers is not only critical to the economic health of Michigan and the entire country, but also the ability to achieve energy independence and maintain national

"That's why, while our economic team continued its work in the Middle East, I returned earlier than planned to join our outstanding team at work in Washington," Granholm said.  Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and our House delegation led by Congressmen Sandy Levin and John Dingell are fighting to protect our auto industry, our families, and our economy, and I am proud to lend my voice to their efforts."

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 & Autos

Release Date: November 21, 2008

Full:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov172_Full_257693_7.mp3

Edited:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov172_Edit_257695_7.mp3

Quote:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov172_Quote_257697_7.mp3

This is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

A week ago, I departed on my seventh overseas mission, to bring investment and new jobs to Michigan - this time to the Middle East.

It was a great trip.

My team and I met with companies that specialize in the same kinds of industries that we are working to create here in Michigan - alternative energy, homeland security, medical technology and more.

These companies, like Better Place in Israel which is working on the electric car and Millennium Solar in Jordan which can power entire factories using solar power, are already successful in the Middle East.  Now, they want access to the North American market and thanks to our visit, they now know Michigan is the perfect place to make that happen.

We have the workforce and manufacturing expertise that is a perfect fit for these types of companies.  Our team made a strong case for Michigan and I believe that in the coming months, we will have a number of exciting jobs announcements.

We also signed an historic agreement with Israel - a joint declaration of strategic cooperation for creating jobs in water technology.  Israel and Michigan share a commitment to protecting the world's water and this first-of-its-kind agreement commits us to collaborating to find new methods for keeping our water clean, using it to create renewable energy, and allowing water re-use for generations to come. But as positive as this jobs mission was, this was a difficult week to be so far from Michigan. 

The on-going debate in Congress about help for our automakers is not only critical to the economic health of Michigan and the entire country, but also to our ability to achieve energy independence and maintaining our national security. 

That's why, while our economic team continued its work in the Middle East, I returned earlier than planned to join our outstanding team at work in Washington.  Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and our House delegation led by Congressmen Sandy Levin and John Dingell are fighting to protect our auto industry, our families, and our economy, and I am proud to lend my voice to their efforts.

Though it was disappointing to see Congressional leaders postpone action on a much-needed loan for auto companies, I was encouraged to hear their strong commitment to helping them avoid bankruptcy.  They recognize, as I do, that far too many families and communities depend on this critical sector.  We cannot simply walk away from it.

Its been a tough week, but the people of Michigan are tougher.  This nation is headed toward a new alternative energy economy and Michigan will be at the center of it.  We are committed to fighting for a economic future that includes healthy auto companies producing the next generation of vehicles right here in the United States, whether those vehicles are fuel efficient, gas-powered, or battery-powered, or electric-powered, or hybrid.

Thank you for listening.

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