September 10, 2004

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today signed Senate Bill 1124 into law, authorizing the Department of Management and Budget to negotiate for the sale of 690 acres of state-owned land in Washtenaw County to Toyota Technical Center USA, Inc. to create a new research and development center on the site.

"Toyota is poised to expand their operations in Michigan and that means great new job opportunities for Michigan residents," Granholm said. "The Toyota Technical Center is proposing the type of development that will further cement Michigan as the global epicenter of the automobile industry."
 Granholm applauded state lawmakers for acting quickly on her request to authorize the land sale to Toyota.

"We are working in a bipartisan way to bring 21st century jobs to Michigan, and we are committed to doing whatever we need to do to make those jobs a reality," Granholm added.

Under the legislation the state of Michigan will sell the land, which is located in York Township at the intersection of US-23 and Willis Road, following a determination by the State Administrative Board that the sale represents a fair exchange of value for Michigan taxpayers.