December 30, 2009
December 30, 2009
In radio address, governor says focus remains on diversification, education, protection
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said as one of the most difficult years in Michigan history draws to a close, her administration continues to focus on economic diversification, education, and protecting citizens.
"In 2009, the unimaginable happened with the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler," Granholm said. "The subsequent restructuring of the auto industry has made one thing crystal clear: The old Michigan economy is gone, and it's not coming back."
"In response, our strategy continues to be to diversify Michigan's economy, educate and train our citizens for 21st century jobs, and protect people during this transition from the old economy to the new," Granholm continued. "Our diversification plan focuses on six economic sectors: advanced manufacturing, clean energy, life sciences, defense and homeland security, tourism, and film."
Highlighting just a few of this year's successes, the governor said Michigan is well on its way to becoming the advanced-battery capital of the world.
"State tax credit legislation that I signed in January combined with the Department of Energy grants announced in August have laid the foundation for this entire new industry," Granholm said. "Battery plants will begin sprouting up across the state, from Holland on the west side to Brownstown Township on the east. An MSU economist projects that up to 40,000 jobs will be created in this industry by 2020."
The governor noted similar successes in other targeted economic sectors, more than 105,000 enrollees in the No Worker Left Behind program, and the recent Race to the Top education reforms.
"While 2009 was a tough year for Michigan, better days lie ahead," Granholm said. "Our plan to diversify Michigan's economy, educate and train our citizens and protect people during this time of economic transition is the right plan for Michigan."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available for download on the governor's Web site at www.michigan.gov/gov together with a clip of the quote above. The radio address also is available as a podcast on the Web site as well as on iTunes and via 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 - Year End
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov230_Full_305742_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov230_Edit_305743_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov230_Quote_305744_7.mp3
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
One of the most difficult years in Michigan history is drawing to a close. In 2009, the unimaginable happened with the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler. The subsequent restructuring of the auto industry has made one thing crystal clear: The old Michigan economy is gone, and it's not coming back.
In response, our strategy continues to be to diversify Michigan's economy, educate and train our citizens for 21st century jobs, and protect people during this transition from the old economy to the new.
Our diversification plan focuses on six economic sectors: advanced manufacturing, such as nanotechnology and robotics; clean energy; life sciences; defense and homeland security; tourism; and film. Let me highlight just a few of this year's successes.
Michigan is well on its way to becoming the advanced-battery capital of the world. State tax credit legislation that I signed in January combined with the Department of Energy grants announced in August have laid the foundation for this entire new industry. Battery plants will begin sprouting up across the state, from Holland on the west side to Brownstown Township on the east. An MSU economist projects that up to 40,000 jobs will be created in this industry by the year 2020.
Solar energy manufacturing also is rapidly growing with investments topping $3.5 billion over the last five years. The Saginaw Valley area is emerging as a hub for solar manufacturing, with another two companies recently announcing they're joining Hemlock Semiconductor in the area.
Advanced manufacturing is also on the rise. General Motors announced recently it's investing $700 million to build the Chevrolet Volt in Michigan. Ford will invest $550 million in its Wayne Assembly plant to build its new electric vehicle, and Chrysler is investing $179 million to build a new engine in Dundee.
With more than 540 life sciences companies, Michigan ranks second in the nation for overall industrial research. Defense contracts and jobs have doubled in the state since 2007, and we see continued growth in our tourism and film industries.
For economic diversification to continue to succeed, we need an educated and trained workforce. So more than 105,000 people have enrolled in our No Worker Left Behind program to receive training for jobs in high demand - 105,000 people. And the Race to the Top education reforms recently passed by the state Legislature are going to help prepare our children for college and beyond.
While 2009 was a tough year for Michigan, better days lie ahead. Our plan to diversify Michigan's economy, educate and train our citizens, and protect people during this time of economic transition is the right plan for Michigan.
Thank you for listening.
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