February 05, 2010
February 5, 2010
In radio address, governor emphasizes economic diversification, job-creation, education
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said that the grim events of 2009 confirmed that her administration's long-standing plan for a new Michigan economy is the right one.
"Through this plan, we're creating jobs by diversifying our economy, educating our people to fill jobs and to be entrepreneurs, and helping people transition from the old Michigan economy to the new," Granholm said.
The governor said her administration has laid the foundation for the new Michigan economy by steadily building six sectors: clean energy, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, film, tourism and homeland security and defense.
"Our auto companies also are part of the new Michigan economy as they gear up for electric vehicle production," Granholm said. "Advanced batteries will power these electric vehicles, and we've worked hard to attract battery companies to Michigan and make our state the worldwide center for advanced-battery production."
Granholm said to continue moving forward on diversifying Michigan's economy and creating jobs, several steps need to be taken this year.
"First, we have to pass a balanced budget that helps to create jobs," Granholm said. "Second, we need to continue reforming government to make it more efficient, less costly and more focused on job-creation and education. And third, every day, we must continue fighting to create and grow jobs."
"When a new governor and a new Legislature take office next year, I'm sure they'll have their own ideas," Granholm said. "But Democrats, Republicans and independents alike will have to confront this truth: We cannot turn back. Our plan - creating jobs by diversifying, educating people and protecting people - is the path forward."
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 - New Michigan Economy
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov235Full_310186_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov235Edit_310187_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov235Quote_310188_7.mp3
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
As governor of this great state, I'm fighting every day for jobs for the people of Michigan. In my State of the State speech earlier this week, I talked about job-creation and economic diversification. My message was clear: Our world has changed. The old Michigan economy, dependent so long on one industry, is gone. Its epitaph was written last year.
However, the grim events of 2009 confirmed that our long-standing plan for a new Michigan economy is the right one. Through this plan, we're creating jobs by diversifying our economy, educating our people to fill jobs and to be entrepreneurs, and helping people transition from the old Michigan economy to the new. My administration has laid the foundation for the new Michigan economy by steadily building six sectors. These sectors are:
In the fight for new jobs and businesses in these sectors, Michigan has several competitive advantages to every other state. No state has the skilled workforce that we do. Nobody has the manufacturing capacity and know-how that we have. No one has the natural resources - the water, the forests and the diverse agriculture - that we have. Add in our great colleges and universities, and we have many assets to attract new companies and whole new industries.
Our auto companies also are part of the new Michigan economy as they gear up for electric-vehicle production. Advanced batteries will power these electric vehicles, and we've worked hard to attract battery companies to Michigan and make our state the worldwide center for advanced-battery production.
To continue moving forward on diversifying our economy and creating jobs, we need to do the following things this year.
First, we have to pass a balanced budget that helps to create jobs. And I'll provide more details about my budget when I present it to the Legislature next week.
Second, we need to continue reforming government to make it more efficient, less costly, and more focused on job-creation and education.
And third, every day we must continue fighting to create and grow jobs in Michigan.
When a new governor and a new Legislature take office next year, I'm sure they'll have their own ideas. But Democrats, Republicans and independents alike will have to confront this truth: We cannot turn back. Our plan - creating jobs by diversifying, educating people and protecting people - that is the path forward.
Thank you for listening.
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