April 09, 2010
April 9, 2010
Project would mean jobs in Upper Peninsula
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm began her tenth investment mission in Rome, Italy today meeting with CEO Giuseppe Bono and other senior leadership of Fincantieri Marine Group LLC, a global designer and manufacturer of merchant and naval vessels. The company is bidding for the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract that has the potential to create an initial 2,630 Michigan jobs in both the upper and lower peninsulas. The governor offered full state support for the company's bid, including $1.4 million in workforce training assistance.
"Aggressively going after opportunities in the homeland security and defense sector is part of our strategy to diversify Michigan's economy and create new jobs," Granholm said. "We are working hard to bring this project to the Michigan-Wisconsin border and create new jobs for Michigan workers and new opportunities for dozens of Michigan suppliers."
Marinette Marine-Fincantieri, which operates a shipbuilding facility in Marinette, Wisconsin, on the Michigan border adjacent to Menominee, is partnering with Lockheed Martin to win the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract from the Department of Defense. The LCS, established in 2003, is an innovative, high-speed, shallow-draft, reconfigurable warship.
Earlier today, the governor met with Italian Secretary of State Stefania Craxi to discuss the importance of the Italian Consulate in Detroit. Granholm and Michigan Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Greg Main are in Italy and Germany April 9-15 to encourage companies to expand or establish their presence in Michigan.
While in Italy, the governor also will meet with officials from Magneti Marelli, a supplier of engine, powertrain and electrical components to Fiat and with Sergio Marchionne, Fiat S.p.A and Chrysler Group LLC CEO. Approximately 25 executives from Italian auto suppliers will attend the Association of the Automotive Industry (ANFIA) luncheon where the governor will highlight Michigan's automotive research and development strengths and diversification efforts.
In Germany, meetings are scheduled with executives from various divisions of the Bosch group; MITEC AG, a global auto propulsion technology company; Kostal, a manufacturer of electromechanical and mechatronic products; and Daimler. Approximately 100 company officials, government leaders and members of the German press are expected to attend a reception in
Stuttgart co-hosted by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Stuttgart Region and the Byrnes Institute where the governor will discuss Michigan's focus on clean-energy manufacturing and jobs.
This trip to Italy and Germany is the governor's tenth overseas investment mission since 2004. Her previous missions to Austria, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Japan, Jordan and Sweden have resulted in 47 companies announcing over $1.6 billion in new investment in Michigan and 12,995 (7,344 direct) jobs created and retained.
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