September 17, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2010
In radio address, governor says new grants will assist entrepreneurs in business startups
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said small businesses are the engine of job creation, and Michigan is helping fuel that engine.
"We've got more than 187,000 small businesses throughout the state," Granholm said. "And these small businesses account for 98.4 percent of all Michigan employers and 52 percent of the state's jobs. We're working to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and the startup of new businesses."
"Today we announced the awarding of more than $1.4 million in Regional Entrepreneurial Collaborative grants which are funded through our No Worker Left Behind job training program," Granholm continued. "The grants announced today will go to nine organizations that serve 53 of the state's 83 counties. These counties are the ones that need the most help with building support systems for entrepreneurs, and the grants will be used to prepare entrepreneurs for business startups and provide them with assistance."
"The Regional Entrepreneurial Collaborative grants will enhance an entrepreneurial support ecosystem that's already among the best in the nation," Granholm said. "That ecosystem includes 12 Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Centers that provide counseling, training and research for new ventures, existing small businesses and innovative technology companies."
"Across the state, small and medium-sized businesses are a major catalyst for job growth and economic diversification," Granholm said. "In this new Michigan economy, we're working hard to encourage entrepreneurship and to help small businesses thrive."
Following is a link to the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth press release with more information about the Regional Entrepreneurial Collaborative grants: http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-10573_11472-243747--,00.html
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 - Entrepreneurship
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov267Full_332783_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov267Edit_332784_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov267Quote_332785_7.mp3
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
Small businesses are the engine of job creation, and in Michigan we're doing everything we can to fuel that engine. We've got more than 187,000 small businesses throughout the state. And these small businesses account for 98.4 percent of all Michigan employers and 52 percent of the state's jobs.
Traditionally, though, our culture of work in Michigan has centered on large companies, particularly those in the auto industry.
But the world has changed, and we have to change too. Large companies have downsized and are not the big job creators they once were. So we've been working to change our culture in Michigan to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and the startup of new businesses.
Today we announced the awarding of more than $1.4 million in Regional Entrepreneurial Collaborative grants which are funded through our No Worker Left Behind job training program. A Regional Entrepreneurial Collaborative includes local chambers of commerce, workforce and economic development organizations, financial institutions and universities and colleges.
The grants announced today will go to nine organizations that serve 53 of the state's 83 counties, from Lenawee County all the way to Keweenaw County at the tip of the Upper Peninsula. These counties are the ones that need the most help with building support systems for entrepreneurs, and the grants will be used to prepare entrepreneurs for business startups and provide them with assistance.
The Regional Entrepreneurial Collaborative grants will enhance an entrepreneurial support ecosystem that's already among the best in the nation. That ecosystem includes 12 Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Centers that provide counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures, existing small businesses, and innovative technology companies.
And through a nationally renowned, hands-on business development program, we're also helping 1,000 prospective entrepreneurs hone the skills they need to create, manage and grow a successful business.
Every small business needs investment capital, and we're assisting businesses in accessing capital in several ways. One is through our 21st Century Jobs Fund. The goals include increasing capital investment and commercial lending activity in Michigan. Another is the Michigan Small Business Financing Alliance through which more than 30 credit unions have pledged at least $43 million for eligible small business loans.
Across the state, small and medium-sized businesses are a major catalyst for job growth and economic diversification. In this new Michigan economy, we're working hard to encourage entrepreneurship and to help small businesses thrive.
Thank you for listening.
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