October 22, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2010
In radio address, governor says work continues on diversifying economy, creating jobs
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said her just-concluded overseas investment mission to France and Sweden is about going anywhere and doing anything to bring new investment and jobs to Michigan.
"My previous 10 missions to countries like Belgium, Germany, Italy and Japan have resulted in 48 companies announcing more than $1.8 billion in new investment in Michigan," Granholm said. "That new investment has created or retained more than 20,000 Michigan jobs."
"Last week while I was in France, I met with executives from Valeo, a leading global supplier of automotive systems and components," Granholm said. "Last June, Valeo opened a manufacturing facility in Highland Park. I also met with company officials from Dassault Systemes to discuss future Michigan business opportunities. Dassault is one of the world's largest IT systems companies, and has operations in Auburn Hills along with its Delmia subsidiary."
"In Sweden, I met with the managing director of URV, a manufacturer of wind turbine castings, and announced that URV USA plans to increase the capacity of its proposed foundry in Eaton Rapids, creating 276 jobs over the next four years," Granholm continued. "Pending financial support from the U.S. Department of Energy, the capacity of the URV USA foundry in Eaton Rapids could eventually quadruple. It would be the largest specialized foundry for wind turbine castings in the world, supplying two-thirds of the big castings market in North America."
"This investment mission to Sweden and France, like my previous 10 overseas missions, is about going anywhere and doing anything to bring new investment and new jobs to Michigan," Granholm said. "And every day between now and the end of the year, we'll continue working to diversify Michigan's economy and create new jobs."
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 - Investment Mission
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov272Full_336420_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov272Edit_336421_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov272Quote_336422_7.mp3
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
I've been in Sweden this week and in France last week as part of my 11th overseas investment mission since 2004. My previous 10 missions to countries like Belgium, Germany, Italy and Japan have resulted in 48 companies announcing more than $1.8 billion in new investment in Michigan. And of course that new investment has created or retained more than 20,000 Michigan jobs.
Last week while I was in France, I met with executives from Valeo, which is a leading global supplier of automotive systems and components. Last June, Valeo opened a manufacturing facility in Highland Park. The Valeo Front End Module Division offers product support to Ford, Chrysler and General Motors, and the company plans to invest up to $3 million in upgrades and equipment at its Highland Park location.
I also met with company officials from Dassault Systemes to discuss future Michigan business opportunities for them. Dassault is one of the world's largest IT systems companies, and it has operations in Auburn Hills along with its Delmia subsidiary.
In France I spoke with the CEO of the French-based BSR Group whose subsidiary, Revocoat, is acquiring a Detroit-based sealants company called Coat-It. I encouraged the expansion of Coat-It in Michigan and the addition of more jobs to the 60 that are already in Michigan.
Here in Sweden, I met with the managing director of URV, a manufacturer of wind turbine castings, and I announced that URV USA plans to increase the capacity of its proposed foundry in Eaton Rapids, creating 276 jobs over the next four years.
Pending financial support from the U.S. Department of Energy, the capacity of the URV USA foundry in Eaton Rapids could eventually quadruple. It would be the largest specialized foundry for wind turbine castings in the world, supplying two-thirds of the big castings market in North America.
We also announced that Swedish Biogas International is exploring the development of a second facility in Michigan to produce renewable energy from municipal and agricultural waste.
The Swedish Biogas International facility in Flint, which is one of Michigan's first Centers of Energy Excellence, was initiated in 2008 to convert wastes from the city's wastewater treatment plant into bio-based energy like biogas. Swedish Biogas has begun an engineering study for a second project at Reed City's municipal treatment plant using agricultural waste.
This investment mission to Sweden and France, like my previous 10 overseas missions, is about going anywhere and doing anything to bring new investment and new jobs to Michigan. And every day between now and the end of the year, we'll continue working to diversify Michigan's economy and create new jobs.
Thank you for listening.
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