October 29, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2010
In radio address, governor says Michigan solidifies its position as center of auto industry
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said that action taken by the state this week resulted in a historic investment in Michigan by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, and the creation and retention of thousands of jobs.
"This week, working through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, we took action to help the state's automakers grow and prosper in Michigan," Granholm said. "On Tuesday the board of the Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved state tax incentives for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler to expand their operations in Michigan."
"As a result of these tax incentives, GM, Ford and Chrysler will now invest in Michigan a total of more than $2 billion," Granholm continued. "This historic investment means 2,250 new job opportunities for workers and the retention of another 216,000 jobs, which includes jobs at the auto companies themselves and spin-off jobs like the ones at auto suppliers."
"All of these investments by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler solidify Michigan's position as the center of the auto industry in the United States and the world," Granholm said. "But the Big Three's decisions to invest in Michigan didn't just happen. Michigan was competing with other states and even foreign countries for these new investments and jobs. It took some creative thinking in the structure of our tax incentives to make a solid business case for the Big Three to invest here and not elsewhere."
"By the state working together with Ford, GM and Chrysler, these automakers will continue to keep their headquarters, engineering, research and development and manufacturing operations right here in Michigan," Granholm said. "Now that is great news for our state - and for all Michigan workers whose livelihoods depend on the auto industry."
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 - Auto Investments
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov273Full_337240_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov273Edit_337241_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov273Quote_337242_7.mp3
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Radio Address: Auto Investments
October 29, 2010
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
Do you hear that roar? Well, that's the domestic auto industry revving up in Michigan.
This week, working through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, we took action to help the state's automakers grow and prosper in Michigan.
On Tuesday the board of the Michigan Economic Growth Authority - commonly known as MEGA - approved state tax incentives for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler to expand their operations in Michigan.
And as a result of these tax incentives, GM, Ford and Chrysler will now invest in Michigan a total of more than $2 billion. This historic investment means 2,250 new job opportunities for workers and the retention of another 216,000 jobs, which includes jobs at the auto companies themselves and spin-off jobs like the ones at auto suppliers.
The auto companies' investments in Michigan cover a wide spectrum.
Chrysler is ready to invest $1 billion in its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant - this was a plant that was declared dead a year ago but which now has a new lease on life - and Chrysler will invest as well in the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance plant in Dundee.
Ford plans to invest $850 million in product platforms related to fuel efficiency, and that investment is expected to create 1,200 new jobs in plants across the state.
General Motors is planning to add a hybrid electric vehicle and battery engineering operation at its existing battery lab in Warren, and that will create 900 new jobs. And a GM subsidiary will expand in-house support for battery module and pack assembly in Brownstown Township, meaning an additional 150 jobs.
On Thursday, there was even more good news from GM. GM is going to build a smaller version of the Cadillac at its Grand River Assembly plant in Lansing - that's a $190 million investment and an additional 600 jobs.
All of these investments by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler solidify Michigan's position as the center of the auto industry in the United States and the world. But the Big Three's decisions to invest in Michigan didn't just happen.
Obviously they've gone through a very, very difficult period of time. And now Michigan was competing with other states and even foreign countries for these new investments and jobs. It took some creative thinking in the structure of our tax incentives to make a solid business case for the Big Three to invest here and not elsewhere.
By the state working together with Ford, GM and Chrysler, these automakers will continue to keep their headquarters, engineering, research and development and manufacturing operations right here in Michigan. Now that is great news for our state - and for all Michigan workers whose livelihoods depend on the auto industry.
Thank you for listening.
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