JCI battery plant expected to bring 550 jobs to Holland by 2014
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Resumes are pouring into Johnson Controls Inc. for what will be the site of its largest plant to produce lithium-ion batteries for hybrid and electric cars.

Granholm urges merging of state budget and technology departments
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Wednesday ordered the merging of two state departments: Management and Budget and Information and Technology. The consolidated Department of Technology, Management and Budget would go into effect March 21, following a 60-day legislative review period. The order takes effect unless rejected by both the House and the Senate, a prospect considered unlikely.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm extends tax credit to donation of used vehicles
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Charitable organizations received a belated Christmas gift Monday, when Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed legislation extending a tax credit for those who donate used vehicles to nonprofit groups.

Effect of Magna Electronics deal will ripple across our area
Sunday, December 27, 2009
As Gov. Jennifer Granholm noted, not only does Flint get to hold onto a piece of its heritage -- automotive manufacturing -- it gets to play a role in the new direction the industry is taking. Most importantly, of course, these new jobs hold the potential to spur economic growth in other quarters and put a serious dent in the area's staggeringly high unemployment rate.

Granholm says she'll lead campaign for tax changes
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
"I don't want to leave office without having education on a more stable foundation," she said. "But I can't do it myself."

Governor Granholm Calls 2009 "Watershed" Year in Effort to Diversify Economy, Educate, Train Citizens
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
"An emerging advanced-battery industry in Michigan; a growing solar-energy industry, particularly in the Saginaw Valley; investments in electric vehicles by GM, Ford and Chrysler; a burgeoning film industry; and enrollment topping 105,000 in the state's No Worker Left Behind job-training program are all signs that we are building a new Michigan."

Granholm signs state smoking ban into law
Saturday, December 19, 2009
"People who congregate -- workplaces, restaurants, bars -- they will be ensured of a healthy environment," Granholm said. "If you go there to enjoy a meal, you can return home without your clothes smelling or feeling like you've inhaled something that's harmful to you or to your family."

Michigan smoking ban signed into law
Friday, December 18, 2009
Video from WUPW

Chrysler to retool Dundee engine plant
Friday, December 18, 2009
The big news of the day was the investment to build a fuel-efficient, four-cylinder engine for use in the subcompact Fiat 500 and other Chrysler cars at the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance LLC in Dundee. That will create 155 Chrysler jobs and 573 spinoff jobs.

Industry growth shines as GlobalWatt picks Saginaw for plant
Thursday, December 17, 2009
A year to the day after Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. announced a $1 billion expansion in Thomas Township, San Jose, Calif.-based GlobalWatt Inc. announced Tuesday that it will locate its 500-job, $177 million solar module production plant in Saginaw. But Saginaw's solar flair goes back much further than one year. The Great Lakes Bay Region has lured more than $3 billion in solar-business investments in the past five years.

Granholm touts program to help with weatherization
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Armed with a caulking gun, Gov. Jennifer Granholm helped to weatherize a Lansing home this morning to highlight the benefits of a state program to upgrade the energy efficiency in homes of low-income families.

Gov. Granholm signs into law bills protecting customers from utility shut-offs
Monday, December 14, 2009
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the final pieces of legislation today that will protect municipal utility customers from having their electricity or gas shut off during the winter. The package of bills were introduced earlier this year after a 93-year-old Bay City man froze to death in his home.

With video: Granholm praises transformation on 'Meet the Press'
Monday, December 14, 2009
"Well, I think it's very clear these are not going to be the same kinds of jobs," Granholm said. "I just give you my Michigan perspective on this, but the traditional manufacturing jobs, which have repetitive motion, we know that a lot of those have gone to India, to China, to Asia. But we, we know we also need the investment in a level of skill, as Dr. Greenspan said." . . . "So this is today's Detroit Free Press, which I was reading. This is a fellow who used to run an auto supply company, and now they're making wind turbines. And the workers, who were auto workers, are now making wind turbines and they're all employed. It's a slightly different skill set but machining is required."

5 firms in Michigan to get green energy grants
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Five small manufacturing companies won $15.5 million in federal stimulus awards to help them move into making green energy systems and parts, Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced today. The firms will diversify from making tanks, auto parts and boats to manufacturing solar shingles, wind turbines and windmills. The governor's office reported the grants will create or retain 713 jobs. The state has invested $1 billion in renewable and alternative energy, Granholm said.

Statement on the Passing of Senator Kennedy
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today issued the following statement on the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Gov. disputes 'dangerous cuts': Granholm taking stand to protect state's public safety, economic future
Friday, July 17, 2009
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Friday that she wants to make sure upcoming budget cuts don't become so deep they threaten public safety or undermine the state's economic future.

With automaker crisis easing, it's time for Michigan to invest in future
Sunday, July 12, 2009
One positive sign was the commitment by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and lawmakers of $700 million in tax credits for battery development and production. More credits presumably will be approved for a fifth project in West Michigan -- a battery pack assembly plant by German manufacturer fortu PowerCell -- that Granholm landed during a two-day trip last week to Europe. Other projects are in line to receive hundreds of millions more in federal stimulus grants.

Another battery maker could consider West Michigan
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm this week raised the possibility of another battery manufacturing facility in West Michigan, announcing after some preliminary talks overseas that German company fortu PowerCell will look at possible West Michigan locations.

Governor's residence goes green with solar, wind power
Friday, July 10, 2009
Gov. Jennifer Granholm is taking her campaign for green technology to the governor's residence, where a wind turbine has been erected and solar panels will soon go up to increase the home's energy efficiency.

German battery maker seeks West Michigan manufacturing location
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced Thursday that German battery maker fortu PowerCell will search for a West Michigan manufacturing location, pending approval of state and local incentives. The possible deal comes after Granholm's two-day trip to Germany and Belgium in search of new investments.

GE To Open Advanced Manufacturing Technology & Software Center in Michigan
Sunday, June 28, 2009
"Michigan is a great location for a technology center because of its world-class engineering, technical talent and public officials who understand that investing now will create tomorrow's leading positions in information technology, clean energy and transportation." The state of Michigan is providing more than $60 million in incentives over the next 12 years to support the center. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said, "No state is working harder than Michigan to diversify its economy and create new jobs. GE's decision to invest and grow in Michigan demonstrates we have the high-tech workforce and competitive business climate necessary for global giants like GE to thrive in the 21st century."

Granholm says 'the sky's the limit' for new General Electric facility in Wayne County
Friday, June 26, 2009
An ecstatic Gov. Jennifer Granholm and other state politicians welcomed General Electric's announcement of a new research facility in Wayne County. "The sky's the limit!" Granholm shouted during GE CEO Jeff Immelt's plans to bring 1,200 technology jobs to the area.

GM picks Orion plant for new small car
Friday, June 26, 2009
General Motors Corp. confirmed it has chosen its Orion Township plant over factories in Tennessee and Wisconsin to build a new small car and will invest as much as $800 million revamping the factory.

Granholm's argument is stronger than Land's on furlough issue
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Granholm has made a stronger case for her action, and we believe that the majority of state employees would side with her. In this situation, it would be wrong to give one state department preferential -- and paid -- treatment over others.

GM: Battery plant coming to SE Michigan
Monday, January 12, 2009
General Motors Corp. will locate a new lithium-ion battery production plant in southeast Michigan as part of a strategic plan to support the automaker's electric vehicle program, CEO Rick Wagoner announced today.

DNA database law a new tool for police across Michigan
Saturday, January 3, 2009
A new law going into effect this year means Michigan's DNA database will grow, giving law enforcement thousands of new profiles to possibly match with evidence connected to crimes. Michigan joins 15 other states that have similar laws. The legislation, signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, went into effect Tuesday.

Gov. Granholm plans trip to Japan
Friday, September 5, 2008
Granholm told WWJ-AM and "The Paul W. Smith Show" on WJR-AM Friday morning that she will visit 23 companies in four cities on the trip that begins Sept. 15.

Michigan announces tax breaks to help create 9500 jobs
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
But in a region and state hungry for bright economic news, today's announcement that more than 1,100 jobs could be created through expansions by five area companies was hailed by officials from Grand Rapids to the Lakeshore. The expansions are among 20 statewide expected to receive Michigan tax incentives today that officials say will create 6,853 direct jobs, plus another 2,600 spin-offs.

Governor visits SVSU Tuesday
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
"We don't have a shortage of students," she said. "We have 4,400 people on a waiting list, but what they haven't had is the right number of faculty."

Granholm holds Great Lakes Compact signing ceremony
Monday, August 4, 2008
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm held a ceremonious bill-signing event in Ann Arbor Monday to inaugurate her signing of the Great Lakes Compact bill. The bill, which was already signed by eight Great Lakes states, prevents countries or remote states from tapping into the lakes from their natural drainage basin with rare exceptions. In addition, states would be required to regulate their own large-scale water uses and promote conservation. Michigan was the final state to approve the pact last month.

$300M to diversify state's economy
Friday, August 1, 2008
In a move widely hailed by many influential business leaders, Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Thursday unveiled a $300 million investment fund intended to diversify the state's economy by committing money to startup companies, some troubled businesses and some that will help bolster Michigan's manufacturing base. The Invest Michigan! program is funded with $300 million of the state's $57 billion pension fund assets. It will be divided into the Growth Capital Fund and the Michigan Opportunities Fund. Some of the businesses they hope to attract include health care, information technology and high tech, homeland security, alternative energy and auto suppliers.

Granholm gives details of new state investment program
Friday, August 1, 2008
Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Thursday unveiled details of a $300 million, two-pronged initiative to invest in Michigan companies. The Invest Michigan! program, first proposed in Granholm's 2008 State of the State address, will consist of two funds that are each capitalized with $150 million in Michigan pension funds.

New Dow venture to bring 800 jobs to SE Michigan
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
An $11-billion joint plastics venture between Dow Chemical Co. and a large Kuwaiti petrochemical company will bring 800 jobs to a new Michigan global headquarters, Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced today. The new company, K-Dow Petrochemicals, will decide this year on its headquarters location in southeast Michigan close to the I-96 and I-94 freeways, company executives said.

Governor touts gains from green
Friday, July 11, 2008
With fuel costs skyrocketing, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm showcased a state office building in downtown Saginaw to tout energy savings to taxpayers and urge consumers to follow the example. Granholm appeared Thursday at the Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee, to say energy-saving initiatives saved $21 million last year and a total of $45 million at state buildings since the effort started in 2005. Overall, those structures use 18 percent less energy than 2002. The program saved $16,000 inside the Hart building last year, officials said, where employees power down computers at night and the number of fluorescent lights

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm tours downtown Flint's renovation effort, calls it 'cool'
Friday, July 11, 2008
"You've got a great community that's decided to invest downtown," she said. "You've got people living down here, you've got offices, you've got retail. There are restaurants coming... . This is all cutting edge." Granholm, whose stop was to show support for revitalizing urban communities in Michigan, got her first look at two titan downtown projects -- the new foundation building and soon-to-open Wade Trim building -- spearheaded by real estate development group Uptown Developments.

Granholm touts plan for smaller high schools
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Especially concerned with the drop-out rate in Michigan, Governor Granholm hopes the state Senate will act on her idea to break up larger under-performing high schools into smaller ones. "I'm not interested in re-inventing the wheel," says Granholm. "There are clear models that have worked well--where you've gone in to areas where the drop-out rate has been high, and institute these rigorous high schools that are smaller and that are relevant to the economy, and kids graduate at a much higher rate."

Granholm: Ethanol plant to be built in Upper Peninsula
Friday, June 27, 2008
"This is a game-changer for Michigan," said Granholm, who has been a persistent advocate of replacing lost auto manufacturing jobs in the state with employment in the alternative energy industry. "Making bio-fuels here will mean cheaper gas for Michigan motorists."

State races to be 1st big wood ethanol maker
Friday, June 27, 2008
"Michigan, for us, is becoming one of the power alleys" in biofuels development, said Jamerson, Mascoma's president and CEO and a University of Michigan graduate. The UP's vast tracts of sustainable forest land, plus equity stakes in Mascoma taken by GM and Marathon, ensure that resources and expertise in fuel distribution and vehicle design are available.

Homegrown company promises students high-tech employment
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Liquid Web Inc. formally announced plans Tuesday to create 600 computer technology jobs during four years in the Lansing area with the creation of its third Lansing data center. Gov. Jennifer Granholm commended Liquid Web at a press conference Tuesday for staying in the state. "Our strategy is we're diversifying our economy, especially in this area of high tech," she said.

Statewide investment plan expected to secure jobs
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Combined, all 11 are expected to create and retain 3,900 jobs and generate nearly $180 million in new investments. Azentek based in Grand Blanc Township is one of those nine companies receiving a mega tax credit to stay and develop in Michigan. The 2-year-old company is expanding and investing $3 million in local operations.