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.

Ford bringing Wayne plant back to life
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Ford Motor Company will turn the now-vacant Michigan Truck Plant into the new home of the automaker's new fuel efficient, global vehicle. Governor Granholm joined Ford executives in announcing details of a $550 million investment in the former Michigan Truck Plant Wednesday morning.

Granholm pitches MI wind energy in Chicago
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
"Michigan's most urgent need right now is jobs, and our greatest opportunity to bring jobs and investment to Michigan is to capitalize on our momentum in the alternative energy industry," Granholm said. "My economic team and I are pitching Michigan to the top wind-energy leaders in the world, letting them know that Michigan's economic incentives, world-class workforce, and manufacturing expertise make us the best spot in the nation to locate their companies. Growing Michigan's renewable-energy industry is an essential part of creating jobs quickly and diversifying our economy."

Michigan extends benefits for jobless by 7 more weeks
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
With the new bill signed into law by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Monday, Michigan's unemployed workers now can be eligible to receive up to 79 weeks of unemployment.

Gov. Granholm on the Today Show
Monday, March 30, 2009
Watch Governor Granholm's appearance on the NBC Today Show to discuss the Obama Administration's plans for the auto industry and Rick Wagoner leaving General Motors.

Granholm slams 'double standard' on executive bonuses
Monday, March 23, 2009
The citizens of recession-rocked Michigan are especially angry about huge bonuses given to AIG executives because of the apparent "double standard" that says auto workers have to give back pay raises while Wall Street fat cats get pay hikes, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said today. "There's one standard for Wall Street and one standard for the average Joe and that's not fair," Granholm said on CNN's "State of the Union" TV show.

Granholm to Obama: Rein in health care costs
Monday, March 23, 2009
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm told President Barack Obama to ignore persistent Republican criticism that he is trying to do too much in a time of economic crisis and, instead, urged the new president to tackle the nation's health care costs as part of a larger effort to get the economy back on track.

Film industry putting Michigan residents to work
Monday, March 23, 2009
With last week's U. S. Labor Department report that Michigan continues to lead the nation in unemployment in January, local filmmakers and agency officials alike hope the state's fledgling movie industry takes off as Gov. Jennifer Granholm predicted in her State of the State address, following unprecedented film-incentive bills passed in April 2008.

Governor Granholm Announces Over 2,600 New Jobs
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is helping nine companies grow in Michigan and is backing two brownfield redevelopment projects. Combined, the 11 projects are expected to create and retain 2,755 jobs (146 jobs retained) and generate over $177.8 million in new investment in the state.

Daimler research center wins tax break, will create 223 jobs
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler AG won approval today of a state tax break to build a $10 million research center in Washtenaw County to develop hybrid vehicle technology. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) board approved a $7.5 million tax credit for the 65,000-square-foot research and development center at an undetermined site near Ann Arbor that will employ 223 workers, mostly engineers and technicians, according to a Michigan Economic Development Corp. memo. Work at the facility would focus on developing alternative propulsion systems.

Gov. Granholm touts $2.5 million program to help workers upgrade job skills
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
"A highly skilled work force is key to retaining and attracting employers who want to grow their business in Michigan," Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in a press release. Recently, Granholm promoted a new state jobs Web site. "This funding will help Michigan citizens upgrade their education and skills to be successful in a global economy where employers are demanding more specialized skills and knowledge."

Bill gives Michigan businesses payment break
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
About 34,000 Michigan business owners will be spared millions of dollars in additional unemployment insurance payments in 2009-10 under legislation approved Tuesday and sent to Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Granholm called for the legislation and is to sign it.

AT&T to spend millions on hybrids, natural gas cars
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
AT&T said today it would spend up to $565 million over the next decade on more than 15,000 hybrid and natural gas-powered vehicles, with Ford Motor Co. as the major beneficiary. The telecommunications giant said the move was not just an environmental decision, but an effort to help restart the U.S. economy, estimating the spending would create or save 1,000 jobs over the next five years.

Education is a key for a better, more stable job
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
College graduates make more money and more of them hold onto their jobs. It's a major part of the thinking behind a string of Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm's initiatives to educate and retrain Great Lakes State workers. No Worker Left Behind started in 2007 to pay up to two years of community college tuition to get 100,000 unemployed workers back into the workplace. Granholm, in her State of the State Address last month, held up Bay County resident Tyler Sutton as an example of someone who retrained through the program at mid-life for a new career in a growing company - Dow Corning Corp.

State gives Saginaw Valley State University $103,000 bump to educate nurses
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
In August, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm toured the nursing program at SVSU to announce the program, funded in part by Covenant Medical Center.

Michigan ranks third in corporate expansions
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Michigan has moved up to third place in a national magazine ranking of corporate expansions and locations. The 2008 Site Selection ranking, based on 296 qualifying projects in Michigan, placed Michigan four slots ahead of its 2007 ranking. In a news release, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Michigan's economic plan and incentives that the state offers "are drawing global recognition, because they are producing results."

More stimulus money coming to Michigan
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Stimulus money headed to our state will help with some local sewer and drinking water projects. The state was awarded 236-million dollars for the particular infrastructure improvements. Stimulus money will go to the Michigan National Guard as well. Three facilities will receive a total of 7.85 million dollars. The Lansing reserve forces support center will get close to 2-million dollars of the funding to go toward energy efficiency improvements on three buildings.