Week of February 12-18, 2007
Weekly Radio Address

Granholm Celebrates Black History Month, Underscores Importance of Diversity for Future
.(MP3- 3MB)

Weekly Updates

Granholm Celebrates Black History Month, Underscores Importance of Diversity for Future

Granholm Announces Company Expansions and Detroit Redevelopment Bringing 1,044 New Jobs

Granholm Highlights Plan to Provide Free Worker Training


Michigan Jobs Creation News
Governor in the News
Press Releases
Company Expansions and Detroit Redevelopment Project to Bring 1,044 New Jobs to Michigan

I am pleased to share the news that four company expansions and a downtown Detroit redevelopment project are expected to create 1,044 Michigan jobs and involve more than $99 million in new capital investment.

They are the types of high-tech companies and community development projects that will strengthen Michigan as a place to live, learn, and earn. The investments will create good-paying jobs and the vibrant cities that our economic plan is working to grow throughout the state.

The projects are:

  • FEV Engine Technology Inc. will invest $4.3 million to expand its operations in Auburn Hills creating 180 new jobs. A state tax credit valued at $1.1 million over seven years helped convince the company to grow in Michigan over a competing site in South Carolina.
  • Landon IP Inc. is investing $3.9 million to open offices in Southfield. The Alexandria, VA-based company's new operations will create 299 new jobs. A state tax credit valued at $2.1 million over five years helped convince the company to choose Michigan over a competing site in California.
  • TechSmith Corp. will invest more than $18 million to build a new world headquarters in the Michigan State University Corporate Research Park located within the Lansing Regional SmartZoneSM. The project is expected to create at least 105 new jobs, including 75 or more directly by the company. A state tax credit valued at $1.2 million over 10 years helped convince the company to locate its new headquarters in Michigan over a competing site in Indiana.
  • Visteon will invest $35 million to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Highland Park. The plant is expected to create 353 new jobs, including 175 directly by the company. A state tax credit valued at $1.73 million over seven years helped convince the company to invest in Michigan over a competing site in Ohio.
  • The City of Detroit, teaming with Focus: HOPE, will utilize state and local tax capture valued at $4.9 million for a phased development along Oakman Boulevard just east of the Focus: HOPE campus in Detroit. The project will include a conference and education center, retail stores, development of local park space, replacement of run-down infrastructure, and eventual adaptive re-use of the old Michigan Bell buildings. The project is expected to create up to 120 full- and part-time jobs and include $38 million in capital investment.

To read more, click here.


The Governor’s weekly radio address is released each Friday at 10:00 a.m. and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state through an affiliation with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. The address will also be available on the Governor’s Website on Mondays as a podcast for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. 
www.michigan.gov/gov