Granholm Economic Plan: Grow Economy While Investing in People .(MP3- 3MB)

Granholm Praises Successful Collaboration to Ensure Petoskey Breakwall Repairs this Year Granholm Economic Plan: Grow Economy While Investing in People Upjohn Study Reinforces Granholm Plan is Right Plan for Michigan

In a recent study by the W.E. Upjohn Institute, it was confirmed that my economic plan to grow Michigan’s economy and create new jobs is the right plan for Michigan. The study determined that Michigan must diversify its economy and invest in the education and training of its workforce, which is exactly what my comprehensive economic plan is doing.

The study also reinforced that Michigan’s economic struggles are the result of a struggling auto industry – not the state’s business tax climate. Simply eliminating business taxes and slashing public services will do more to hurt than to help our economy.

My “Jobs Today, Jobs Tomorrow” plan will help businesses grow and create jobs, and it will ensure that families have affordable health care and great education for their kids. The plan invests in Michigan businesses and Michigan’s people by:

• establishing new standards for grades K-8 and the new rigorous high school curriculum, raising expectations in our schools;

• providing a $4,000 new Merit Award scholarship so every student in Michigan will have access to affordable education beyond high school, and;

• investing $2 billion in diversifying the economy through the 21st Century Jobs Fund which targets cutting-edge technologies, including life sciences, advanced manufacturing, alternative energy, and homeland security and defense. The first round of funding from the Jobs Fund, totaling $100 million, will be announced very soon.

I’m pleased to report that my economic plan is already seeing results, including the grand opening of AgSolutions, a biodiesel production facility in Gladstone, as well as the dedication of Presbyterian Villages in Redford – the state’s first Greenhouse-style nursing home.

I want you to know that I will continue to work hard, going anywhere and doing anything to bring jobs to Michigan; and I will continue to invest in the things that matter most . . . our people and Michigan’s future.

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.