What a great day for Michigan!  This afternoon, I was pleased to announce the first round of 21st Century Jobs Fund awards that total more than $100 million for businesses in Michigan.  There were over 505 proposals on the table that were narrowed down to 179 finalists by the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS). Today, 61 companies were chosen to receive assistance to help their companies grow and create jobs in Michigan.
 
The companies chosen are in sectors that promise tremendous job growth – life sciences, alternative energy, advanced automotive materials and manufacturing, and homeland security and defense.  Some of the companies that have been chosen include: Adaptive Materials, a leader in fuel cell technology that develops power sources for the U.S. military; T/J Technologies, Inc., a company that designs, develops and manufactures advanced materials and devices for electrochemical energy storage and conversion; and Tellurex, a Traverse City business which is a worldwide leader in thermoelectrics. Western Michigan University, Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan have also received awards for their research and development efforts.  Go to www.michigan.org/21stcentury for a list of all the fabulous companies awarded a 21st Century jobs fund grant. 
 
I am so pleased with the initial results of the 21st Century Jobs fund program.  We had so many great applicants.  And these investments will create thousands of jobs that won’t be outsourced and that will give our children the opportunity to live good lives and raise their kids in the Great Lakes State.  This is just the first round of grants, as the 21st Century Jobs Fund has $2 billion to award in the years ahead.  This program is just one part of my comprehensive economic plan that promises a bright future for Michiganians. I will continue to go anywhere and do anything to bring jobs home.  I will be visiting some of the great companies that were chosen to receive the awards throughout the coming weeks, so stay tuned…