I've had a busy week traveling around the Upper Peninsula talking with citizens about my plan to create jobs and grow Michigan’s economy.  Throughout my many stops and visits, I have heard tremendous optimism about the future of the U.P. and Michigan from area residents.

On Thursday, I had the pleasure of visiting with employees at both Boss Snowplow and Systems Control, two companies on the same property in Iron Mountain.  Boss Snowplow is the third largest snow equipment brand in North America, and their equipment is making its way across the country and around the globe.  And, of course, they are in a hot spot with the amount of snowfall the U.P. gets each winter!

Systems Control is another great company that has chosen to expand in Michigan, creating 53 new jobs and retaining 260!  Great news for our Michigan workers…they manufacture electrical relay panels for the electric utility market and specialty controls for the Department of Defense.

Today, I was excited to be part of the grand opening of Ag Solutions Inc. in Gladstone!  The biodiesel plant just opened its doors and will begin biodiesel fuel production with refined virgin soybean oil feedstock and then expand to other feedstocks, including recycled cooking oil and processed animal fats.  Very interesting and innovative work they are doing there, let me tell you…I was impressed.  They just opened their doors, and they are already talking about expansion!

As I continue my travels around the Great Lakes state, I have been listening to the struggles that workers face.  But I reiterate to them that I have an economic plan to create jobs today and jobs tomorrow…and that plan is beginning to bear fruit.  It takes time to create jobs and diversify Michigan’s economy, and I continue to work hard to do just that.  It is companies like Ag Solutions and Systems Control that we want to drop anchor here in Michigan.  We want these companies to stay and grow with us as we transform into an economically diverse and competitive place to do busines.  I continue to fight to work hard for ALL Michigan citizens.