Michigan

November 17, 2009 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is helping 10 companies grow in Michigan and is backing two brownfield redevelopment projects. Combined, the 12 projects are expected to create 2,245 new jobs (883 direct and 1,368 indirect), retain 11,254 jobs, and generate over $791 million in new investment in the state.    » read more »

Senate Appropriations Bill Would Direct Nearly $87 Million to Seven Projects

November 17, 2009 --
WASHINGTON — Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both D-Mich., today hailed the Senate’s passage of a bill including $87 million for seven projects in Michigan and funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Senate and House of Representatives must now reconcile their versions of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2010 before moving to final passage in both chambers.    » read more »

Reiterates Cherry's belief that Great Lakes are critical to Michigan's economy

November 13, 2009 --
LANSING - Michigan Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry, Jr. today called on the Assistant Secretary of the Army to take additional actions to prevent Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. Recent reports from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicate that Asian Carp may be much closer than previously expected to the current electrical Barrier 2A, which was designed to keep the carp from entering the Great Lakes through the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal (CSSC).    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. today introduced S. 2758, the Growing Safe Food Act, to help farmers and food processors ensure the safety of our nation’s food supply. The bill was introduced with six co-sponsors: Sens. Bingaman, Boxer, Gillibrand, Leahy, Merkley, and Sanders.

The Senate is currently considering food safety reform proposals that would increase FDA food inspections and improve our food safety system. This bill will provide small and medium sized farmers, food processors, and wholesalers technical assistance and education to effectively implement these new reforms.    » read more »

Washington, DC - 11/09/2009 - Recent surveys of voters conducted in three swing states and five swing congressional districts find overwhelming support for a two-part plan to reduce global warming emissions and to require use of clean energy sources.    » read more »

November 6, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today praised President Obama for signing the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2009 that she co-sponsored, into law. The new law will extend long-term unemployment benefits in Michigan by 20 weeks. It will also provide tax refunds to businesses that have been hit by the economic recession, and extends and expands the successful first-time homebuyer tax credit.    » read more »

Legislation also extends homebuyer credit, provides business tax relief

November 5, 2009 -- (Washington D.C.) -- The House of Representatives today passed legislation which extends unemployment insurance up to 20 weeks for jobless workers who have exhausted their previous extensions. Additionally, the legislation extends and expands the availability of the homebuyer tax credit and provides tax relief for businesses hard hit by the recession. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act passed by a vote of 403 to 12. The President is expected to sign the measure into law.    » read more »

Legislation also provides tax refunds to struggling Michigan businesses, extends and expands homebuyer tax credit

November 04, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced Senate passage of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2009, which she co-sponsored. The legislation will extend long-term unemployment benefits in Michigan by 20 weeks. This bill also provides tax refunds to businesses that have been hit by the economic recession, and extends and expands the successful first-time homebuyer tax credit.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., filed the following floor statement today regarding the Senate’s consideration of a bill that will extend unemployment benefits.

Mr. President, the measure we have before us is vital to the three-quarters of a million people in Michigan who are unemployed. It is vital to the 15.1 million Americans who are unemployed. It will keep them in their homes. It will keep their children fed and clothed.    » read more »

Part of continuing strategy to grow economy, create jobs

November 4, 2009 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said Michigan is working to become a world center for wind and clean-energy manufacturing, which is part of her strategy to grow the state's economy and create jobs. The governor's remarks came during her address to the American Wind Energy Association's Small and Community Wind Conference & Exhibition in Detroit.

"Michigan is home to one of the world's greatest 20th century manufacturing industries," Granholm said, alluding to the automobile industry. "But our goal is to also become the home of one of the world's greatest 21st century manufacturing industries: wind and clean-energy manufacturing."    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., announced that Tenneco Inc. will receive a $24 million conditional loan from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Incentive Program. The ATVM program is intended to help the automotive industry meet or exceed the Administration’s new fuel economy standards and help America regain its competitive edge in world markets.

The loan will support the development of fuel efficient emission control components for advanced technology vehicles. Sen. Stabenow authored the language that created this program, and was included in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 .    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON — Two Michigan companies will receive grants totaling $103,158,878 for projects designed to ease the nation’s transition to a smarter electrical system, U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both D-Mich., announced today. The Detroit Edison Company will receive $83,828,878 and the Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor will receive $19,330,000. The funds were made available by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- LANSING -- Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today signed the state school aid budget bill for the 2010 fiscal year, but warned that the budget presented to her by the legislature is seriously underfunded.

"The school aid budget presented to me is inadequately funded," Granholm said. "If this school aid bill were a check drawn on a bank, it would be returned for insufficient funds. To bring the budget into balance, I have vetoed $54 million in appropriations. But even these reductions will not fully resolve the shortfall.    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON- Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide $1,230,431 to be used by 25 specialty crop projects throughout the state of Michigan.

The program improves competitiveness of the specialty crops industry through grants that support marketing, research, agri-tourism, food access, and sustainability. This program allows states to accept applications and determine their own specialty crop priorities. USDA approved projects based on their support for local and rural agriculture interests, the opportunity to increase the competitiveness of small producers, or to promote or create direct marketing opportunities for specialty crop producers.    » read more »

In radio address, governor says program achieves goal 10 months ahead of schedule

October 16, 2009 -- LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today celebrated a milestone in the state's No Worker Left Behind program: more than 100,000 people have now enrolled in the job-training program.

"We launched No Worker Left Behind in August 2007 as part of our plan to transform Michigan's economy," Granholm said. "No Worker Left Behind provides qualifying participants two years of free tuition up to $10,000 at any Michigan community college, university, or other approved training program."    » read more »