Message from Governor Granhom

[JNelson6563]

The sort of facts that make Dick DeVos cry.


August 4, 2006

Dear Colleague:

As July melts into August, I want to share with you several recent events that signal good
news for our economy, for our citizens, and for you. Excellence made headlines in July, and your
good work promises to bring more good results in August.

Here is a sample of state government excellence coming together to help improve the
economy of Michigan:

�� Internet giant Google chose Michigan as the location for the new headquarters of AdWords
– their latest internet project. The company has begun hiring for 1,000 new good-paying,
cutting-edge jobs in Washtenaw County – the kind of jobs that will keep more of our young
people here at home in Michigan after they graduate from college.

�� American Litho, a leading producer of newspaper image plates headquartered in Grand
Rapids, is doubling their size from just three years ago, after being bought by Konica-
Minolta last year. During my recent trip to Japan, I sat down with Konica-Minolta
executives to finalize the terms of the expansion.

�� Faurecia, a global auto supplier based in France, is also expanding their commitment to
Michigan. After choosing to locate their North American headquarters in Oakland County,
Faurecia announced they would expand their Sterling Heights plant and build a new plant
in Fraser.

�� We announced the selection of 23 projects for the 2006 Cool Cities Grants and Program.
The Cool Cities designations are part of my economic plan to revitalize Michigan’s cities
by retaining and attracting jobs and people to grow Michigan’s economy. The 2006 Cool
Cities designees estimate the program will assist in the creation of 456 full-time and 11
part-time jobs.

�� BioPort Corporation, the nation’s only FDA-approved manufacturer of the anthrax vaccine
in the United States, just started construction on their $75 million 50,000 sq. ft., state-ofthe-
art manufacturing facility in Lansing. The expansion was made possible by a single
business tax credit offered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
BioPort was considering expanding in Maryland but chose to stay and grow with us in
Michigan, and we are so glad they did! As a leader in the biodefense industry, the
company will serve as a critical anchor in our efforts to diversify our economy into
homeland security and defense through our 21st Century Jobs Fund.

�� ePrize, in Pleasant Ridge, is expanding its operations with the help of the Charter One Job
Creation Loan Program. The state of Michigan has teamed up with Charter One to offer
below-market-rate loans to companies that commit to creating jobs or expanding in
Michigan. ePrize, the world’s largest international, interactive promotion agency, will
create 450 new, full-time jobs over the next three years; great news for our eager Michigan
workers!

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These are big successes – the stuff of news headlines. Yet seldom do news reports tell the
stories of the countless hours logged by state government employees to turn the stories into reality.
For a long time, we have been thinking about, talking about, and working towards diversification of
our economy and a new view of Michigan. And we are now beginning to see results.

All of us contribute to these successes. When a corrections officer prepares a prisoner to
succeed, our economy will get a good worker and the costs of recidivism will decrease. When
Management and Budget buys “Michigan First,” we keep jobs here. When DHS workers help a
foster care placement succeed, they improve a child, a classroom, a neighborhood. When DNR
protects our state’s natural beauty for all to enjoy, who wouldn’t want to live here?

As you know Excellence, Integrity, Teamwork and Inclusion are the four core values we
share as state employees. If we take these values seriously, they will lead us to great results and
guide us in the way we achieve those results. I think the good news of the past few weeks is a sign
of excellence in action.
I applaud you and thank you for your determination, creativity, vision, and hard work. I
applaud your excellence.

Sincerely,

Jennifer M. Granholm
Governor

PS: If you would like to receive regular messages on timely state of Michigan news, click on
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