August 25, 2005
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today visited Saginaw to highlight local job training efforts and reiterate her call to transform Michigan by diversifying our economy, making college more accessible to all, and strengthening our workforce to ensure that we are attracting the good paying jobs of tomorrow.
“One of the most critical elements in attracting and retaining good paying jobs is a well trained workforce,” said Granholm. “Programs like MI Opportunity Partnership and those offered here in Saginaw provide critical job skills, while putting people back to work today.”
The Governor applauded area job training efforts and the work of the MI Opportunity Partnership program for helping create the well-trained workforce needed to attract good paying jobs to the Saginaw community. The Governor announced that as of last week, the MI Opportunity Partnership program has identified 20,072 specific job vacancies and placed more than 7,200 citizens in good paying jobs across the state since spring, including nearly 300 in Saginaw.
The Governor first announced the MI Opportunity Partnership in her 2005 State of the State Address. Since that announcement, more than 250,000 employers have been contacted and asked to pledge existing job vacancies to help meet the goal of putting 30,000 unemployed Michigan citizens to work this year by matching them with and training them for existing job opportunities. Currently, there are close to 90,000 job vacancies in Michigan in high-demand fields such as health care and the skilled trades.
“Michigan has the experience and the know-how to be an economic leader in the 21st century, if we are willing to embrace the opportunities of a changing economy,” said Granholm. “The success of our job training programs and recent commitments from companies around the globe tell us that our plan to create the most educated workforce in this country, to develop our advanced automotive sector, and to grow life sciences and alternative energies is attractive to business and right for Michigan workers.”
The Governor also pointed to new job announcements this week in Battle Creek and Oakland County as evidence that the business community recognizes Michigan’s potential, as well. I I Stanley, a Japanese-based auto supplier announced they will expand operations in Battle Creek over a competing site in Tennessee, while American Systems Technology, Inc. (ASTI) chose Troy over Alabama for its new research and development center. ASTI produces high-tech communications equipment for the United States Military. This week’s announcements come on the heels of the Governor’s recent investment mission to Japan, which resulted in 10 companies announcing they would locate or expand here.
“We’re letting the world know that Michigan is open and ready for business,” said Granholm. “We have the nation’s best workforce and a plan to grow jobs and diversify our economy, and business is responding.”
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