LANSING – Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced Tuesday that Area Development magazine has awarded the State of Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation a Silver Shovel in the magazine’s annual Gold & Silver Shovel awards competition recognizing state economic development agencies that drive significant job creation through innovative incentives, infrastructure improvements and programs to attract new employers and investments in expanded facilities.
“We have identified key high-growth sectors and we are aggressively targeting those projects that will result in creation of thousands of high-paying jobs and a diversified economy,” Granholm said. “This award is proof that our strategy is working and we are attracting new investment and jobs from companies across a wide spectrum of industries, including alternative energy, defense, life sciences and business services.”
States were compared only to other states in their population category. Each was rated on five weighted jobs and investment factors and ranked in three population groups. Michigan was among the top states with population over 10 million, and one of only 10 states to receive a Silver Shovel. Only those projects that began to materialize in 2008 were considered.
“Strong cooperation at the state and local level was instrumental in winning these projects for Michigan against very strong national and international competition,” MEDC President and CEO Greg Main said. “Our local partners all across the state continue to be crucial to our success.”
Major alternative energy-related corporate locations and expansions in Michigan in 2008 include: Hemlock Semiconductor, Saginaw County; United Solar Ovonic, Battle Creek; Dow Chemical and Evergreen Solar, Midland; and Global Wind Systems, Novi. Among the year’s top defense and manufacturing projects are: Kaiser Aluminum and Graphic Packaging, Kalamazoo; General Dynamics and BAE Systems, Macomb County; North American Bancard, Troy; and Sequenom, Grand Rapids.
Area Development is a leading trade publication covering corporate site selection and location. The bi-monthly magazine, founded in 1965, has more than 45,000 executive subscribers. The silver shovel article can be found at AreaDevelopment.Com/Awards
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