Michigan

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 »

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Energy delivered $41 million to Michigan through the State Energy Program from funding allocated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Michigan has now received a total of $82 million through the program to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across the state.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senators Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich, and Carl Levin, D-Mich.., announced today that Michigan and the Great Lakes will receive $88,606,000 in the FY 2010 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.    » read more »

Summit one of most important life sciences conferences in world

October 15, 2009 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that Detroit will host the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit organized by the Genetics Policy Institute.

The conference will take place October 4-6, 2010, at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. It will be co-hosted by Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senators Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., announced today that Michigan and the Great Lakes will receive $88,606,000 in the FY 2010 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.    » read more »

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

October 15, 2009 -- "Mr. President, I will vote to approve this conference agreement to provide over $33 billion for a variety of energy and water infrastructure projects and programs. Michigan is surrounded by the Great Lakes, and the funding provided in this conference report to the Army Corps to maintain the navigational infrastructure and to cleanup and protect the Great Lakes is especially important.

Michigan also will benefit from the investments in clean energy technologies and energy efficiency programs provided in this bill that will help create a more sustainable economy while producing quality jobs.    » read more »

State Senate needs to meet constitutional requirement on budget

October 14, 2009 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today signed fiscal year 2010 appropriations bills for the departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Quality, bringing the total number of budget bills she's signed to eight.

"Much work remains to be done on the budget," Granholm said. "The budget does not become law until I sign all of the budget bills. The Senate majority leader needs to deliver to me all the budget bills as required by the constitution.    » read more »

Comments submitted today supporting Recovery Act grant applications

October 14, 2009 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced an important step to implement her strategic initiative to expand access to broadband services to citizens and businesses throughout Michigan. On Wednesday, the state submitted comments to the federal government on grant applications proposing to implement or enhance broadband service to Michigan communities.    » read more »