FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 13, 2022

Contact: [email protected]

Governor Whitmer Announces Business Expansions Bringing 68 Good-Paying Jobs, New Investments to Cadillac and Fenton

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to announce two business expansion projects expected to create 68 new jobs and generate a total private investment of $7.7 million in the cities of Cadillac and Fenton have received support from the Michigan Strategic Fund.

“Today’s investments by American Recreational Products and Rexair will create a combined 68 good-paying jobs for Michiganders as we continue growing Michigan’s economy and investing in every region of the state,” said Governor Whitmer. “With jobs growing every day, unemployment decreasing at a record rate, strong small business growth, and rising wages, our economy is on the move. I will stay focused on the fundamentals that matter most to working families and communities while ensuring Michigan leads the way in key industries like manufacturing. Our state is competing more aggressively than ever before to bring more jobs and investment to Michigan to grow our economy even further.”

“The decisions by American Recreational Products and Rexair to expand in Michigan highlight the enduring strength of Michigan’s value proposition: talented workforce, diverse industries and the business environment focused on long-term economic growth,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of MEDC and President and Chair of the MSF Board. “These projects are representative of our holistic, people-first approach to economic development that rewards risk-takers while further securing Michigan’s leadership in the industries that will propel our economy into the future and benefit more Michiganders.”

American Recreational Products is a subsidiary of Northern Composites, a manufacturer of composites and plastics for John Deere, Navistar, Crest Marine, Avalon Pontoons and more. The company has three locations in Michigan and employs more than 150 residents.

American Recreational Products’ facility in Owosso has reached its capacity with no options to expand. The company has identified an existing facility in the city of Fenton that can accommodate its existing business as well as a new fiberglass product line.

The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $4 million and create 59 jobs, supported by a $250,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen for the project over competing sites in Minnesota and Missouri.

The project will bring good manufacturing jobs to the area and will further cement the company’s presence in Michigan. American Recreational Products supports personal growth of its employees and takes pride in promoting from within. The company employs many veterans and uses local schools to reach talent in disadvantaged areas and underrepresented employees.

The city of Fenton anticipates approval of a five-year Industrial Facilities Tax Abatement in support of the project. Individuals interested in careers with American Recreational Products should visit https://nationalcomposites.com/careers/.

“National Composites is very excited to expand into the great city of Fenton. The opening of American Recreational Products will be a great new step for our company,” said National Composites Chief Executive Officer Adam Fenton.  “It allows us to have a more targeted focus on the production of our proprietary boat lines, Paddle Wheeler and BOKA Marine, as well as open up more capacity and job creation opportunities at our other Michigan facilities.”

Rexair, founded in 1936, is a leading direct seller and manufacturer of premium vacuum cleaning systems for residential customers. The company’s principal product, the Rainbow® vacuum cleaner, is sold in countries around the globe through a network of third-party distributors. Rexair is headquartered in Troy and currently employs 228 people in Michigan.

Due to supply chain overseas, the company is bringing manufacturing of certain products back home to Michigan. Rexair plans to expand at its facility in the city of Cadillac, where it will install nine new injection molding machines. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $3.35 million and create nine jobs, supported by a $48,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen for the project over a competing site in Kentucky.

“Rexair is excited to be working with MEDC and the city of Cadillac in our combined efforts to grow Michigan’s economy and employment opportunities,” said Rexair Environmental Health and Safety Administrator Jeff Nerem. “This is truly a team effort to invest in all our futures.”

The project will bring nine new jobs and retain eight jobs by onshoring a production line from China. In addition, the project will establish the company’s presence and future investment in Michigan. Rexair is focused on environmentally responsible manufacturing, and the new machines will decrease their power consumption by as much as 60 percent.

The city of Cadillac plans to support company by aiding with permitting or other requirements. For information on careers with Rexair, visit https://rainbowsystem.com/opportunities/request-information/.

“I am thrilled to learn about Rexair’s continued commitment to reinvest in their city of Cadillac, Michigan facility, and it is truly wonderful to see the impact of the collaborative efforts between the MEDC and the City result in such a positive outcome,” said Cadillac City Manager Marcus A. Peccia. “The creation of new positions coupled with nearly $1.4 million in capital investment will lead to more local sustainability for the Rexair facility, additional employment opportunities, and is another great example of viability of Cadillac as the place for economic development activities. A sincere thank you to both Rexair and the MEDC for making this investment in the city of Cadillac.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 10, 2022

Contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer to Sign Bill Funding Security Plans at All Michigan Schools to Protect Students, Funds Mental Health Support & Enhanced Security for Oxford

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer will sign House Bill 6012, a bipartisan bill that makes an historic investment in school safety by fully funding risk assessments and critical incidence mapping to help protect students and create safety plans in the event of an emergency. The legislation also fully funds resources to hire and retain mental health professionals, enhance security measures, and provide additional learning opportunities for Oxford Community Schools.

“I am proud to sign this bill to help keep students safe. This bill represents a true collaboration between the legislature, my office, community members, and school leadership to make sure our schools have the tools they need to protect students in cases of school shootings or other critical incidents,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Today we are also proud to deliver necessary resources to Oxford Community Schools so they can hire more mental health staff and offer additional learning time to their students as they recover from the horrific shooting last year. I know we can continue working together to make sure we are supporting our students, including improving public safety measures to keep violent criminals out of our schools and off our streets, funding effective law enforcement solutions, and storing firearms safely. Let’s get it done.”

“We carefully listened to the needs expressed by Oxford and worked with them to provide the tools they need to recover from the lasting impact of the tragedy that students, staff and the building itself withstood,” said State Reprepresentative Hornberger (R-Chesterfield), a former public school teacher. “This funding plan will help obtain and retain mental health professionals necessary to help with trauma response, help cover legal and public relations costs, provide enhanced security features, cover costs for damage to school property during the shooting, and more.”

“I am proud to have advocated on behalf of the students, staff, faculty, and Oxford community as a whole in getting this funding across the finish line,” said State Senator Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills), whose district includes Oxford. “While I will remain committed to preventing more tragedies by enacting gun violence prevention policies, this funding for school security, mental health support, and more is a start to working on the immediate needs of the Oxford community, and for that, I am grateful to my colleagues and the governor for their support.”

“This new law provides needed funding for Oxford schools, as well as important funding for risk assessments and critical incidence mapping,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. “That said, we still have more work in front of us: the need for the legislature to support the governor’s FY 23 budget request of a $361 million increase in children’s mental health and $51 million for school safety grants; and the need for greater gun safety, including a red flag law and other measures to reduce the likelihood that guns will fall into the hands of those who are dangerous to themselves or others.”

“The passage of House Bill 6012 marks a significant milestone for the Oxford school community,” said Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson. “Our children, parents, and educators have been impacted by trauma. While there is a long road ahead, we are comforted by the support we have received from the Michigan Legislature. This funding will help the Oxford school community obtain the tools necessary to recover from the lasting impact of the tragedy faced by students and staff.”

House Bill 6012

The bipartisan legislation will go a long way towards keeping our students safe. First, it would help schools implement risk assessments to comprehensively identify the current status of their campus safety and determine where further investments are needed. Second, it would help schools complete critical incidence mapping for their campuses, ensuring that emergency plans and protocols are effective and in-place. The legislation includes a total of $14 million that will be awarded to all schools, including traditional public, intermediate school districts, and private schools, for $2,000 grants to complete a comprehensive safety and security assessment. The grants will be administered by the Department of Education. Third, the bill directly invests in Oxford Community Schools to help them recover from the shooting late last year. It will help them hire mental health professionals, enhance security, and offering additional learning time to students lost in the wake of the tragedy.

House Bill 6012 was sponsored by Rep. Pamela Hornberger, R–Chesterfield, and a copy can be found here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 9, 2022

Contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer Boosts Funding for 16 Schools to Expand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Programs to Prepare Students for In-Demand Jobs

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer along with state environmental and workforce leaders announced 16 K-12 institutions, school districts and educational partnerships have been awarded $205,028 to develop Great Lakes-based science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational programs for students. These grants build on the Governor’s historic educational budget proposal, which includes the highest per-student investment ever, $1 billion for new school construction and renovation, funds to hire and retain 15,000 teachers, and more resources for on-campus mental health support.

 “These grants will support freshwater literacy programs and offer students access to real world STEM experiences,” said Governor Whitmer. “Our Great Lakes are our greatest asset, and we must empower young Michiganders to learn more about them and continue advancing conservation efforts. Michigan’s economic competitiveness depends on a workforce proficient in STEM and committed to solving our biggest challenges. Investments like these will help prepare our kids to lead our state into the future.”

The grants, announced in connection with Michigan’s Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week, are a collaborative effort of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) MiSTEM Network to expand freshwater literacy and place-based STEM education and to support innovative STEM 3-P (problem, place and project-based) learning.

“The Great Lakes State is investing in great leadership for our future,” said Liesl Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. “These innovative educational programs and experiences will shape tomorrow’s advocates, policymakers and champions who will value and safeguard Michigan’s waterways and watersheds.”

“This continued partnership between EGLE and LEO supports students and educators through new and innovative approaches to STEM education to help close our state’s talent gap and prepare our students for high-demand career paths in STEM fields and beyond,” said Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “We applaud these schools and community partners across the state for taking advantage of this grant opportunity and working with us to gear up today’s talent for the jobs of the future.”

Grant proposals were submitted and reviewed through a competitive request for proposal process. Projects were selected that best incorporated freshwater-focused efforts, place-based approaches and real-world experiences to engage students about the importance of Michigan’s Great Lakes and water resources and prepare them for careers in a variety of STEM fields.

Grant awardees are:

The grants are a continuation of the 2020 From Students to Stewards Initiative and the 2021 MiSTEM Transformative Playbook grants. Funding is provided by the Michigan Great Lakes Protection Fund, EGLE, the U.S. EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and MiSTEM Network.

From Students to Stewards was launched to teach students about the Great Lakes, Michigan watersheds and the impact people have on water resources. The program integrates water literacy principles into place-based education and STEM learning across all grade levels to engage students.

The Importance of Michigan’s Great Lakes

The Great Lakes and Michigan’s abundant freshwater resources have tremendous value to Michiganders. Michigan is home to more than 3,200 miles of coastline along four Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes and ponds, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, and enough groundwater to fill Lake Michigan over again. More than 30 million people in the U.S. and Canada rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water.

STEM in Michigan

Michigan has the potential to become a world leader in STEM education and careers, due to strong talent, educational institutions and thriving industries. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM careers had median wages in 2020 that were more than double that of non-STEM occupations. These careers are expected to grow at more than twice the rate of other occupations in the upcoming years. Michigan has the 4th largest engineering, design and development (EDD) workforce in the nation, with over 113,000 employed in related industries in 2020. Employment in EDD industries is almost twice as concentrated in Michigan as the national average.

Governor Whitmer’s Education Investments

For three years straight, Governor Whitmer has worked across the aisle to make the largest education investments in Michigan history—without raising taxes. Since taking office, she’s tripled the number of literacy coaches and last year, she signed an education budget that closed the funding gap between schools, boosted per-student investment to an all-time high, and helped districts hire hundreds of on-campus mental health professionals. The Whitmer-Gilchrist administration’s education accomplishments can be found here.