I’m hard at work delivering for Michiganders
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Road Projects Starting This Week in Oakland County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2023 Contact: [email protected]
Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Projects Starting This Week in Oakland County
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin road and bridge repair projects this week on I-696 in Oakland County. Based on economic modeling, these investments are expected to support 3,500 jobs.
“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to drive economic activity, help Michiganders go to work, drop their kids off at school, and run errands safely,” said Governor Whitmer. “Through the end of this construction season, we will have fixed, repaired, or replaced nearly 20,000 lane miles of state-owned roads and 1,400 bridges since I took office, supporting 89,000 jobs without raising taxes by a dime. Let’s roll up our sleeves and keep getting things done.”
I-696 in Oakland County The I-696 Restore the Reuther Rebuilding Michigan project is moving forward with the following projects:
Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 3,500 jobs.
This $275 million project includes rebuilding the roadway from the base up, including storm sewer replacement work, and rebuilding ramps at Orchard Lake Road, American Drive, Franklin Road, and US-24 (Telegraph Road).
During the 2023 construction season, eastbound I-696 is being rebuilt from I-275 to east of US-24 (Telegraph Road). Westbound lanes will be rebuilt in 2024.
“The continuation of these much-needed infrastructure repairs to I-696 is critical for our district and surrounding communities,” said state Senator Mary Cavanagh (D- Redford Twp). “Transforming this highly traveled route is an incredible investment in our community that benefits every commuter and visitor to the metro Detroit region.”
“This is exciting news for Oakland County,” said state Rep. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield). “These investments will deliver on much needed infrastructure improvements, which not only makes for a safer commute, but puts us on the road to more jobs in the 18th District.”
Funding for this project is made possible by Governor Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state’s economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improve the condition of the state’s infrastructure.
Rebuilding Michigan’s Roads and Bridges By the end of this construction season, Michigan will have fixed nearly 20,000 lane miles of state-owned roads and 1,400 bridges. Governor Whitmer is focused on rebuilding our roads and bridges with the right mix and materials, so they stay fixed, supporting 89,000 good-paying construction jobs along the way.
These and future repairs are made possible by the Rebuilding Michigan plan, a five-year, $3.5 billion investment in our highways and bridges, and the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan, the largest one-time investment in Michigan’s infrastructure in state history. These strategic investments in Michigan’s infrastructure ensure that future Michiganders will have safer roads and bridges to run errands, travel, and strengthen the economy.
Learn more about the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration’s historic infrastructure investments by clicking on the following link: Infrastructure Accomplishments.
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June 22-25 is June Jubilee: A Celebration of Freedom
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2023 Contact: [email protected]
Gov. Whitmer Proclaims June 22-25 as June Jubilee: A Celebration of Freedom
LANSING, Mich.- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed June 22 through 25 as June Jubilee: A Celebration of Freedom, commemorating historic events that have shaped our nation’s progress toward equality, justice, and civil rights. On June 23, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched down Woodward Avenue in Detroit to advance jobs, justice, and freedom and delivered his famed “I Have a Dream” speech for the first time.
“Today I am proud to proclaim June Jubilee in Michigan to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrate the efforts of the Detroit Branch of the NAACP,” said Governor Whitmer. “This year marks 60 years since Dr. King debuted his iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech right here in Detroit. Together we have strived to live up the ideals he laid out decades ago by facing racial disparities in health care, education, housing, and so much more head on. We have made meaningful progress—closing the school funding gap, expanding health care to one million people, and lowering costs of child care, pre-K, housing, and job training—but we still have more to do. Our mission is to keep striving and working together to deliver real change that makes a difference in people’s lives and build a just, equitable Michigan for all.”
“Since its founding, the Detroit NAACP has been an integral part of campaigns for social justice and human rights,” said Lt. Governor Galin Gilchrist II. “Since we took office, members of the NAACP have been active members of several different task forces aimed at ending racial disparities in health care, education, housing, and opportunity. Michigan is a place where anyone—no matter who you love, how you identify, or the color of your skin—can prosper.”
June 23, 2023, marks 60 years since this important event in our nation’s history and reinforces the struggle for equality, freedom, and unity for all Americans.
“The June Jubilee serves as a reminder to the nation that the work of Dr. King is not yet complete,” said Rev. Wendell Anthony, President NAACP, Detroit Branch. “We must not leave him on the mountain top dreaming but bring him back down into the valley where we can be seen working. This historic occasion is for all the people who believe that an injustice to anyone, any where is a threat to justice everywhere. Dr. King believed this and so do we. You may not have been there in 1963, 1993, 2003, or 2013, but you can be there in 2023 and be on the scene for freedom, civil rights, and human dignity. This is our time.”
The Detroit Branch of the NAACP has been a tireless advocate for civil rights, justice, and equality, for over a century, playing a crucial role in promoting social justice and empowering marginalized communities. Their efforts to reaffirm the mission of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to create a just and inclusive society, where every individual is treated with dignity and respect is an admirable contribution to our state.
View the full proclamation here.
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Whitmer Joins Michigan National Guard Troops
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2023 Contact: [email protected]
Photos: Gov. Whitmer Joins Michigan National Guard Troops During NATO’s Largest-Ever Air Defense Exercise
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer traveled to Ramstein Air Base, headquarters of USAFE-AFAFRICA, to visit with Michigan National Guard Airmen and thank them for their service as they conducted multinational exercises with NATO across Germany during the Ukraine/Russia conflict.
“Michigan National Guard Airmen deliver air power anytime, anywhere,” said Governor Whitmer. “It was an honor to visit Michiganders serving in Germany, a key Ukraine ally, and see first-hand the work they’re doing to strengthen relationships with NATO nations, bolster military readiness, and help deter aggression around the world. We will have their backs by ensuring they have the resources they need to carry out their missions and the support they and their families need to thrive back home.”
Allied air forces began the largest deployment exercise in NATO’s history, Air Defender 2023, on Monday, June 12, 2023. The exercise, which lasted two weeks, included approximately 2,600 U.S. Airmen and 100 aircraft from 42 states, who joined with 24 nations, including the U.K., Germany, France and Japan, to enhance joint capabilities around the globe.
Governor Whitmer was joined by Maj. Gen. James R. Kriesel, National Guard Assistant to the Commander of USAFE-AFAFRICA; Brig. Gen Rolf Mammen, commander of the 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base; U.S. Air Force Col. Mansour Elhihi, commander of the 125th Operations Group, Jacksonville Air National Guard Base; and U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Dodge, commander of the 145th Maintenance Group, North Carolina Air National Guard Base.
In May, Governor Whitmer visited Michigan National Guard troops in Latvia to thank them for their service as they conduct multinational exercises with the Latvian Army on North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s eastern flank during the Ukraine/Russia conflict.
Governor Whitmer’s Support for Michigan’s Service Members and Veterans Governor Whitmer has worked to ensure Michigan’s service members, veterans, and their families have the opportunities and support they need to succeed. The administration has boosted outreach to veterans, ensuring they and their families have affordable healthcare, attainable housing, and paths to good-paying jobs.
About Michigan National Guard The Michigan National Guard provides trained, combat-capable forces in support of the national security strategy worldwide and defense support of civil authorities in response to federal emergencies within the United States and state emergencies within Michigan. For more information, please visit: https://minationalguard.
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Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2023 Contact: [email protected]
Governor Whitmer Continues to Fix the Damn Roads with Projects Starting This Week in Three Counties
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin multiple road repair projects this week including repaving and guardrail replacements on I-94 in Berrien and Van Buren counties and rebuilding a portion of I-94 in Jackson County. Based on economic modeling, these investments are expected to support 2,062 jobs.
“Across Michigan, we are moving dirt and fixing the damn roads to drive economic activity, help Michiganders go to work, drop their kids off at school, and run errands safely,” said Governor Whitmer. “Through the end of this construction season, we will have fixed, repaired, or replaced nearly 20,000 lane miles of state-owned roads and 1,400 bridges since I took office, supporting 89,000 jobs without raising taxes by a dime. Let’s roll up our sleeves and keep getting things done.”
I-94 Repaving in Berrien and Van Buren counties MDOT will invest $484,000 to resurface portions of eastbound and westbound I-94 between Coloma, Berrien County, and Hartford, Van Buren County. Planned work includes paving, guardrail replacement, and new pavement markings. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support five jobs.
I-94 Rebuild in Jackson County MDOT will close the Dearing Road entrance ramp to westbound I-94 for rebuilding in Jackson County. This work is part of the I-94 Jackson project rebuilding nearly 13 miles of I-94 in Jackson, Albion, and Parma in Jackson County.
“This project is key to ensuring the success of the I-94 corridor,” said state Sen. Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp.). “I am grateful for the jobs supported by this project, and I know it will have a lasting impact on Jackson County.”
Funding for this project is made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state’s economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improves the condition of the state’s infrastructure. Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to support 2,057 jobs.
Rebuilding Michigan’s Roads and Bridges By the end of this construction season, Michigan will have fixed nearly 20,000 lane miles of state-owned roads and 1,400 bridges. Governor Whitmer is focused on rebuilding our roads and bridges with the right mix and materials, so they stay fixed, supporting 89,000 good-paying construction jobs along the way.
These and future repairs are made possible by the Rebuilding Michigan plan, a five-year, $3.5 billion investment in our highways and bridges, and the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan, the largest one-time investment in Michigan’s infrastructure in state history. These strategic investments in Michigan’s infrastructure ensure that future Michiganders will have safer roads and bridges to run errands, travel, and strengthen the economy.
Learn more about the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration’s historic infrastructure investments by clicking on the following link: Infrastructure Accomplishments.
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Michigan Wins Nearly 200 High-Wage, High-Tech Jobs
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2023 Contact: [email protected]
Gov. Whitmer Announces Michigan Wins Nearly 200 High-Wage, High-Tech Jobs from European Company Expleo Michigan wins new R&D facility over numerous other states and regions, underscoring state’s leadership in advanced automotive R&D and vehicle electrification
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that European engineering services provider Expleo USA Inc. is establishing its first North American research and development facility in Michigan. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of more than $2 million and create 196 high-wage jobs, and will further build on Michigan’s global leadership in future mobility in vehicle electrification.
“We’re thrilled to bring home nearly 200 good-paying jobs from Expleo, building on our leadership in advanced automotive manufacturing and strengthening our position as the global leader of mobility and electrification,” said Governor Whitmer. “Expleo chose to invest in Michigan because of our strong mobility business environment, inclusive laws, skilled workforce, and ongoing economic momentum to ensure anyone can ‘make it in Michigan.’ Together, we have created powerful economic development tools to bring supply chains of cars, chips, and batteries home, and secured 35,000 auto jobs since I took office. Our unemployment rate is below 4% for only the third period since the 1970s and we have added 82,000 jobs year over year. We will keep our foot on the accelerator to keep winning projects, investing in people, and revitalizing places so we can build a brighter future for Michigan. Let’s get it done.”
The governor was joined for the announcement at the company’s headquarters in Paris as part of her European investment mission to Paris and Germany, taking place this week through Thursday, June 22. She was joined by leaders from Expleo and members of Team Michigan including Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
“Expleo has a proven track record of supporting automotive businesses worldwide to engineer electronics and digital services integrating the latest technologies and trends; particularly green mobility & software-defined vehicle new architecture,” said Expleo Executive Vice President of Automotive Marcus Ganguin. “With our move into Oakland County, Michigan, we will be able to partner with its community of automotive businesses to provide the deeply integrated engineering and technology services needed to address the most pressing challenges facing our industry such as e-mobility.”
Expleo has a long history in vehicle engineering development and testing and is experiencing increased demand for its electronic, mechanical and digital engineering services. Expleo in North America offers a range of services, including engineering, quality assurance, digital transformation, and consulting to clients in the aerospace, automotive, financial services, and healthcare industries.
Expleo is still evaluating locations in Oakland County for its new operations, which will represent the company’s first R&D facility in North America. Michigan was chosen over competing sites in Canada, the Midwest and locations in the southern U.S. The company cited Michigan’s significant automotive presence, the state’s engineering talent, proximity to established relationships with its current suppliers and customers, and Michigan as a welcoming state for its employees to live, work, and play as deciding factors in it choosing to build its future in Michigan.
“Everyone knows that in Michigan, we make things. But Expleo’s choice to plant their North American flag here in Michigan is a huge testament to our talent, unparalleled creativity, and our future,” said state Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), Chair of the Senate Committee on Economic and Community Development. “It’s a sign that Michigan is the ideal place to imagine, design, engineer, and dream up what’s next – and a tremendous sign that we’re well on our way to securing our future in the knowledge economy.”
“Michigan is the place to be and the place to do business! We welcome this company to Michigan and the nearly 200 high-wage jobs added to the economy,” said state Representative Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield), Chair of the House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business. “I applaud Governor Whitmer on her work and look forward to continuing the work to make Michigan’s economic future bright.”
The new space in Michigan, which will house an engineering team and will allow for additional employees as the company continues to grow, will be part of the company’s long-term strategy to secure future business with customers in the auto industry.
“We are thrilled to be welcoming these high-wage jobs by Expleo as we continue to position Michigan as the undisputed leader in future mobility and vehicle electrification,” said MEDC’s Messer. “Today’s announcement demonstrates Michigan’s culture of innovation, the attractiveness of our business climate and the strength of our talented workforce. We look forward to partnering with Expleo as it grows and adds jobs for Michigan residents.”
More details will be announced on the project in the coming week. For information on careers with Expleo, visit here.
“Global companies continue to recognize the Detroit Region as a premier innovation destination and entry point to the North American market and we were proud to help our partners secure this project,” said Maureen Donohue Krauss, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership.
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