FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

January 15, 2025

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Governor Whitmer Delivers Road Ahead Address, Laying Out Commonsense, Bipartisan Vision to Grow the Economy and Save Michigan’s Auto Industry

Address highlights top economic priorities for the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration, including saving Michigan’s auto industry and negotiating a bipartisan roads deal  

LANSING, Mich.  – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her “Road Ahead Address” at the Detroit Auto Show where she outlined her administration’s approach to saving Michigan’s auto industry and growing our economy by creating good-paying jobs, fixing the damn roads, and building relationships with our neighbors. Each of these priorities builds on the historic work the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration has accomplished over the past six years, ensuring Michigan is the ideal place for people and businesses to locate, invest, and grow.

“To grow Michigan’s economy and fight for the auto industry, I’ll work with anyone who’s serious about solving problems in Lansing or DC,” said Governor Whitmer. “Right now, there’s an ongoing, global competition between Michigan, China, and other states to build the future of the auto industry. To make sure we win, we need commonsense, bipartisan tools that create good-paying jobs and bring supply chains home. We must also find a fiscally responsible, sustainable solution to fix the damn roads work with our Canadian neighbors to ensure tariffs don’t lead to higher costs for families and businesses. Together, let’s create Michigan jobs, fix Michigan roads, and grow Michigan’s economy. The road ahead is bright, so let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

“Michigan’s auto industry has been a beacon of hope and opportunity for millions of families, including my own,” said Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Today, Governor Whitmer’s ‘Road Ahead Address’ affirms our administration’s commitment to making sure we define its future. Alongside the legislature, we can and must strive to grow our economy, unleash cutting-edge innovation, and win transformative investments to ensure Michigan remains the best place to build the future. Let us keep standing tall so that future generations of Michiganders can enjoy a stronger, more prosperous state.”

Creating Jobs and Lowering Costs

Growing Michigan’s economy by bringing good-paying jobs home and putting money back in Michiganders’ pockets has remained a top priority of the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration since day one. As such, during her “Road Ahead Address,” Governor Whitmer laid out her vision to continue stimulating economic development in Michigan through five specific goals:

1. Make it in Michigan Job Fund: The fund will help Michigan close deals and move faster to secure big factories and engineering and technical centers. This change is critical to designing, engineering, and building the next generation of vehicles and will align Michigan with ten other states ensuring whatever folks are driving—ICE, hybrid, or EV—is made right here in Michigan, by Michigan workers.

1. HIRE Michigan: A payroll tax cut to the more companies hire Michigan employees and the better they pay them, the more they save. This will incentivize companies to invest in Michigan, boosting our economy and creating high-paying jobs across the state.

1. Strategic site readiness program: Creates space for future projects by easing the process to get businesses off the ground and create jobs in Michigan. Ensures companies can start building on day one.

1. Housing/Placemaking/Brownfields: Building more housing and making cities and towns better places to live and work will drive down costs for buyers and renters while improving quality of life for families.

1. Transit: By expanding and improving transit options of all kinds, Michigan can boost connectivity across areas with lots of industry.

Fixing the Damn Roads

Since taking office, Governor Whitmer has invested over $19 billion in Michigan’s roads and bridges as part of her Rebuilding Michigan bond plan, helping to fix more than 23,000 lane miles of road and 1,600 bridges, supporting over 118,000 jobs. However, this plan ends in 2025, requiring a long-term solution to continue fixing the damn roads, ensuring Michiganders and companies can depend on reliable infrastructure in our state.

In her “Road Ahead Address,” Governor Whitmer made it clear that she will work with anyone to find a solution to road funding, calling on the Michigan legislature to set aside their differences and negotiate a bipartisan roads deal in 2025. Specifically, she highlighted the importance of compromise and bipartisanship, appealing to both sides of the aisle to find new and fair sources of revenue as well as explore fiscally responsible cuts, ensuring Michigan can keep repairing and rebuilding our roads.

Future of Michigan-Canada Relationship

Detroit-Windsor is the busiest active border crossing in North America, driving more than a quarter of the $700 billion of annual trade between the U.S. and Canada. Since taking office Governor Whitmer has cultivated a relationship with our Canadian neighbors through agreements on cross-border electric vehicle testing, supply chains, trade, and job creation. Over the last few years, Canadian businesses have announced 26 projects in Michigan, creating over 4,000 jobs.

During her “Road Ahead Address,” she announced that she met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford last month, affirming Michigan’s relationship with Ontario. This vital partnership will help ensure the health of Michigan’s auto industry, protecting Michigan jobs and keeping costs low for people across the state.

Approach to Trump-Proposed Tariffs

Governor Whitmer also stated her position on the incoming Trump administration’s proposed tariffs. Governor Whitmer believes in a judicious approach that will protect supply chains and job creation here in Michigan.

70% of all auto parts made in Michigan go to our neighbors. If the Trump-proposed tariffs were enacted as a one-size-fits-all policy, every time a Michigan auto part crosses a border and gets taxed, those costs will be passed on to Michiganders at the dealership. Crippling Michigan’s auto ecosystem will only help our biggest competitor: China. Governor Whitmer has made it clear that she is committed to working with our neighbors to the North to protect Michigan’s auto industry. That’s why the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration has been in active discussions with Canadian officials to explore ways we can collaborate on tariffs, lower the cost of doing business, and protect Michigan industry and consumers.

Delivering for Michiganders Since 2018

Since taking office, the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration has continued to deliver on the kitchen-table issues that matter to Michiganders. Over the past six years, Governor Whitmer has signed more than 1,400 bipartisan bills and 6 balanced budgets; nearly 1,000 of those bills were signed under a Republican legislature.

Other accomplishments include:

• Cutting taxes by $1 billion for seniors and working families

• Securing nearly 40,000 auto jobs

• Building 50,000 units of housing

• Feeding students free breakfast and lunch at school

• Replacing tens of thousands of lead pipes

• Fixing nearly every major freeway