LANSING – State Representatives Glenn Anderson (D-Westland), Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor), Kathleen Law (D-Gibraltar) and Gino H. Polidori (D-Dearborn) announced today that Ford Motor Co. and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) reached a 20-year tentative agreement that will save 13,000 Michigan jobs through a $1 billion investment in its Michigan facilities, several of which are in Wayne County.
"This is the kind of partnership we need to strengthen Michigan's economy and keep our state moving forward in the right direction," Anderson said. "This partnership will help Ford create the good-paying and high-tech jobs of the future here in Michigan."
The following Ford facilities in Wayne County that could be affected by the agreement are the Hybrid engineering lab in Dearborn, saving 300 jobs; the Livonia transmission plant, saving 2,150 jobs; the Michigan Truck facility in Wayne, saving 2,710 jobs; the Dearborn stamping operations, saving 1,300 jobs; and the Woodhaven stamping facility, saving 1,700 jobs.
"I join with other Wayne County representatives in congratulating Governor Granholm and Ford Motor Company on this agreement," Law said. "This partnership will keep good-paying, high-tech jobs in Wayne County."
Under the agreement, Ford will receive $151 million in tax incentives. In turn, it will invest in expanding flexible manufacturing in their Michigan facilities and in the research and development of its future products, advanced powertrain technologies and hybrid vehicles. All of the uses fall in line with Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm's plan to create good-paying, high-tech jobs in the high-tech automotive, alternative energy and life sciences fields.
Last month, Internet search engine giant Google Inc. announced its plans to hire 1,000 workers over the next five years and build a headquarters facility in Michigan. Gov. Granholm and the MEDC have been working for more than a year to bring Google to the state. The state will give the Internet giant $38 million in Single Business Tax credits over the next 20 years. In return, Google expects to generate $165 million revenue over the next 20 years.
Democrats are fighting to fully fund the MEDC, the state's job creation agency, so that it will have all the necessary resources to bring in more jobs and strengthen the economy. Republicans have resisted such efforts.
"This is a major victory for job creation and protection," Hopgood said. "Ford's investment will make a strong economic impact on our state. We need to fully fund the MEDC so we can continue to help attract new job providers like Google and keep great companies like Ford in Michigan.
"Our goal to grow Michigan's economy is working," Polidori said. "We are creating high-tech jobs of the future. Helping to keep a great company like Ford in Michigan is a plus for our state and our community."