LANSING – State Representatives Dian Slavens (D-Canton) and Lee Gonzales (D-Flint Township) today praised the announcement by Vice President Joe Biden that Michigan will receive $1.36 billion in federal stimulus funding for the development and production of advanced batteries to power the next generation of automobiles, creating thousands of jobs for Michigan's highly skilled workers. The move also will position Michigan as a leader in producing the technologies that will help break the nation's dangerous dependence on foreign oil.
"Our top-notch workforce and industrial infrastructure make Michigan the ideal place to invest in cutting-edge technologies," Slavens said. "Michigan is the state that put the world on wheels. Not only can we lead in advanced automotive technologies and create good-paying jobs, we can help break our addiction to foreign oil."
In April, a plan sponsored by Slavens was signed into law that expanded state tax credits for companies involved in advanced battery manufacturing to $555 million. The plan builds on Michigan's first-in-the-nation tax credits that were sponsored by Gonzales and signed into law in January. The first of those tax breaks were awarded to General Motors for the production of lithium-ion batteries for its new Chevy Volt, which will be built in Michigan. The tax incentives have resulted in more than $2 billion in investments by five world-class advanced battery companies that will create more than 6,600 jobs in Michigan.
The $1.36 billion awarded to Michigan is more than half of the $2.4 billion in federal grants announced today through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that will further accelerate the development and commercialization of safe and affordable electric vehicles. Of the 48 grants approved under the stimulus program, 11 are in Michigan.
"Michigan already has a head start when it comes to advanced technologies, and with this investment we'll be able to hit the ground running," Gonzales said. "Vice President Biden is right – Michigan is the perfect place for these high-tech manufacturers to locate. Thanks to our first-class workers and state-of-the-art facilities, Michigan is becoming a magnet for these emerging technologies."