LANSING – In a move to reward companies that hire Michigan workers, State Representative Fred Miller (D-Mount Clemens) today announced an aggressive
job-creation plan that gives priority for economic development projects to companies that employ 100 percent Michigan
workers. The "Hire Michigan First" initiative also cracks down on the practice of hiring illegal immigrants and
prohibits businesses that violate these guidelines from receiving tax breaks or future state contracts.
"When companies take advantage of tax breaks or state economic development programs, Michigan workers
deserve the first crack at those jobs," Miller said. "Michigan tax dollars should not fund grants or tax incentives for
businesses that hire people from other states and countries when Michigan residents have the training and expertise and
need those jobs. Michigan families have been hit hard by outsourcing and downsizing, and every scarce state dollar
should be used to create jobs here in Michigan."
The "Hire Michigan First" plan:
- Gives companies that hire 100 percent Michigan workers priority in the awarding of tax breaks and other economic development tools. This rule would apply to projects handled by the Michigan Economic Development Corp., and certain state-funded programs, including the Strategic Fund Act, Transportation Economic Development Fund, Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act and the 21st Century Jobs Fund.
- Requires companies that take economic development incentives to report on who they are hiring to ensure that Michigan workers are put first, encouraging transparency and accountability.
- Requires businesses with contracts for construction of state buildings to hire 100 percent of their workers from Michigan, strengthening the current requirement of 50 percent.
- Cracks down on companies that exploit illegal immigrant workers by canceling their state contracts and tax incentives. The plan would require them to pay back incentives already received and bar them from future contracts.
"Michigan has the best workers in the nation," Miller said. "Michigan middle class families are being squeezed from every direction, and we need to stand by them during rough economic times. We must do everything we can to ensure that taxpayer money rewards the hiring of Michigan workers, not people from out of state or illegal immigrants. By investing in Michigan workers, we're investing in the future of our state."