It was a beautiful day for workers in Michigan last Friday as more big jobs announcements were made! I am so pleased to tell you that a great company, United Solar Ovonic, will continue to grow their company right here in the Great Lakes State. They have promised one more plant, creating 200 new jobs in West Michigan. United Solar Ovonic is a company that I may have told you about previously. In March, the company announced they would break ground in Michigan, building a new, high-tech ovonic solar cell manufacturing facility in Greenville, Michigan Today, they announced that their company will open not only one, but two new plants in Michigan! It’s great news for a town that has dealt with so much since Electrolux left for Mexico.

I also had the pleasure of visiting with two great Michigan companies on Friday. I was on the road early to visit our friends at ProNAI Therapeutics in Kalamazoo this morning. They are one of the first 61 companies announced on Tuesday who will receive a 21st Century Jobs Fund award. The scientists at ProNAI are working to develop new ways to fight cancer. I had the opportunity to tour their facility and was very impressed. I was also in Ann Arbor later in the morning for the groundbreaking of the new Toyota Technical Center in York Township. The expansion of the research and development center promises the investment of $187 million and the creation of more than 400 high-tech, 21st century jobs in Michigan.

In the 20th century, Michigan earned the reputation of the auto-manufacturing capitol of the world. But the knowledge revolution has transformed yesterday’s smokestack industries, and Michigan has become the global epicenter of advanced manufacturing with an unparalleled concentration on research and development facilities. With our rich automotive history, we have the brainpower needed to make things run. But, whether it’s auto industries we are talking about or emerging sectors like alternative energy and life sciences, I believe that Michigan can rightfully claim national and international leadership. United Solar Ovonic, Toyota, and ProNAI Therapeutics are prime examples of the companies we will continue to band together with in this 21st century global economy. I continue to fight for every Michigan job, and every Michigan worker…