Monday, August 08, 2005 - MiBiz Network

LANSING – Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that Business Facilities magazine has ranked Michigan the number one automotive power center in the nation, further validating the state’s claim to be the best place in the United States—and the world—to design, develop and manufacture vehicles. This is the second year in a row the state has received the publication’s top ranking, which will be featured in the July issue due on newsstands later this month.

“Since the inception of the automobile, Michigan has consistently been the leader and this ranking proves our continuing automotive might,” Granholm said. “One out of every five jobs in Michigan is based on this industry, and we have implemented a comprehensive and aggressive strategy to ensure we remain on top. We are more determined than ever to cement our standing as the vital center of the auto industry’s future.”

Business Facilities was established in 1968 as a national site selection magazine. It provides monthly news and resource information for more than 40,000 corporate executives responsible for the expansion or relocation of their companies. The annual automotive rankings are based on data compiled from the 2004 Ward’s Motor Vehicle Facts & Figures reported on the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers Web site. States are evaluated in three equally-weighted categories: auto-dependent workers as a percent of total workforce, auto-related employment, and number of automotive facilities in the state including parts distribution, corporate offices, research and development, sales and marketing, and engineering and design.

“Despite the gains in the automotive industry seen by other parts of the country over the last decade, Michigan is still by far the nexus of automotive experience in this country,” Business Facilities Editor-in-Chief Karim Khan said. “I believe that the state has figured out how to level the playing field so that it will continue to get its share of automotive investment. The Toyota announcement in April is good evidence of that.”

California, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana rounded out the top five in this year’s rankings, after Michigan.

“This is tremendous recognition for Michigan, and it reinforces what we already know,” MEDC President and CEO Don Jakeway said. “Our collective automotive talent and expertise, in manufacturing, R&D, and engineering are unmatched anywhere in the world.”

Gov. Granholm’s Michigan Automotive Industry Economic Development/Investment Strategy is specifically designed to increase both automotive production and R&D jobs in Michigan. Its seven points are:

- Continuing to improve Michigan’s overall business climate, and create incentives focused on automotive manufacturing and R & D activities;
- Creating a continuous, career-long skill enhancement system for automotive workers to ensure their ability to stay current with the demands of the emerging high-tech automotive marketplace;
- Developing a targeted approach to capturing an increased share of international automotive investment;
- Making Michigan the international incubator for new automotive business models, new consortiums, and new collaborative partnerships;
- Working collaboratively to drive auto- and energy- related federal R & D priorities, and create mechanisms to more rapidly connect innovative intellectual property in our universities and companies with the auto marketplace;
- Developing an industry-wide database for automotive research to help Michigan firms remain on the leading edge; and,
- Taking a regional leadership role in the economic development of the auto industry.

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This article appeared in the August 8, 2005 issue of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free to qualified individuals who do business in West and Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz Network, visit www.mibiz.com.