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Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has announced that an estimated 1,285 jobs, including 710 associated with alternative energy companies, will be created through an investment of more than $4 million in state Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) grants.

The transportation investments will leverage more than $1.25 billion in private investment at a private/public ratio of 303-to-1.

"These projects are a key part of our comprehensive economic plan to create jobs and grow the state's economy," Granholm said. "We want to make sure that Michigan is a hub for future growth and job creation, particularly in the area of alternative energy, which is growing dramatically."

The TEDF "Category A" or "Target Industries Program" is aimed specifically at providing transportation improvements that encourage private investments in Michigan that will create or retain jobs. The projects will break ground this year in Bay, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Saginaw and Wayne counties.

Last week, Governor Granholm announced that 34 road projects across Michigan will be accelerated from the 2009 construction season to 2008, creating 2,100 new jobs in Michigan. The announcement is one piece of the governor's economic stimulus package that she unveiled in her recent State of the State address. MDOT is accelerating almost $150 million in road and bridge projects, creating jobs in planning, engineering, and construction.

These road improvements will help accommodate increased traffic and provide commercial routes that are safe and more efficient for new and expanding companies. Private developers, cities, villages, counties and MDOT provide more than $2 million in local matching funds (34 percent) for these projects.

APPROVED CATEGORY A LOCAL PROJECTS
Bay County
Carbone of America-Ultra Carbon Division, an international leader and manufacturer of high purity graphite, serves the electronics and solar industries. Within the past five years, the company has invested more than $5 million in building improvements, and new machinery and equipment at its Bay City facility. Most recently, the company completed the second phase of a planned three-phase project, and invested $2.5 million in a 10,000-square-foot expansion. Phase 3 will involve an additional investment of $3 million. The company currently employs 250 workers at its Greenville and Midland operations. After expanding its Bay City facility, the company will hire 10 new employees by 2009.

The project will reconstruct Harrison Street between 32nd and 38th streets. Harrison is an all-season road that is currently in a very poor condition. The project will improve ride quality and enable the company to transport sensitive materials without damage.

The proposed cost of these transportation improvements is $1,183,229, including $238,488 in state TEDF funds, with a local match of $944,741 from the city of Bay City.

Saginaw County
Hemlock Semiconductor, the world's leading producer of polycrystalline silicon, will invest $1 billion during the next three and one-half years to expand its Hemlock facility. The company produces high purity polysilicon, which is the base raw material for the electronics industry and the solar power industry. In solar power applications, polycrystalline silicon is used to produce solar cells, which capture sunlight in order to produce clean, renewable energy. The company currently employs 1,200 people, and will create an additional 500 jobs with this expansion.

Due to an anticipated increase in traffic, it was determined that several improvements will be necessary to ensure safe and efficient all-season access to the facility. These improvements include reconstructing Geddes Road between Graham and Miller roads, upgrading Orr Road between Gratiot Road (M-46) and Geddes Road; adding center left-and right-turn lanes on Geddes Road in front of the facility; resurfacing and adding left-turn lanes in each quadrant of the intersection of Geddes Road and Graham Road; resurfacing and adding left-turn lanes in each quadrant of the intersection of Geddes and Orr roads; adding a left-turn lane on southbound Orr Road, and adding a right-turn lane on Gratiot (M-46) at the intersection of Gratiot and Orr roads.

The proposed cost of these transportation improvements is $2,802,144, including $2,247,000 in state TEDF funds, and $555,144 in local matching funds from Hemlock Semiconductor.