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MiMfg Magazine
January 2019
Keynote
Gretchen Whitmer
Conversation Governor of Michigan
on your
Q: Congratulations
election as Michigan’s next
Governor. What do you see
as the top policy issue
facing manufacturers
heading into 2019?
Governor Whitmer: We’ve got
to close the skills gap here in
Michigan. Even with 20-year
lows in the State’s unemployment rate,
too many working age Michiganders have
left the labor market, and employers are struggling
to fill open positions. We also have to prepare for
an auto industry where domestic sales have started
to peak and decline. I’m ready to get to work
ensuring students of all ages in Michigan can get a
great education that gets them on a path to a high
wage career. We’re also going to work on strong
and enforceable Buy American and Buy Michigan
policies for state contracting and procurement, to
ensure our tax dollars are going to American and
Michigan businesses. While we’ll be focused on
helping Michigan manufacturers expand exports,
we also need Washington to adopt trade agreements
that focus on exporting Michigan products, not
Michigan jobs.
next two years will see a Democratic
Q: The
administration and Republican legislature.
Where do you see room for these two sides to
work together to grow Michigan’s economy?
Governor Whitmer: I have a real record of working
across the aisle to get things done for the people of
Michigan. As Senate Democratic Leader, I
negotiated with Governor Snyder to expand
Medicaid to more than 680,000 Michiganders.
As Governor, I am committed to leading and
working across the aisle with everyone who wants
to solve the problems now facing Michiganders.
That is what the people of Michigan want and
expect in their elected officials. We need to focus
on common-ground issues that actually make a
difference in people’s lives, like improving education
and skills training, repealing the retirement tax,
making health care more affordable, fixing the
roads, and cleaning up our drinking water.
1 1 Became Michigan’s 49th Governor on 1/1/19.
1 1 Filled the role of Ingham County Prosecutor for
six months in 2016.
1 1 Chosen as the Senate Democratic Leader in
2010, the first woman to fulfill the role.
1 1 Served as a Michigan State Senator from 2006
to 2015 and Michigan State Representative
from 2001 to 2006.
is one of manufacturing’s top business
Q: Talent
challenges. How can manufacturers, the
Whitmer Administration and Michigan’s
Republican-led Legislature work together
to address this important issue?
Governor Whitmer: We’ve got to fill thousands
of jobs in the skilled trades here in Michigan.
That starts by making sure every Michigander
has a path to a high wage career. Manufacturers
can help by partnering with the Michigan Works!
System, school districts, higher education institutions
and apprenticeship programs to develop training
programs that lead directly to in-demand jobs. I
also would invite the Legislature to come to the
table to strengthen our public education system and
bring down the cost of post-secondary education.
percent of MMA member companies
Q: Eighty-five
have fewer than 100 employees and Michigan
has a high concentration of small tool & die
companies. What is your administration’s
plan to support small businesses?
Governor Whitmer: Small businesses are vital to
Michigan’s economy. Most job growth in the state
is generated by small and medium sized business
expansion. My administration will be focused on
helping small businesses grow and attract the talent
they need. We’re also going to support these members
by fixing our infrastructure, because assembly lines
start with good roads, clean water, lower utility
costs and access to high-speed Internet.
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