In the state’s weekly radio address, Michigan Lieutenant Governor John Cherry Jr. said a local project in Kalamazoo County exemplified the main reason the federal Recovery Act was passed: creating jobs.
A $44 million project to widen I-94 in Kalamazoo broke ground last week, and is the 2000th transportation project funded by the Recovery Act and Lt. Governor Cherry was joined by Vice President Joe Biden, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, and other local public officials.
“This one construction project will create 1,200 jobs,” Mr. Cherry said. “Michigan is receiving more than $1 billion in Recovery Act transportation funding, creating 27,000 jobs.”
Lt. Governor Cherry also stressed the importance of improving the state’s infrastructure in order to grow Michigan’s economy.
“As we continue to make Michigan a magnet for manufacturers of advanced batteries, wind turbines, solar panels and other green products, we must ensure we have an excellent infrastructure,” Mr. Cherry said during his address. “Highway projects funded by the Recovery Act, like the widening of I-94 in Kalamazoo, are a good start.”
Vice President Biden, who has been on a “Road to Recovery” tour, highlighting infrastructure projects financed by the Recovery Act also spoke the importance of the Kalamazoo project.
“It’s not just about rebuilding roads … it’s about rebuilding an economy that can lead us into the 21st century,” Vice President Biden said at the event.
Mr. Biden then touched on one of his pet issues, high-speed rail. He said that high-speed rail would come to Michigan, “because of Gov. Granholm. There’s no doubt about it.”
U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also attended the event.
There are no comments
Add yours