GOP Governor Rick Snyder Takes Action To Attract Good Jobs In Michigan

Since his election in 2010, GOP Governor Rick Snyder’s leadership in Michigan has taken the state to new heights, attracting new, high-paying jobs for its citizens. But even after nearly two full, successful terms in office, Snyder is still taking more steps to improve Michigan’s job market. In a new op-ed in the Detroit News, Snyder makes a compelling case for the “Good Jobs For Michigan”  – a package of bills to further empower job creation and to build on the progress made during his tenure as governor:

“Michigan has come a long way in its comeback. We are experiencing great private-sector job growth and our state’s unemployment rate is lower than it has been in 17 years. And yet, we can never be content or complacent

We have worked hard to improve our business climate to make Michigan more attractive to job providers. From implementing a simple tax structure to energy reform, from workers’ compensation reform to education reform, we are doing all the right things to continue our economic comeback and improve the standard of living for all Michigan residents.

Nevertheless, the competition from other states and countries is fierce. Every day, other states are doing everything possible to lure job providers both big and small. There is no doubt that Michigan has the talent and the atmosphere to compete with anyone. But we are at an increasing disadvantage in trying to lure transformational, large-scale projects simply because other states offer extremely competitive incentive packages that we don’t have available. While I wish I could tell you that we can simply compete on good old-fashioned grit and determination, the world is a different place now in the arena of job attraction. That is why I support Senate Bills 242 –244 also known as the “Good Jobs for Michigan” package as a tool to bring large-scale job providers across the finish line and into Michigan.

The package of bills provides meaningful incentives to employers who create over 250 new jobs and are paying 125 percent or more of the regional average wage, as well as to employers who create over 500 jobs and are paying 100 percent or more of average regional wages. But the key to this program is that it is absolutely performance-based; the proposals would be reviewed and validated, transparent, and audited and verified every year. There is no risk to the state because if a company doesn’t create the jobs as promised, they will receive no tax incentives. Also, there would be a maximum program cap in place.”

Read the full op-ed here.