"An incredibly great day for the state of Michigan."

That from Governor Jennifer Granholm trotted out a host of CEO's to highlight her announcement of the largest job creation in the history of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Fifteen companies will help generate over half a billion dollars in new investments around the state according to the Governor.
It's something she believes will enhance her plan to transform Michigan's economy and help keep college graduates in the state.

"We have these 15 universities producing these wonderful graduates and we now have places for them to land with jobs," said Granholm as she motioned to the business leaders behind her. "(Yes, we're) creating a knowledged economy, but creating all kinds of jobs for all kinds of people is part of the strategy for diversifying Michigan's economic portfolio."

HOW MANY JOBS?

9,081 new jobs will be created, not including about 400 more that will be retained. 2,642 of those are indirect, spin-off jobs, meaning they are just an estimation.

HOW MUCH MONEY?

It's 20 projects in all, including the building of a new "Cabela's" in Wyoming which includes apartments and town homes and an estimated 3,668 new jobs for that project alone.
All told, it's $658 million dollars of investment in Michigan.

WHO LOST?

Michigan beat out 15 other states and two countries for these new projects.
The majority are in West and Southeast Michigan, but the lone local project included is the the Nu Union Credit Union branch going in at the soon-to-be demolished Regent Inn in Lansing.

WHY MICHIGAN?

Brian Schrader founder and CEO of Business Intelligence Associates Inc. of New York was looking at a very large expansion possibly off-shore. His company has facilities in San Francisco, Seattle and New York. He was lured to Michigan by none other than the star of "Dumb and Dumber."

"Honestly, one day I was watching Bloomberg Television and a Jeff Daniels commercial came on about the incentives that were here," said Schrader. "I told my business partner we have to look at Michigan before we decide to take these jobs out of the country."

He met with people from the MEDC and in the end is opening his largest facility in Kalamazoo and should create up to 600 new jobs.

Tuesday's announcement marks the most jobs created in one month by the MEDC in its 13-year history.

Tax abatements, services and recruitment of workers are just some of the incentives awaiting the 15 companies from the supporting communities.