Economy & Jobs

Michigan is in crisis today. Years of policies hostile to economic diversification, hostile to union labor, and hostile to middle class growth have taken their toll on the state we love. Michigan families are hurting, and Virg Bernero is running for governor to stand up for them. In order to fight for working families across our state, Virg will shake things up in Lansing and in Washington. Virg will continue his work to bring new industry to Michigan while refusing to give up on our proud manufacturing roots.

Bringing jobs back to Michigan and putting our citizens back to work must be the top priority of Michigan‘s next Governor. Virg Bernero has a clear and compelling strategy to do just that – it’s his Main Street Michigan Agenda!

We must make Michigan the #1 place in the country to do business – because that means JOBS. Small business especially must be promoted and nurtured as this is where the bulk of new jobs will be created.

To create new jobs in Michigan, Virg believes we must build upon our advanced manufacturing capabilities by investing in them, instead of abandoning them.

Virg’s job-creating Main Street Michigan Agenda includes:

• Business Tax Reform That Directly Rewards Job Creation and Export-Oriented Manufacturing
• Breaking the Credit Crunch for Michigan Manufacturers and Job-Creating Small Business
• Green Manufacturing Zones at Former Automotive Sites
• Michigan International Business Investment Zones (MIBIZ)
• Building Michigan's Skilled Workforce
• Rebuilding Michigan's Failing Infrastructure
• Keep Fighting for Fair Trade, Not Free Trade

To view the full plan, click here

Balanced budgets, no new taxes, 6,000 new and retained jobs,
I did it for Lansing and I can do it for Michigan.

Make Michigan the Number one Place in the Country to do Business.

Virg's Record

No issue is more important in Michigan than getting our economy moving again. Every candidate for Governor will talk about economic development. But Virg Bernero is the only candidate of either party who’s successfully grown jobs in elected office. It’s why he’ll be successful in rebuilding our economy as Governor.

Take a look at the record:

• Secured $161 million in federal funds to clean up 47 closed and contaminated General Motors sites in 14 communities across Michigan through his work with the Mayors and Municipalities Automotive Coalition (MAC).
• 6,000 jobs created and retained as Mayor of Lansing
• Leveraged more than a half-billion dollars in private investment
• Five balanced budgets, on time, without any layoffs, without spending down the reserve, and without raising taxes
• Lansing is one of the top three cities in Michigan in GDP growth over the last four years.
• Over the last two years in Lansing, there has been $188 million worth of construction projects. $187 million of that has been project labor agreements (PLA), and it has put over 400 union members to work.

State Bank

Virg Bernero has proven that we can incentivize small employers to grow jobs here in Michigan. As Governor, Bernero will lay out the red carpet for business, not the red tape. That means facilitating the start-up of new businesses, making credit available, and easing the burden on startups. Bernero’s proposal to establish a state-operated bank that can make direct loans to businesses in emerging, job-creating industries will do just that. It has worked in North Dakota, and we can make it work here.

Urban Agenda

Overall economic health of urban centers and the surrounding areas is largely dependent upon sound, progressive and innovative urban policy. The social vitality of Michigan’s urban communities is directly linked to the prosperity of its larger cities and urban cores. Vibrant cities that address the issues of poverty alleviation, education, business, and infrastructure will generate economic growth and cultural enrichment. Cities can accomplish this by uniting with local businesses, universities, and other cultural, faith-based, and nonprofit institutions.

Affordable housing, renewable and sustainable energy, well-maintained and accessible public transit, fair labor practices, a quality and cutting-edge education system, and a revitalized criminal justice system are all linked to the overall health and vitality of our urban areas, and by extension, the overall success of Michigan. It is time to stop separating and over-bureaucratizing each area as if they function independently of one another.

As Mayor of Lansing, Virg Bernero has a keen understanding of the importance of investing in our cities. For too long Michigan has operated under the “hole in the donut” theory of economic development — where investment in the outlying areas takes precedence over our urban centers. Virg believes we need a whole scale philosophical change that includes making urban investment central to economic revitalization.

Virg Bernero knows the future of any urban policy agenda must include regional cooperation: larger cities like Detroit and Flint are prime examples of cities that would benefit from regional cooperation and consolidation of services. This cooperation has the potential to unify our urban core, leading to a stronger and more competitive Michigan.

Virg Bernero has the right experience to be Governor. Virg is the only candidate for governor who has successfully created jobs as an elected official. Unlike his opponent, Virg has had to make tough decisions that impact Michigan's citizens. As Mayor of Lansing, Virg brought labor and business leaders together to balance five straight budgets. He downsized government by 20% and he didn't raise taxes or lay off even a single worker. Rick Snyder talks about bipartisanship, talks about downsizing government, and talks about creating jobs. But while Rick Snyder has been talking, Virg Bernero has delivered.

vbernero
I am asking my opponent to join in a bipartisan effort to support small businesses in Michigan. http://virg10.com/16S

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Only 55 days until the election