I had the pleasure last week of announcing a total of 7,700 new jobs for Michigan, which include the creation of more than 800 jobs by the Dow Chemical Company of Midland and Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) of Kuwait; and more than 6,900 new jobs by 18 Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) projects that will generate more than $231 million in new investment in Michigan.

The Dow Chemical Company and Petrochemical Industries Company joint venture will manufacture and market polyethylene, ethyleneamines, ethanolamines, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and related technologies. Petrochemical Industries Company of Kuwait is part of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and is part of the country of Kuwait's strategy to leverage its petroleum industry.

The 18 MEGA projects are:

- ForeSee Results Inc. (Southeast Michigan) – Is a company that uses online voice of customer data to help organizations around the globe increase sales, loyalty, and Web site value. The company plans to invest approximately $6.6 million in the project that is expected to create up to 638 Michigan jobs, including 275 directly by the company. An economic analysis conducted by the MEDC estimates that the project will generate an additional 363 indirect jobs.

- Evergreen Solar Inc. (Midland) – The manufacturer of solar power panels has chosen Midland over a competing site in another state to establish a new facility that will create string for the company's proprietary, low-cost String Ribbon™ wafer technology. The project is expected to generate approximately $55.2 million in new capital investment and up to 596 new Michigan jobs, including 101 directly by the company over the next five years. An economic analysis conducted by the MEDC estimates the project will generate an additional 495 indirect jobs.

- Echo Global Logistics Inc. (Oakland County) – Is an IT logistics company that is expected to generate $4.2 million in new capital investment and create 1,777 new jobs, including up to 950 directly by the company. An economic analysis conducted by the MEDC estimates the project will generate an additional 827 indirect jobs.

- Gibbs Technologies Inc. (Auburn Hills) – The developer of amphibious vehicles has the potential to generate up to $13 million in new capital investment and create up to 521 new jobs, including 250 directly by the company. An economic analysis conducted by the MEDC estimates the project will generate an additional 271 indirect jobs.

- Harman Becker Automotive Systems Inc. (Novi) – The world's largest supplier of high-end automotive audio and infotainment systems plans to consolidate its North America acoustic development group from two out-of-state locations to a location in Novi. The project is expected to create 275 new jobs, including 135 directly by the company. An economic analysis conducted by the MEDC estimates the project will generate an additional 140 indirect jobs.

- International Bancard Corporation (Clawson) – The financial transaction service provider plans to invest $2.1 million to relocate from Royal Oak into a larger facility in Clawson. The project is expected to create 325 new jobs, including 150 directly by the company. An economic analysis conducted by the MEDC estimates the expansion will generate an additional 175 indirect jobs.

- MyInsuranceExpert.com (RSA) (Troy) – The financial planning and benefits service provider plans to invest $1.8 million in the project and expects to create 621 new jobs, including 337 directly by the company. An economic analysis conducted by the MEDC estimates the project will generate an additional 284 indirect jobs.

- Technology Associates Inc. DBA Ranal Inc. (Auburn Hills) – The engineering service provider plans to invest $2.5 million to expand its operations in Auburn Hills. The project is expected to create 167 new jobs, including 84 directly by the company. An economic analysis conducted by the MEDC estimates the project will generate an additional 83 indirect jobs.

- Steel Tool & Engineering Co. (Gibraltar) – The manufacturer and engineering provider of precision component parts for military and commercial aircraft jet engines plans to invest $3.5 million to consolidate operations in Taylor and Wyandotte into a facility in Gibraltar. The project is expected to create 112 new jobs, including 50 directly by the company. An economic analysis conducted by the MEDC estimates that the project will generate an additional 62 indirect jobs.

- Michigan Institute of Aeronautics Inc. (Huron Township) – The Belleville-based postsecondary institution and one of the largest aviation maintenance technician schools in the nation plans to expand and locate its Power Technology Institute in Huron Township. The Power Technology Institute, with 103 students currently, expects to grow to over 600 students over the next five years. The institute focuses on alternative energy and trains students to become technicians and dispatchers. The project is expected to create 145 new jobs, including 103 directly by the institute. An economic analysis conducted by the MEDC estimates the project will create 42 indirect jobs.

- Attwood Corporation (Lowell) – The marine parts and accessories supplier plans to consolidate its Lancaster, Texas, manufacturing operations into an existing facility in Lowell (Kent County), where it has 114 employees. The $1.8 million project is expected to create 87 new jobs in the community, including 50 directly by the company. An economic analysis conducted by the MEDC estimates the project will generate an additional 37 indirect jobs.

- Graphic Packaging International Inc. (Kalamazoo) – The provider of paperboard packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to multinational food, beverage, and other consumer products companies plans to invest $27 million to expand its existing folding carton plant in Kalamazoo. The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Corporation, a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK), currently employs 701 people in Michigan. The project is expected to create 377 new jobs, including up to 160 jobs directly by the company.

- Perrigo Company (Allegan) – This global healthcare supplier develops, manufactures and distributes over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals. The $3 billion Michigan-based company will invest $10.5 million in operating and training facilities at its global headquarters in Allegan. The project is expected to create 1,039 new jobs, including 400 directly by the company over the next five years, which currently has 2,569 employees in Michigan.

- In East Lansing, Strathmore Development Company through affiliate City Center Two Project LLC will use a state brownfield tax credit valued at $10 million and state and local tax capture totaling $57.8 million for Phase One of a large-scale development on 5.46 acres bordered by Grand River Avenue, Abbot and Evergreen roads and Albert Street. The overall mixed-use project will include a total of six new commercial and residential buildings, a pedestrian overpass, and 520-space parking deck comprising 585,000 square feet and representing capital investment of $84 million. Phase One consists of a 10-story mixed-use building on three acres to include retail, restaurant and hotel, office space, residential apartments and a performing arts center. It is anticipated that Phase One will create the first 150 of 237 new jobs projected for the entire project.

- A $10 million state brownfield tax credit and $33.3 million in state and local tax capture will support conversion of the Ottawa Power Station on the Grand River between Ottawa Street and Grand Avenue in downtown Lansing by Phoenix Development Partners LLC into a new world headquarters campus housing the Accident Fund Insurance Company. The $182 million project will bring 500 new jobs downtown.

- The City of Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will use $428,322 in local and school tax capture for the renovation, alteration, and improvement of the Cedar Street Elementary School in the Old Town area of downtown Lansing.

- In Redford Township, Southfield developer JNCC LLC will use a state brownfield tax credit valued at $4.6 million to build 188 units of single-family housing, 150 senior independent living units and 20 multi-family condo units on 50 acres at the site of the old, Catholic Central High School.

- The mixed-use historic rehab of the Durant Hotel in downtown Flint by developer 607 East Second Ave LLC (a joint venture of Genesee County Land Bank and Karp and Associates) will be supported by a $5.8 million state brownfield tax credit. The project is expected to create 16 new jobs and will have an eligible investment between $16 million and $29 million.

This just further affirms that the state of Michigan is willing to work hard to attract new investment and jobs to our state.