As part of her series of town hall meetings, the governor stops in Traverse City to discuss the state's recovery act.
TRAVERSE CITY -- The Traverse City Hagerty Center was packed with residents, local officials and business owners eager to hear Governor Granholm speak on the Michigan Recovery Act.
"I want to let citizens know what this recovery act means for them, that they're going to see tax cuts in their pay check, that there's extension of unemployment benefits," says Governor Granholm.
The governor recently signed legislation authorizing Michigan to spend nearly $2 billion towards the recovery act. She says the purpose is to not only create jobs, but diversify Michigan's economy by providing education and training for workers.
There are even specific effects that can be felt right here in northern Michigan including infrastructure funding for road improvements in Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Wexford counties.
"You're going to see the effects with respect to road projects. In fact, nearly thousands of people will be put to work anytime....You'll see health clinics that will be funded, police officers that will be funded," says Governor Granholm.
Governor Granholm says the recovery act will also help provide funding so more people can afford college tuitions.
"When it relates to higher education, I think the recovery act has some very important pieces that will help students to gain admittance to college...So for our students in the region it's very possible for them to afford an education," says Northwestern Michigan College president, Timothy Nelson.
"It's just really good to see that northern Michigan is a part of this federal stimulus funding component through the state of Michigan," says senior vice president of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, Tino Breithrupt.
The governor stresses that the recovery act is not the solution to the state's economic crisis, but instead a step in the right direction.
"The most important part is getting people back to work and getting the economy on track and that's got to be treated first," says Governor Granholm.
For more information on the Michigan Recovery Act check out the website: http://www.michigan.gov/recovery.
