NEWS
Lansing - Gov. Jennifer Granholm depicted Michigan's economy as tough in her State of the State address Tuesday night, but stressed it would be possible to overcome difficulty with discipline and hard work.
"The state of our state tonight is one of determination," Granholm told legislators and some Michigan citizens in House chambers.
Job creation, education and environmental protection each were stressed in the governor's one-hour speech, which was entitled "Our Determination, Our Destination: A 21st Century Economy."
Granholm introduced two initiatives regarding higher education in the address.
One program would provide students at public universities with zero-percent interest on loans, provided they are working for a degree in either engineering or technology.
Granholm also announced that MSU is the first university in the state to commit to not raising tuition above the rate of inflation, adding that Wayne State University may make the same commitment.
"I challenge others to follow their lead: Keep tuition affordable, and keep the American dream of college alive for our young people," she said.
As elements of her plan for economic growth, Granholm announced the creation of three funds for entrepreneurs, which could make more than half a billion dollars available to "expanding 21st century businesses," and highlighted a plan to make high-speed Internet available throughout the state.
"Just as 50 years ago we used the strength of steel to link our two peninsulas, we will now use the power of this new technology to link every community in our state to a world of economic opportunity," Granholm said.
