LANSING – In a move to reward companies that hire Michigan workers, State Representatives Bettie Cook Scott (D-Detroit) today announced an aggressive job-creation plan that gives priority for economic development projects to companies that employ 100 percent Michigan workers. The "Hire Michigan First" initiative also cracks down on the practice of hiring illegal immigrants and prohibits businesses that violate these guidelines from receiving tax breaks or future state contracts.
"Michigan's unemployment rate climbed to 7.2 percent in June – the highest in the nation," Scott said. "Corporate outsourcing and downsizing are hurting our working families. We must stand by our workers during these tough economic times, and do everything in our power to protect the families and workers that drive our economy forward."
The "Hire Michigan First" plan:
· Gives companies that hire 100 percent Michigan workers priority in the awarding of tax breaks and other economic development tools. This rule would apply to projects handled by the Michigan Economic Development Corp., and certain state-funded programs, including the Strategic Fund Act, Transportation Economic Development Fund, Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act and the 21st Century Jobs Fund.
· Requires companies that take economic development incentives to report on who they are hiring to ensure that Michigan workers are put first, encouraging transparency and accountability.
· Requires businesses with contracts for construction of state buildings to hire 100 percent of their workers from Michigan, strengthening the current requirement of 50 percent.
· Cracks down on companies that exploit illegal immigrant workers by canceling their state contracts and tax incentives. The plan would require them to pay back incentives already received and bar them from future contracts.
"Our workers are the most hardworking, dedicated employees anywhere," Scott said. "We cannot turn our back on them. By investing in our workers, we are investing in our economy and in our state."