Robert Ficano cites new era of ‘smart government’ in Wayne County
Written on February 24, 2010 by admin
Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano touted business investment in the county, announced a new a utism initiative and called Wayne County a model for a new kind of government in tonight’s State of the County address, delivered at the Gem Theatre.As revenues have flagged, Wayne County government has become smarter, he said, an example he invited other regional leaders — and Michigan’s next governor — to follow.“Gone are the days of big, slow-moving, inattentive government. And good riddance,” Ficano said. “We are now — at least here in Wayne County — in the era of small, swift and smart government. Seeing this shift was no surprise. We anticipated this economic decline and have been working on our makeover for years.”Ficano said that he and his team have brought $2 billion in new investment to Wayne County in the past year, saying the county had seen more investment from alternative energy, advanced battery and high-tech automotive companies than regional competitors.Among new investments Ficano detailed:• General Electric will select auto suppliers in Southeast Michigan to manufacture $25 million dollars worth of parts annually for its appliance division.• In Van Buren Twp., GE is investing $100 million dollars and hiring up to 1,400 positions workers for its Advanced Manufacturing and Software Technology Center.• General Motors Corp. is investing $40 million dollars in a new Brownstown Twp. factory that will produce battery packs for the Chevrolet Volt, which will be manufactured in the automaker’s Detroit-Hamtramck facility• Ford Motor Co. is investing $1 billion dollars in its Michigan Assembly Plant, which will build the European version of the Focus and the electric Focus.• Mercedes-Benz is investing $10 million dollars and creating 200 engineering jobs at its new engineering center inside the Detroit Diesel complex in Redford.• A123Systems, an advanced lithium-ion battery manufacturer, is investing more than $600 million dollars in regional headquarters and production plants and the Center for Energy Excellence in Livonia and Romulus.Ficano said that by purchasing the Guardian Building and moving the county’s headquarters, taxpayers have saved $2 million a year. The county’s lease at the old county building on Randolph, he said, was extremely unfavorable.Ficano also said that he is launching a joint effort to make Wayne County a center for autism research and treatment.“There is no cure, and most insurance companies don’t cover treatment,” he said.“But this new organization…will work in partnership with local agencies, hospitals, universities and now us, to be the international hub for autism research, diagnosis and treatment. Together, we will make life better for our families impacted by autism.”
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