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06/02/2006Money for jobs may be headed up northMACKINAC ISLAND — Northern Michigan businesses have shown strong interest in tapping into a new 21st Century Jobs Fund, the state's top economic development official said. Much of the $2 billion state jobs creation program could flow into northern Michigan, said James Epolito, head of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The first round of the program attracted about 500 proposals that seek close to $1 billion in state aid for business development and retention, including scores from northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. "Absolutely, there's a lot of interest," said Epolito. "There are a lot of things you can leverage up there." The program is designed to attract high-tech jobs through tax and other financial incentives for businesses, but Epolito said it's not targeted to any specific region of the state. Several strong proposals have come from northern Michigan, he said. The first round of awards will be announced later this year. The growth of business and industry statewide, and not just in southeast Michigan, is key to the state's economic recovery, Epolito said. He cited a recent USA Today report that mentioned Traverse City, along with Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor, as cities that are turning around the state's long economic slump. "They are communities leading us out of the economic doldrums," Epolito said. He also said the 21st Century Jobs Fund will be tapped for millions in tourism promotional dollars that should also help northern Michigan. Epolito's comments followed the unveiling of MEDC's new business marketing initiative — dubbed "The Upper Hand" — at the Detroit Regional Chamber conference on Mackinac Island. It's a $2 million national marketing campaign over two years that targets top business executives around the country. The campaign highlights recent business success stories in Michigan in high-tech areas like development of solar-energy cells. "We want to convince businesses that we are the best place to come and grow," Gov. Jennifer Granholm said. See related stories:
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