LANSING – In a move to reward companies that hire Michigan workers, State Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) 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.
"It simply does not make sense for taxpayer dollars to go toward creating jobs for workers in other states," McDowell said. "We should make sure that Michigan residents benefit from taxpayer money, and that's exactly what the 'Hire Michigan First' plan does."
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.
"When we create jobs and protect taxpayer dollars, we are supporting our working families – and that helps drive our economy forward," McDowell said. "We need to send a clear message: Taxpayer dollars should be used to reward Michigan workers."