ROCHESTER – As part of a statewide plan to speed up construction projects and create tens of thousands of jobs for Michigan workers, State Representatives Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak) and Tim Melton (D-Pontiac/Auburn Hills) today announced two projects at Oakland University and Oakland Community College-Auburn Hills that will create about 1,500 local jobs. The projects were approved on Wednesday by the Michigan House and now head to the Senate for final approval.
"My highest priority is getting Michigan's workers back on the job and turning our economy around," Donigan said. "These projects are part of my commitment to secure the resources that Oakland County needs to be prepared for the competitive, high-tech jobs of the 21st century."
Oakland University and Oakland Community College are targeted for construction and renovation projects totaling
$93.2 million, made up of a mix of state, federal and local funding. A $61.2 million, 150,000-square-foot Human Health
Building will be built at Oakland University. OCC-Auburn Hills will complete a
$32 million renovation of the building that houses the college's Vocational Technology program.
In addition to creating jobs for our workers, the projects will help better equip both schools to prepare Michigan's students for high-tech jobs in homeland security, life sciences and other cutting-edge fields. The projects are two of hundreds of construction projects at universities, colleges, airports, military facilities and state parks across the state that aim to help create more than 29,000 jobs for Michigan's workers. It is part of a plan to pump $1.8 billion into the economy and help move Michigan forward.
"If we're going to ensure a bright economic future for Michigan, we need to invest in our communities to make them strong and vibrant," Melton said. "These projects can do just that. I call on my colleagues in the Senate to take quick action to approve these projects so we can get Michigan moving in the right direction."