Governor Gretchen Whitmer is on a two-day business jaunt to Washington DC, where she has meetings set up with Biden administration officials and members of Michigan’s congressional delegation.
A priority in sit-downs with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and other Biden administration officials will be winning more federal support for manufacturing semiconductors. The chips are critical to the auto industry and defense contractors.
“Well, I think it’s important for Michigan to make our case and make our case in person and to the people that are making these decisions,” Whitmer Communications Director Bobby Leddy said. “Certainly, we can build up that relationship, show that we have the track record for getting things done and, hopefully, make the case that we deserve some additional investment and we’ll put that to good use.”
Michigan has already expanded semiconductor production, in part because chips are critical to the auto industry. President Joe Biden was in Michigan earlier this week to visit a semiconductor factory in Bay City.
Leddy says the governor is making the case that Michigan already has the workforce and supply chains to further expand semiconductor production.
Whitmer also has meetings planned with Democratic and Republican members of Michigan’s congressional delegation. Topics could include a new budget bill and federal same-sex marriage protections.