In The News: Peters Highlights Education, Workforce Development & Innovation on Michigan Economic Listening Tour
Last week, Senator Peters held an Economic Listening Tour, where he traveled across the state meeting with Michigan businesses, educators and workers to hear from different sectors of the state’s economy.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters kicked off his first full week in Michigan since being sworn in by touring the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine in Kalamazoo.
Peters talked with Dr. Hal Jenson, dean of the medical school, about the need for medical jobs in Southwest Michigan during the stop, which is one of several Michigan stops on his Economic Listening Tour.
“People definitely want to be in this medical school," Peters said. "It's in high demand. It's an opportunity to get some of the best and brightest young students who want to pursue a career in medicine right here in West Michigan, in Kalamazoo."
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“I think this is a great example, where you've got the philanthropic community as well as the private sector coming together to develop a cutting edge school," Peters said. "Walking around today and seeing this facility and seeing this medical school as really the forefront of the medical industry is really exciting."
The stop is the first on Peters’ “Michigan Economic Listening Tour,” a week-long trek across the state to see the varying economies and industries throughout the state. Peters also stopped at the Whirlpool corporate headquarters in Benton Harbor earlier in the day.
Peters, a first-term Democrat, said he was pleased to learn that lots of GVSU's engineering graduates stay in Michigan, boosting the number of skilled, educated workers in the state.
"It's very exciting to see an institution that not only is turning out world class engineers, but is turning out engineers that our choosing to stay in Michigan," Peters said.
Peters is spending this week in Michigan, touring universities, visiting businesses and speaking with workers to hear how he can best represent their interests in Washington as he seeks to strengthen the state's economy.
After he finished touring GVSU's engineering building, he said "innovation" is the future of Michigan, and that the state needs to be at the forefront of "innovating the next generation of products."
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Peters said innovation is the future for Michigan and that GVSU is a worthy investment, considering its innovative programs and the return it gives back to the state.
“Grand Valley having the resources necessary to build on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education is critical to the state,” Peters said.
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Peters was recently appointed to serve on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, where he focuses on a range of economic and small business issues, including interstate commerce, manufacturing and the automotive industry.
“My top priority in the Senate is to help create good jobs in our state, grow our economy and strengthen our middle class,” Peters said. “I’m looking forward to meeting with businesses and groups across the state to discuss how we can best invest in Michigan’s talented workforce, support small businesses and entrepreneurs, and strengthen the diversity of Michigan’s economy.”
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Senator Gary Peters makes a stop in Genesee County. It is part of the new senator's 'Economic Listening Tour.' He's meeting with businesses, educators, and workers from different parts of the state to learn how he can best represent them in Washington.
