By The Associated Press
April 10, 2006LANSING - State officials are hitting the road to pitch state government as a source of business for Michigan companies.
They will hold workshops around Michigan to raise awareness that the state wants to buy more products from Michigan companies. About 85 percent of what the state buys is sold by Michigan businesses.
"The state of Michigan is open for business. It is open for everybody," Department of Management and Budget Director Lisa Webb Sharpe said.
Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm last year ordered state departments to buy from Michigan companies first.
A big goal of the two-month-long "Buy Michigan First" tour -- in which local businesses can attend state workshops -- is to boost the percentage of state contracts with Michigan businesses to 90 percent, Webb Sharpe said. Other goals include increasing the number of businesses registering as state vendors and bidding on contracts.
Target businesses included small businesses and those owned by minorities, women, veterans and people with disabilities.
The state also has put every existing state contract online, so businesses know when they expire.
A workshop will be held at noon on Thursday, May 18, at Delta College, University Center.
For more information, visit the Department of Management and Budget Web site at http://www.michigan.gov/buymichiganfirst