– Gov. Jay Nixon visited Michigan on Thursday, where he touted Missouri as the leading place for growth in the American auto industry.

Touting recent expansions by Ford in Claycomo and General Motors in Wentzville, Nixon told those gathered at the Center for Automotive Research, “all this activity prompted CNN to report – no offense to our gracious hosts here in Michigan – ‘Move over Detroit. The big guns of manufacturing have turned sweet on Missouri.'”

Nixon told reporters after his remarks that “we’re not done yet,” pointing for potential for growth in both regions as a result of the investments in recent years by the major auto companies. Nixon said he had the opportunity to meet with various suppliers thinking about expansion, as well as the leadership of Ford and GM.

“We may not have another $1 billion investment in a brand new plant, but the $20, $30, and $40 million investments at the smaller plants that feed those lines are clearly coming our way,” he said.

Looking forward, Nixon said he would like to consolidate business incentives on the state level by creating a “one-stop-shop” for businesses looking to move in.
During his remarks, Nixon also touted the state’s education system, as well as the Innovation Campus model lauded by President Barack Obama when he visited the state earlier this month. The model centers around integrating on the job training to classrooms and university campuses to help students move more quickly from the education system to the work force.