https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Granholm-elected-to-Dow-Chemical-board-of-6969499.php
Granholm elected to Dow Chemical board of directors
Published 6:50 am EDT, Thursday, March 24, 2011
Former Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm has been elected to The Dow Chemical Co. Board of Directors, effective immediately, the company announced on Thursday.
"Jennifer Granholm's experience and perspective will be instrumental as we continue to advocate for national and international policies that drive innovation, increase productivity, encourage investments in technology and create jobs," Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris said.
During her tenure as governor, Granholm launched initiatives focused on diversifying and transforming the state's economy, Liveris said. He said she looked at adding emerging sectors such as clean energy to Michigan's economic portfolio, as well as creating jobs and training Michigan's workers to promote the state's long-term economic health.
"In addition, she has a demonstrated track record of cultivating many successful public- and private-sector collaborations that have laid the groundwork for profitable and sustainable growth for 21st century manufacturing," said Liveris, who's recent book "Make It In America" made the case for reinventing the U.S. economy by boosting the manufacturing sector.
Granholm's appointment may seem a natural fit for Dow, a Michigan-based company that has invested heavily in clean energy fields such as solar and battery technology as the company has transformed itself in recent years. As governor, Granholm made multiple stops in Midland to highlight hundreds of millions of dollars in state tax incentives for Dow and its subsidiaries for clean energy projects that have boosted job opportunities in the region.
In February 2010, Granholm stopped in Midland to announce tax incentives for alternative energy projects in wind, solar and batteries. She also highlighted Dow in her 2010 State of the State address, announcing its Dow POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle facility would be location in Midland. In June she joined other government leaders for the Dow Kokam Midland Battery Park groundbreaking. In September she visited the future site of Dow and Tata Consultancy Services' Business Process Services Center.
Granholm's board committee assignments are not yet listed on Dow's website. She joins Dow board members who currently serve in business, consulting and academic roles.
Granholm served two terms as governor, stepping down earlier this year. Prior to that, she was elected as Michigan's first female attorney general. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School, was recently appointed a Distinguished Practitioner of Law and Public Policy at the University of California-Berkeley and was recently named senior advisor to The Pew Charitable Trusts Clean Energy Program.