Mark Hackel Touts Macomb County's Success At Annual Address
CLINTON TWP. (WWJ) - Macomb County's Executive put some polish on the county's image Wednesday night when he took the stage for his annual address.
"Our finances are in order, we've balanced budgets, we have a surplus, so we're in great financial shape," County Executive Mark Hackel told a packed house at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Clinton Township.
Hackel said new business is coming into the county, attracting hundreds of new jobs with the Big Three, as well as auto parts plants and the defense industry.
"Chrysler, a $850 million investment in Sterling Heights and a third shift at Warren Truck. Ford Motor Company, $270 million in Sterling Heights and Romeo," he said.
Most of all, Hackel says people are still moving into the county every day.
"It's slowing down a little bit, but we're still at about 14 people a day who move to Macomb County," he said.
And those new residents prove to Hackel that his campaign to put the county on the map is paying off.
"I think it's about getting the word out about what we are and trying to identify ourselves as a brand," he said.
Hackel said there's no better sign of the county coming into its own, than the crowd gathered to hear him speak.
"I'm talking about Brooks Patterson, Bob Ficano and Dave Bing, and then also as well Jeff Bohm from St. Clair County. That has never happened in Macomb County before."
Mario Fetchini, a life-long Macomb County resident, said he liked what Hackel had to say about the place where he loves to live.
"We have the waterways, we have international ties within 20 minutes from here, it's a great area but yeah, I think it could be promoted better," he said.
