Granholm’s address focused on what she called four priorities for Michigan: jobs, health care, places to live and work, and education. The first priority, however, was the focal point of her speech.

“We all agree on this, too,” Granholm said during her speech. “Our top priority must be jobs.”

Republicans’ ears were delighted by Granholm’s speech and the policies she hopes to enact.

“This is a big change from what we saw last year,” Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, said. “If you had told me before this event tonight that the governor was going to use such words as pro-job, no taxes, no fees, incentives, streamline, lean and nimble, economic stimulus — I would have told you you’re crazy.”

Granholm’s job creation plan revolves around incentive-laden legislation for businesses that move to Michigan as well as making the state the nation’s leading producer in alternative energy.

The governor also pledged not to raise taxes to create the funds needed for her programs. Instead, Granholm said she wants the state to refinance its current debt to provide for her initiatives.

Liz Boyd, Granholm’s spokeswoman, said that while the governor’s plans are ambitious, Michigan shouldn’t dodge a challenge.

“It’s clear the governor is outlining bold proposals,” Boyd said in a press conference before the speech. “We’re going to be bolder than we have been in the past.”

Granholm’s economic stimulus plan would distribute $150 million for road and building projects and $800 million in bricks-and-mortar construction for higher education institutions, among other things. The funds would be produced by refinancing and lowering interest rates.

The Invest Michigan! plan would eliminate the first year of taxes for new Michigan businesses in the top 50 growing industries and would draw upon a funding plan similar to the economic stimulus plan.

The main industry the state will try to attract is alternative energy. Granholm said the state’s geological layout could make the state the nation’s alternative energy powerhouse and bring jobs to the state.

“Michigan must do as any successful business does,” she said. “To compete, we need to capitalize on our natural advantages. For us, it’s our geography and our history.

“We will win these jobs for Michigan.”

Granholm said many alternative energy companies have expressed interest in tapping into Michigan’s potential for that market. To make the state a more enticing destination for these companies, she requested that the state Legislature produce 10 percent of the state’s electrical energy from renewable sources by 2015 and 25 percent by 2025.

Bishop said procuring those companies will be possible with bipartisan effort, and that the Republicans support Granholm.

“The future of our state, our country and our world will be in desperate need for alternative energy,” he said. “And we think the home of alternative energy should be here in Michigan.”

As Granholm’s speech concluded, she summarized what is an “unprecedented change” in the state’s direction.

“If there’s one thing we showed the people of Michigan in the last year, it’s that we know how to fight,” she said. “Now we need to show them that we can fight for them, together.”