LANSING- The State Senate on Thursday adopted Senator Tupac A. Hunter’s (D-Detroit) Senate Resolution 79 reminding the federal government of the defense-related expertise of many Michigan businesses, and encouraging the United States Department of Defense to send more of its business to Michigan.

“Michigan has a proud history of winning and successfully completing contracts and jobs for the Department of Defense, and although those contracts have dwindled in recent years, I believe our Michigan businesses can be successful again if more of these contracts were to come our way,”said Senator Hunter. “My resolution asks the department to once again look to Michigan businesses to meet their needs.”

Senator Hunter pointed out that an Inkster-based high-tech company, InfoTech, recently won a contract for developing a web security system for use by the United States Navy. Such a contract demonstrates the potential for further defense work in an area that has been hit hard in these difficult economic times. The contract would create 25 high-tech jobs at InfoTech, but more importantly, it will help InfoTech establish a base in Inkster so that it can grow and create even more jobs over the years.

“The defense contract for InfoTech in Inkster should be the first of many successful contracts, both government and business, for a company that will stay and grow in Inkster,” said Senator Hunter. “I want to see more government contracts coming to businesses throughout Southeast Michigan as we try to diversify our economy and become less reliant on automobile and other traditional manufacturing jobs. Michigan can once again become the ‘Arsenal of Democracy’ and support both our nation and our Michigan citizens looking for good jobs.”

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Sen. Hunter represents the 5th district, which is comprised of northwest Detroit, Dearborn and Inkster. He serves as Minority Vice Chair of the Banking & Financial Institutions and the Homeland Security & Emerging Technologies Committees. He is also a member of the Commerce & Tourism and the Economic Development & Regulatory Reform Committees.