BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN (March 1, 2011) The BlueGreen Alliance today announced the launch of a campaign aimed at creating good Michigan jobs in the 21st century economy. Jobs21! — a nine-state grassroots campaign aimed at increasing America’s competitiveness to win the jobs and industries of the future — will be spearheaded by former Congressman Mark Schauer of Michigan.

“This is a fight for our future and a fight we must win — to move our country forward, to make America competitive in the 21st century economy, and to rebuild our nation’s middle-class. We can’t afford to wait any longer to put America on the leaderboard of the 21st century economy,” said former Congressman Mark Schauer of Michigan’s Seventh Congressional District. “I am thrilled to be part of a grassroots campaign to highlight the urgent need to create good jobs for the people of Michigan and around the country. It’s the only way we can revitalize our middle class.”

“While our biggest national priority must be winning the jobs and industries of the future, we are instead watching the dismantling of the American middle class,” said BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster. “This campaign is bringing together union members, environmentalists, and community members to promote a 21st century economy that creates good jobs and positions the United States to compete in the global clean energy economy.”

The nine-state campaign — launched in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and California — will bring together union members and environmentalists to promote the creation of good jobs through investments in the clean energy economy, including renewable energy, manufacturing, construction, transportation, and high-speed internet. In addition, the campaign will focus on the importance of environmental regulations to reduce emissions and create jobs and protecting the health and safety of workers and communities. Former Minnesota State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark will join Schauer in spearheading the effort.

“Step by step, we have to rebuild this economy and put people back to work,” said Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers, and a co-founder of the BlueGreen Alliance. “Making the strategic choice now to position the U.S. to compete in this century’s global clean energy economy is critical to creating good, middle class jobs in America.”

The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations working to expand the number and quality of jobs in the green economy. Launched in 2006 as a partnership of the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club, the BlueGreen Alliance now unites 10 major U.S. labor unions and four of America’s most influential environmental organizations and their 14 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy.

“This campaign is about putting Americans back to work with good jobs that will also help solve our energy and environmental challenges,” said Carl Pope, Chairman of the Sierra Club and a co-founder of the BlueGreen Alliance. “Whether investing in renewable energy and efficiency, smart transportation choices, or protecting the rights of workers, we are standing together to make the U.S. number one in the clean energy economy of the future.”