Alma resident Gary Bupp lost his job of 26 years when his company moved overseas.

“It’s really sad,” Bupp said. “It’s also frustrating.”

Bupp, 53, was among nine panelists expressing their concerns about Michigan’s struggling economy to Gov. Jennifer Granholm Tuesday afternoon. The governor spoke at the IET building to area residents and Central Michigan University students about Michigan economic issues.

“I liked that she wanted to hear what I had to say,” Bupp said.

Michigan is one of the hardest hit states because a majority of the state’s economic development revolves around auto manufacturing, which has seen many job losses in recent years.

The Democratic governor said economic problems go beyond partisan lines.

“It’s not just an issue for Democrats or Republicans,” she said. “It’s an issue for everyone.”

Granholm, who is up for re-election next year, detailed a five-step plan that she expects will boost the economy.

The steps include promoting automotive manufacturing as a product, creating an engine that is pollution-friendly within the state, focusing on promoting life sciences as academic majors, increasing workers’ knowledge of technology and training workers demanding fields.

“Michigan has over 90,000 vacancies for positions in health care and vocational technologies,” she said. “We need citizens who are willing to step up and consider being trained in one of those fields of demand.”

The program, called My Opportunity Partnership, must first be approved by the state Legislature.

“It’s a chance for us to talk about our experiences with the economy,” Granholm said. “We can reflect on how the state is really struggling.”

She also talked about continuing education beyond high school and the benefits educated people can bring to the economy.

“Our kids have to know that they cannot stop at high school,” Granholm said. “Michigan only retains a third of college graduates in the work force.”

Rebecca Lawrence, Mount Pleasant resident and panelist, said one of her major concerns about education concerns K-12 classrooms.

“Classrooms are overcrowded,” Lawrence said. “At-risk children get left behind because teachers are overwhelmed.”

Lawrence said she has a daughter who is hearing impaired and it is difficult when the schools do not have the resources to help students.

“If we don’t get the education we need, we won’t return to a state of promise,” Lawrence said.

Granholm said one of the struggles with Michigan schools is balancing teachers and appropriate curriculum.

“Only one-third of our districts require Algebra I for graduation,” Granholm said. “If we want to do well, we have to invest in human infrastructure — our children’s education.”

Marysville senior and panelist Robert Avers said he liked what the governor had to say.

“Even though I am a moderate Republican, I was impressed with her,” Avers said. “I wish she would have started her economic plan a few years ago, but I understand that she did not have the resources.”

The panel was part of Granholm’s conversations that she will sponsor during the week in Saginaw, Lansing, Battle Creek, Jackson, Grand Rapids and Muskegon. She will travel to the Upper Peninsula and southeast Michigan in the upcoming weeks.