CLICK TO HEAR JACK HALL’S INTERVIEW WITH MARTY FITTANTE, INVEST UP CEO
Supporters of responsible economic development, the majority of whom live in the Western Upper Peninsula, came together with elected officials, industry representatives and labor and economic development leaders to stand united for their support of the $50 million infrastructure grant request from Wakefield Township. The group is standing in solidarity because they know the grant will help attract once-in-a-generation economic development investments like the Copperwood Project to the region.
“Without investment, rural communities like ours will keep losing people, jobs and opportunities. This grant is our chance to finally change that,” said Wakefield Township Supervisor Mandy Lake. “It means fixing the infrastructure we can’t afford on our own and building a foundation for our kids to grow up here and choose to raise their own families here. It’s about securing the future for our whole region”
Sponsored by Rep. Greg Markkanen, the $50 million grant will help Wakefield Township make infrastructure improvements and upgrades that it could not make on its own to attract much-needed jobs and opportunities to the region. Approval will unlock long-overdue infrastructure investment for the Western U.P., putting people to work, strengthening local communities and giving the region the foundation it needs to grow.
“The House has done its job to move this funding forward. Every day we wait is another day our people pack up and leave the Upper Peninsula,” said State Representative Greg Markkanen, 110th District of Michigan. “This grant will unlock projects, such as the Copperwood Mine project, and with them hundreds of jobs and a stronger future for the region.”
The need for economic development in the Upper Peninsula has never been greater. The closure of Ironwood’s only labor and delivery unit highlights the urgent need to attract jobs, opportunities and families to the region.
“The closure of Aspirus Ironwood’s labor and delivery unit is a gut punch to our community,” said Ironwood Mayor Kim Corcoran. “We’ve already seen what happened in Ontonagon when the hospital shut down last year. That’s why projects like Copperwood are so necessary. It will bring good-paying jobs, improve our economy and help grow our population. Ironwood may be a small town, but we’re people with real needs and it’s about time that was recognized.”
The Western Upper Peninsula has faced decades of challenges, from industry and hospital closures to shrinking school populations and deteriorating infrastructure, which have made it difficult to retain workers and attract new families. The Copperwood Project represents a rare opportunity to reverse those trends, bringing with it hundreds of good-paying jobs and significant investment into local communities.
“The Western U.P. has always had the talent and work ethic. What we haven’t had is the investment needed to compete,” said Invest UP CEO Marty Fittante. “This grant changes that. It will create momentum that will ripple across industries. This is the kind of investment that rewrites the story of the region.”
In addition to attracting projects that will create good-paying jobs and revitalize local communities, the infrastructure grant will also support the region’s vital forest and timber sectors—creating a ripple effect benefiting the entire Upper Peninsula, our state and beyond.
“Our forests have sustained communities here for generations, but we can’t get products to market without reliable infrastructure,” said Henry Schienibeck, director of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association. “This grant would strengthen not just mining but forestry, tourism and small businesses across the U.P. When we invest here, the benefits stretch far beyond county lines.”
The Copperwood project is one of very few fully permitted greenfield copper mines in the United States and meets the strict environmental standards established by the State of Michigan. Michigan’s mining laws, passed with the support of environmental advocacy groups, are regarded as one of the most stringent mining regulations in the nation. Copperwood will not draw water from Lake Superior and is not permitted to mine under Porcupine State Park. It has been rigorously designed to protect against any leakage into Lake Superior and nearby waterways.
“Our lakes, forests and natural beauty are what make the U.P. such a special place to live and Copperwood has been designed with those values at the forefront,” said Ironwood Township Supervisor Jay Kangus. “Strong environmental protections and responsible development can coexist and this project proves it. With Copperwood, we can protect what makes this region unique while creating the jobs and infrastructure our communities desperately need to thrive for generations to come.”
According to a report from UPJohn, mining is one of the two top industries in the Upper Peninsula in terms of both economic output and wages. The Copperwood Project would help keep families in the region and attract new ones.
“Too many of our kids have had to leave the U.P. because they couldn’t find steady, good-paying work close to home. Copperwood changes that,” said Mike Smith, executive director of the Upper Peninsula Construction Council. “This project means jobs that support families, keep young people here and bring back those who’ve left. It’s about dignity, stability and giving workers a reason to believe in the future of this region.”
The Copperwood Project has support from Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Congressman Jack Bergman, all four Upper Peninsula legislators—Senator McBroom, Rep. Prestin, Rep. Bohnak and Rep Markkanen—and the Upper Peninsula Collaborative Development Council, which saw 22 local economic development and planning partners author a letter of support to the Michigan legislature seeking support for the grant.
“The Upper Peninsula has been waiting for decades for an investment of this scale. This is about more than one project. It’s about whether our communities have a future,” said State Representative David Prestin, 108th District of Michigan. We can either take action now and build an economy that keeps families here or watch another generation leave. Copperwood is our chance to choose growth, opportunity and hope.”
Additionally, twenty-one units of government, ranging from townships to county boards, have issued multiple resolutions of support, nearly ten local institutions have submitted letters of support and dozens of community leaders and elected officials have spoken publicly in support of the Copperwood Project.
Supporters gathered in person at Wakefield VFW Post 9804 and virtually across the state to share why they support the Copperwood Project. Remarks were given by Wakefield Township Supervisor Mandy Lake, Gogebic County Commissioner Jim Morrison, Ironwood Mayor Kim Corcoran, Ironwood Township Supervisor Jay Kangas, Senator Ed McBroom, Mike Smith, executive director of the Upper Peninsula Construction Council and Denny Olson, a member of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association.
To learn more about the Copperwood Project, please visit www.copperwoodproject.com.
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