Broad coalition includes community members, businesses, labor and economic development leaders fighting for the region’s future
A new coalition of more than 130 local leaders, labor unions, business leaders and Upper Peninsula residents today announced the launch of “Our U.P., Our Future,” a movement dedicated to championing the creation of jobs and opportunities for the U.P. while protecting the region’s natural resources. The coalition includes all six of the state legislators representing the U.P., underscoring broad support for the effort across the region.
The U.P. has faced decades of economic hardship. Industry and hospital closures, declining K-12 populations and crumbling infrastructure have made it difficult for the region to attract the kind of jobs and opportunities needed for families to prosper. The “Our U.P., Our Future” coalition represents a group of community members standing united in the belief that the UP deserves opportunities and investments that will give the region a future.
The coalition’s priorities also reflect what residents across the region say they want. Recent statewide polling conducted by EPIC-MRA found 71% of Michigan voters support the Copperwood Project and 58% of voters support state funding for the project.
The Copperwood Project is a fully permitted greenfield mine that will create hundreds of good-paying jobs in the Western U.P., prioritizing environmental protections and meeting Michigan’s strict mining standards.
“Attracting new opportunities and industry to the U.P. is how we create the jobs that keep families here and move this region forward while protecting our natural resources. We know economic opportunity and the environment can co-exist because of the Eagle Mine,” said Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUp. “Invest UP is proud to be part of a coalition that’s working to make that a reality. The support here is real and it’s our job to make sure the rest of the state knows it.”
The coalition includes a growing list of organizations, businesses and residents who see responsible economic development as critical to the region’s future. Coalition members live work or do business in every Upper Peninsula county.
“We’ve watched jobs disappear and young people follow,” said Dan Siirila, Chairman of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners. “As a county official, I have a responsibility to do everything I can to reverse that trend. So when opportunities come along that bring real jobs and real investment to Gogebic County, that matters deeply to the families I represent. That’s why I’m proud to be part of the ‘Our U.P, Our Future’ coalition. We’re calling for real economic opportunity in our communities and giving the next generation a path forward.”
“Our members have had to travel hours for work, or leave the U.P. altogether, because the opportunities haven’t been here,” said Ryan Stern of the Michigan Building & Construction Trades Council. “The trades have skilled workers who want nothing more than to build something in their own community and come home at the end of the day. When a project like this comes along, one that could positively change the future in the U.P, Michigan’s building trades are going to stand behind it.”
“Our U.P., Our Future” is calling on local, state and federal leaders to stand with U.P. workers and communities to support responsible projects like Copperwood that meet local and state standards and deliver the good-paying jobs this region has long deserved.
“Running a small business here means you get to know everyone at a personal level and you feel every person who leaves,” said George Dellich, owner of Club 28 Restaurant in Wakefield. “When good jobs aren’t here, families move and they take their grocery runs, their Friday night dinners and their everyday spending with them. A community that can’t keep its families can’t keep its businesses. That’s why ‘Our U.P, Our Future’ matters to me. When the U.P has good jobs, local businesses thrive and so do the communities we’re part of.”
Coalition Members
Marty Fittante, CEO, InvestUP
Garth Stengard, manager, Gogebic County Road Commission
Barry Bolich, chairman, Gogebic County Road Commission
Dan Siirila, chairman, Gogebic County Board of Commissioners
Jay Kangas, supervisor, Charter Township of Ironwood
Mandy Lake, supervisor, Wakefield Township
Dennis P. Aspinwall, Bessemer Township Supervisor
George Dellich, owner, Club 28
Tim Lynott, CEO, Keweenaw Land Association
Mayor Kim Corcoran, City of Ironwood
Mike Smith, Executive Director, UP Construction Council
Alan Tulppo, superintendent, Gogebic-Ontonogan Intermediate School District
Jerald Wuorenmaa, executive director, Western U.P. Planning & Development Region
Mayor Dale White, City of Wakefield
Dave Anderson, general manager, Back 40 Project
Ryan Stern, Michigan Building & Construction Trades Council
Mike Yon, Gogebic County Board of Commissioners
Steve Lehto, business service specialist, Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!
Denny Olson, board member, Great Lakes Timber Professionals
Jim Paquette, owner, Custom Machining & Engineering
Chris Rigoni, owner, Bacco Construction
Rich Ernest, manager, Ontonagon Chamber of Commerce
Mike Foley, site manager, Highland Copper and Ironwood resident
Ed Legault, executive director, Delta County Economic Development Alliance
Mindy Meyers, Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance
Kelly W. George, Mackinac Credit and Compliance
John Jamar, CEO, CCI Systems, Inc
Bruce Moore, president and general manager, Highline-Midwest
Thomas H. Nagy, CEO, M. J. Electric, LLC
Steve Mattson, CEO, Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
Bruce Noren, owner, Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort
Chris Lake, owner, Silver Creek Excavating
Dan Martinson, superintendent, Ironwood Area Schools
Wendy Frush, CEO, Munising Memorial Hospital
Munising Memorial Hospital
Brad Crimmins, A. Lindberg & Sons Inc.
Chris Olson, Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation
Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation
Steve Arwood
Kevin Vanatta, general manager, Newberry Motors
Brett J Botbyl, city manager, City of Menominee
Ryan Sistad, executive director, Better in our Backyard
Andy Moyle, Moyle Construction
Moyle Construction
Joe Thiel, CEO, Innovate Marquette
Alexander Kofsky, executive director, Accelerate UP
Brian Breneman, CPA, CGMA, Breneman Advisors
Breneman Advisors
Enhance C-Suite
Headwaters North
UP Construction Council
Kelly Plunger, president, Wendricks Truss, Inc.
Eric Schneller, owner, Snow Country Contracting
Tom Schneller, owner, Snow Country Contracting
David Rowe, CEO, MTEC SmartZone
Nikki Radke, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation
Acrisure
Roy Loukus, GM Williams Parts
Loukus Technologies
Natalie Chmiko, CEO, Lake Superior Community Partnership
Jeff Hagan, CEO, EUP Regional Planning
Matt Johnson, VP, Talon Metals
Nick Bink owner and general manager, Bink’s Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Bink’s Wines & Beverages
Zach Hautala, executive director, Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance
Cynthia Kuber, president, KK Integrated Logistics
KK Integrated Logistics
Victoria George, executive director, Schoolcraft Tourism & Commerce
Randy Larson, co-owner/operator, Holiday Inn and Hampton in Marquette
The Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation
Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development
Up Concrete Pipe
JM Longyear
Northern Hardwoods
Able Medical Devices
Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
Greater Munising Bay Partnership
Luce County Economic Development Corporation
Ontonagon County Chamber of Commerce
Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance
Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!
Build U.P.
Plumbers/Pipefitters and HVAC Techs, Local 111
Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund
John C. Siira, president of Forward Wakefield Economic Development Corporation
Stan Kaczmarek, president Gundlach Champion
Jennifer Kelly
Mark Pontti, Evergreen Consulting Services LLC
John Walsh, Michigan Manufacturers Association
Pat’s Heavy Equipment
Pat’s Motorsports
Pat’s Storage
Bobcat of Greenland
K.P.M. Storage
Kip McIntyre
Kirk Ilenda, Lakehead Constructors
Derek Butler, Lloyd Flander
Kyle Fortier, Bacco Construction
Fittante & Colenso CPA
John Madigan
Lynn Artman
Dominic Fabbri, senior manager, Metso
Julie Tibaldo
Jason Bekkala
April Bekkala
Tonya Darner, CEO of UP Health Systems
Bob La Fave, village manager, Village of L’Anse
Steve Soderman, VanAire, Inc.
Jonathan Mead, president, UP Association of County Commissioners
1885 Capital/Superior Innovation
REL Inc.
Williams Parts & Supply Inc.
Pine & Mine Industries
Jennifer Watson, CEO, Limestone Financial Credit Union
Dave Goudreau, president, Northern Wings
Mike Furmanski, GM, Alger Delta CEA
Triest Forest Products, Inc.
Greenleaf Timber Holding, Inc.
Basic Towing, Inc.
North Shore Marine Terminal & Logistics, Inc.
Michigan Manufacturers Association
Albert Santoni, Dickinson Homes, INC.
Helen Johnson, RN, FACHE, CEO, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital & Healthcare Center
Helen Newberry Joy Hospital & Healthcare Center
Ed Glowacki, Consulting Geologist
Rapid River Knifeworks, Inc
Larry Johnson, 108th House District candidate
Sen. Ed McBroom, 38th District
Sen. John Damoose, 37th District
Rep. Dave Prestin, 108th District
Rep. Karl Bohnak, 109th District
Rep. Greg Markkanen, 110th District
Rep. Parker Fairbairn, District 107
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About InvestUP
InvestUP is the regional economic development organization for the Upper Peninsula, working to advance prosperity across all fifteen counties of the U.P. Leveraging the region’s strengths, assets, and stakeholders, it works in partnership with the private sector, municipal and non-profit leadership, and institutions to drive the Upper Peninsula’s economy by seizing near-term opportunities and addressing long term strategic objectives that center on people, projects, place, and promotion. Investupmi.com.
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