Local, State and Federal Leaders Double Down on Commitment to Move Copperwood Project Forward
MARQUETTE, Mich. — Local, state and federal leaders are standing firm in their commitment to bring infrastructure funding to Gogebic County that will attract transformational economic development opportunities to the region. Wakefield Township is requesting approval from the legislature to administer a $50 million grant, sponsored by Rep. Greg Markkanen, to allow the township to make improvements and upgrades to local roads, power and telecommunications infrastructure that it could not make on its own to attract much-needed jobs and opportunities to the region.
“The people of Wakefield Township and the Western Upper Peninsula are squarely behind the Copperwood Project. It will create jobs and opportunities while balancing the environment,” said Wakefield Township Supervisor Mandy Lake. “We love Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains, and we believe you can mine while protecting both. This grant represents a generational opportunity for our region, our economy and the state of Michigan.”
The Western UP has suffered industry closures, hospital closures, declining school populations and degrading regional infrastructure that have made it hard for the region to attract economic development opportunities and retain its workforce, especially younger generations. This grant would help the region make the necessary infrastructure improvements to move transformational projects like the Copperwood Project forward.
Located in Wakefield and Ironwood Township in Gogebic County, the Copperwood Project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create 700 direct and indirect jobs and generate an initial capital investment of $425 million, creating a ripple effect that will support small businesses, local schools and public services.
“America’s advanced manufacturing and national security depend on our ability to mine materials like copper locally. That’s why projects like Copperwood are so important to the future of the U.P. and our country,” said Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUP. “For decades, the U.P. has proven that mining can be done safely while protecting the environment and creating jobs for the local community. I am grateful for Wakefield Township’s leadership in pushing the legislature for this much-needed investment in economic development and opportunity.”
Support for Copperwood Project Builds
Support for the Copperwood Project in Wakefield and Ironwood Townships in Gogebic County continues to grow. Recently, Congressman Jack Bergman sent a letter to all his Michigan colleagues in Congress, urging them to support and advocate for the development of the Copperwood Project.
Congressman Bergman wrote: “This project presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create hundreds of well-paying jobs that will support Upper Peninsula families, all while upholding environmental safeguards and enhancing our national security. Supporting the Copperwood Mine project means standing up for Michigan workers, strengthening our industries, and securing our Nation’s economic future. I urge you to join me and the local community in advocating for this vital project and supporting policies that will make its development a reality.”
The Copperwood Project also has support from all four Upper Peninsula legislators—Senator McBroom, Rep. Prestin, Rep. Bohnak and Rep Markkanen—who recently penned an op-ed in the Detroit News about the importance of mining copper right here in Michigan to reduce our reliance on foreign adversaries like China, protect our supply chain and create good-paying American jobs.
The Copperwood Project has been supported by Upper Peninsula leaders and organizations from the beginning. Recently, the Upper Peninsula Collaborative Development Council, a group representing all 22 economic development organizations in the region, sent a letter to Lansing urging the legislature to approve the infrastructure investment in Wakefield Township.
The group wrote: “While we are individually focused on growing and developing opportunity within the communities we represent, we collectively believe that advancing economic development opportunity in the Western Upper Peninsula is imperative. That is why, although we will only see indirect benefits to the communities we serve across the region, we all support a $50 million infrastructure investment in Wakefield Township.”
Additionally, twenty-one units of government, ranging from townships to county boards, have issued 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.
“The Copperwood Project presents an opportunity to boost economic development and create the good-paying jobs our communities desperately need while balancing the environment we care most about,” said Ironwood Township resident and Copperwood Mine Site Manager Mike Foley. “This funding will pay for critical infrastructure investments that our communities can’t fund on their own. We thank the legislature for moving this forward and ensuring the Western UP has a future.”
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 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.
To learn more about the Copperwood Project, please visit www.copperwoodproject.com.
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