$50 million MSF grant and $7.5 million MDOT grant will support the Copperwood Project and critical industries in the Western U.P.
MARQUETTE, Mich. (August 25, 2026) — InvestUP and community leaders across the Upper Peninsula today are celebrating two state grants that will lay the groundwork for good-paying jobs, strong infrastructure and environmentally responsible economic development while supporting critical industries like the forest products industry and projects like the Copperwood Mine. The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved two Strategic Site Readiness Program grants totaling $50 million, with $44,971,691 to Copperwood Resources, Inc. and $5,028,309 to the Gogebic County Road Commission.
“The western U.P. is on the cusp of a remarkable transformation,” said Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUP. “This investment is a powerful statement that Michigan believes in our people and believes in the future of this region. We have an opportunity to create jobs, keep families here and strengthen industries that have sustained our communities for generations while holding projects to the high environmental standards Michigan expects. Economic growth and environmental stewardship are not competing goals and we believe they are both essential to a strong future for the Western U.P.”
Additionally, the Michigan Department of Transportation awarded a $7.5 million Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) grant to the Gogebic County Road Commission. The grant will support the reconstruction and upgrade of County Road 519, an important route that will support the Copperwood Project while providing broader benefits to the region. The total project cost to address these improvements is $12,570,722, with the MDOT TEDF grant covering $7,542,463 of the cost and the $5,028,309 SSRP grant to Gogebic County Road Commission serving as the TEDF match.
“This grant will pave the way for roads, utilities and related public infrastructure the Western U.P. couldn’t fund on its own,” said Rep. Dave Prestin. “It protects taxpayers because it is performance-based. There are no large upfront disbursements and no open-ended commitments. This is exactly the kind of disciplined investment that will strengthen the communities and working families of the Western U.P. while protecting taxpayers across Michigan.”
The 12.8-mile road is currently rated a 2 out of 10 on the PASER scale. Upgrades would widen travel lanes and shoulders and clear the right-of-way to improve snow and ice removal, creating an all-season route that will provide safer, more reliable travel for residents and businesses, improve access for forestry and lumber operations and strengthen connectivity to the Wakefield Industrial Park.
“Copperwood is a chance to secure a future for Gogebic County that our families can build on,” said Dan Siirila, chairman of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners. “We are thankful to the state and grateful for the overwhelming support from our residents and local boards. With this funding, we are closer than ever to turning a long-held vision into reality that will benefit this community for generations.”
Both grants represent a rare opportunity to reverse decades of challenges in the Western U.P., from industry and hospital closures to declining school populations and aging infrastructure. It provides a pathway to retain and attract families, strengthen the workforce and ensure the region can compete in the 21st-century economy.
“I want to thank the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Strategic Fund for following through and making this necessary investment for us in the Western Upper Peninsula,” said Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan). “This region has taken some hard hits over the years with jobs lost, infrastructure worn down and families forced to look elsewhere. This investment starts to change that. It helps fix the assets we rely on, puts people back to work and gives our communities a reason to believe there’s a future here worth staying for.”
A recent EPIC-MRA poll 71% of voters across Michigan support the Copperwood Project and 58% of voters support state funding for the project.
Additionally, findings from The W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research found that mining jobs in the U.P. pay 59% more than the average U.P. job, 45% more than the average job statewide, and 29% more than the national average. Mining also has a significantly greater impact on the U.P.’s gross regional product than any other industry sector. Its impact is 350% greater than wood products manufacturing and 450% greater than primary metal manufacturing, two traditionally strong U.P. industries. The GDP generated per mining employee in the U.P. is also 125% higher than the national average for mining.
“I appreciate the MEDC and all of our state partners for working with local leaders to get this across the finish line,” said Rep. Greg Markkanen. “It’s time we get this project built. There’s real urgency in the Western U.P. for good paying jobs and this funding means real progress for our schools, our infrastructure and our communities. You don’t need data to tell you that. As compelling as the numbers are, you only need to visit to see it for yourself.”
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 Wakefield Township grant and the Copperwood Project.
“This investment is a major step forward for Gogebic County and the infrastructure we need to support our communities for years to come,” said Garth Stengard, manager of the Gogebic County Road Commission. “Strong infrastructure is essential to attracting new investment, supporting local businesses and creating good-paying jobs. We’re proud to play a role in helping build that foundation and we know that economic growth must go hand in hand with responsible stewardship of our natural resources. This funding gives our region an opportunity to move forward while protecting what makes the Western U.P. such a special place to live and work.”
The Copperwood Project is one of very few fully permitted greenfield copper mines in the United States and meets Michigan’s strict environmental standards. Michigan’s mining laws, passed unanimously with the support of environmental advocacy groups, are among the most stringent in the nation. Copperwood has been rigorously designed and permitted to prevent impacts to nearby waterways and to meet the environmental protections required by the state. The project demonstrates that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.
“Michigan has some of the strictest environmental standards in the country and Copperwood meets all of them,” said Rep. Karl Bohnak. Eagle Mine is proof that our standards work. For generations, the UP has been able to create jobs without compromising the environment and the Copperwood Project is no different. This is a smart investment in the future of the Western UP.”
“Copper is part of our daily lives. We can mine copper in Michigan, where we have some of the most ecologically friendly environmental standards in the world, or we can buy it from China, Russia, Chile and Congo,” said Rep. Parker Fairbairn. “By making this investment in the western Upper Peninsula, the state is enhancing road and utility infrastructure in a chronically underserved area, contributing to the creation of good-paying short and long-term jobs, and creating a ripple effect of economic benefits that will be felt throughout the peninsula.”
“We are grateful to the state for their support of this grant and we thank everyone in the community who believes in Copperwood,” said Mike Foley, Copperwood Project Site Manager and Ironwood resident. “This funding moves the project closer to delivering long-term economic opportunity and a model for responsible mining. With the support from the local, state and federal level standing behind us, we are ready to move forward safely and successfully to create lasting change for this region and for generations to come.”
To learn more about the Copperwood Project, please visit www.copperwoodproject.com.
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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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