Park patrons take in the the Lake of the Clouds scenic overlook in the The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The park would have benefitted from county road upgrade, according to the Wakefield Township Supervisor. (Photo courtesy of Pure Michigan)

WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Michigan legislature’s Friday morning 2026 budget passage did not include a $50 million infrastructure improvement grant for Wakefield Township.

The bill, introduced in April by Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, would have allowed Wakefield Township to invest in roads, power, telecommunication, and other key infrastructure would will benefit the region. The infrastructure improvements would also assist the development of the proposed controversial Copperwood Mine project, which Markkanen says would bring hundreds of millions of dollars in investments, jobs, and long-term development to the rural, underserved western U.P.

The funding was backed by local officials and economic developers, but some legislators and environmental advocates argued the project could threaten the nearby Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and Lake Superior.

Wakefield Township Supervisor Mandy Lake said the failure of the grant not only hurt the mine project, but also the state park, as well as the Wakefield Industrial Park.

While the Copperwood mine is accessed by County Road 519, It also provides direct access to the western edge of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, including the Presque Isle River Area. It leads directly into the park, where visitors can continue straight past South Boundary Road to reach park destinations. The road also provides access to the industrial park.

Lake said that while the infrastructure investment would have benefitted the Copperwood Mine project, it would also benefit many other areas of development, too, particularly in upgrading CR 519.

“I mean, County Road 519 is not a good road,” Lake said. “It needs to be repaired.”

In talking with the Gogebic County Road Commission, said Lake, Wakefield Township is not scheduled for any repairs on that road for the next five years.

“I was informed just this fall that County Road 519 is not in the five-year plan,” Lake said. “So, here we are again, the road’s not going to get done.”

The road was not the only ugprade planned.

At a recent town hall meeting at the Wakefield VFW post, Lake heard from the manager of Westfall Technik regarding their broadband access. The manager told her that in July the company’s broadband internet was nonfunctional for a week in July, which severely impacted their operations.

“He looked at me and said: ‘You don’t know how important cyber internet is to us,’ and I said yes, I do. This is why I am pushing for this infrastructure investment funding.”

In spite of the dire need for the funding, Lake said, the township was again denied it.

“Westfall Technik needs this,” she said. “They are a legitimate company that is nationwide.”

Westfall Technik is a global company, with a large presence in the Wakefield Industrial Park. It is a manufacturer of custom molded plastic parts, specializing in advanced injection molding and tooling solutions for the healthcare, consumer packaging, and consumer goods industries.

The industrial park, located just off County Road 519 and Planter Road, has two vacant 1.5 acre lots available. It is served by well and septic, Internet, natural gas, and high capacity electrical service, but it is in need of upgrades.

Lake said Wakefield Township needs the investment in order to expand its industrial park.

“It’s hard to advertise we have lots available, but good luck with internet service,” she said. “And everybody needs internet now, the world lives on it.”

Lake said she and the township board are frustrated, because there was more at stake than the mine project.

“We see more of the big picture,” she said. “With County Road 519, what’s disappointing there is Michigan keeps saying the Porkies is their No. 1 state park, and all of this,” Lake said, “but, it’s one of the roughest roads in the U.P. So, the road would have benefitted the state park and all of the tourism that we supposedly get from that, too.”

In regards to desperately needed infrastructure upgrades to allow for economic development, Lake said she does not have a Plan B at this time.

“I know I’ve gotten several text messages from community people around here,” she said. “It’s not just Wakefield Township that would benefit, Ontonagon County would also benefit.”