Map courtesy of Highland Copper Company This map shows the location of Highland Copper Company's Coppperwood Mine Project, in Gogebic County.

GOGEBIC COUNTY – Wakefield Township is requesting approval from the state 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, including the Copperwood Mine Project.

According to a House of Representatives Appropriations request for Legislatively directed spending items, authored by Markkanen, the funding request is to support crucial infrastructure for site readiness purposes that are necessary for the township to pursue economic development opportunities.

“Site readiness, or lack thereof, is commonly cited as a factor in investment decisions by businesses and venture funds considering Michigan-based opportunities,” the document states. “An opportunity before the township offers a generational opportunity to create hundreds of good-paying jobs to the area.”

The request goes on to state that the infrastructure investment from the state is an appropriate use of taxpayer funding – it funds public infrastructure. It does not violate article IV, section 30 of Michigan Constitution since it will directly benefit residents and industry across the region as well as the State. The successful attraction of business investment will benefit the local, regional and state economy, and will generate tax revenue for the state and local units of government that exceeds the amount requested in the grant. More specifically, fulfillment of this request will permit Wakefield Township to invest in:

• Road upgrades: County Road 519 will be improved for all-season use, bolstering the area’s existing industry and local tourism

• Power grid fortification: A connection from the substation south of Ironwood across western Gogebic County will increase regional capacity and reliability for the residents of City of Ironwood, City of Bessemer, City of Wakefield, Erwin Township, Charter Township of Ironwood, Bessemer Township, and Wakefield Township

• Telecommunications improvements: expanded and enhanced access will improve cell, data, and broadband service regionally

Support for the Copperwood Project in Gogebic County’s Wakefield and Ironwood Townships continues to grow, the Invest UP release states. 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.

In a letter to Speaker Matt Hall and Appropriations Chair Ann Chairman Bollin, Wakefield Township Supervisor Mandy Lake stated the $50 million grant that U.P. Legislators are requesting is a generational opportunity for our area, our economy, and the State of Michigan. We are confident that this grant can be administered through Wakefield Township to provide the necessary funding for infrastructure placement and upgrades. Our current staff includes over 50 years of combined experience administering grants and abiding by governmental accounting standards. This grant will provide updates that our County and Township cannot afford, which includes the paving and reconstruction of North County Road 519, which is the main access road to our industrial park, Wakefield Township Hall, and the Porcupine Mountain State Park.

“”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,” Lake is quoted as saying in the Invest UP release. “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.”

According to Invest UP, 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.