Copperwood project receives grants
Totaling more than $50M
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GOGEBIC COUNTY -- The Michigan Strategic Fund Board has approved a $50 million performance-based grant under the Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP) to finance critical infrastructure for the fully permitted Copperwood Mine Project in Gogebic County.
Administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the package splits the funding into two strategic segments -- $44,971,691 goes directly to Copperwood Resources Inc. for on-site development costs, while $5,028,309 is allocated to Gogebic County Road Commission.
Additionally, the Michigan Department of Transportation awarded a $7.5 million Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) grant to the road commission whcih will support the reconstruction and upgrade of County Road 519, an important route that will support the Copperwood Project and provide 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.
The 12.8-mile county road is currently rated a 2 out of 10 on the PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating) scale. The rating of 2 indicates the road is broken down, unsafe, too rough to drive on, and in need of total reconstruction.
State Rep. Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River) said the grant provides for road improvements, utilities and related public infrastructure the western U.P. could not fund on its own. Said because it is performance based, the grant protects the taxpayer. "There are no large upfront disbursements and no open-ended commitments," he said. 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."
InvestUP CEO Marty Fittante, said the grant funding is a major win for the western Upper Peninsula. The funding means two things, he said. One, it means economic opportunity and good jobs that will come with this project and through that, it means support for the broader community. "And then additionally, and I think this is important, it brings hope," Fittante said. "You know, here's a community that's been starved for opportunity for so long. In this investment, you've got the state stepping up saying 'we believe not only in this opportunity, but also you,' and I think this investment signals hope."
In a statement, Highland Copper Company CEO Barry O'Shea said Copperwood also has the potential to establish a new domestic source of copper and strengthen the U.S. supply chain for a critical mineral essential to energy infrastructure, manufacturing and economic security.
Fittante said the Copperwood goal is to begin site development work next spring. "They're going to do a final feasibility and look for construction authorization, the last of their due diligence, in January-March of 2027. The goal is to begin site development next spring. The hope is to start pulling ore in 2030."