Invest UP announces new coalition in support of Copperwood Mine project, UP development

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - InvestUP announced the creation of a new coalition Monday, made up of more than 130 U.P. leaders, labor unions, business owners and residents. Among its priorities will be supporting the Copperwood Mine project.

InvestUP says the coalition will support the movement “Our U.P., Our Future,” which is dedicated to “championing the creation of jobs and opportunities for the U.P. while protecting the region’s natural resources.”

“Our U.P., Our Future” is calling on local, state and federal leaders to support projects that “meet local and state standards and deliver the good-paying jobs this region has long deserved.”

The coalition includes all six of the state legislators representing the U.P. Also included is a growing list of organizations, businesses and residents who see responsible economic development as critical to the region’s future.

InvestUP said the coalition will prioritize projects residents want to see come to fruition. The organization said a main priority right now is the Copperwood Mine Project, pointing to recent statewide polling conducted by EPIC-MRA, which found 71% of Michigan voters support the Copperwood Project and 58% of voters support state funding for the project.

InvestUP says the U.P. has faced decades of economic hardship. It says industry and hospital closures, declining K-12 populations and crumbling infrastructure have made it difficult for the region to attract the kind of jobs and opportunities needed for families to prosper, the organization says.

“The ‘Our U.P., Our Future’ coalition represents a group of community members standing united in the belief that the U.P. deserves opportunities and investments that will give the region a future,” the Monday release says.

“Attracting new opportunities and industry to the U.P. is how we create the jobs that keep families here and move this region forward while protecting our natural resources. We know economic opportunity and the environment can co-exist because of the Eagle Mine,” said Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUp. “Invest UP is proud to be part of a coalition that’s working to make that a reality. The support here is real and it’s our job to make sure the rest of the state knows it.”

The coalition includes a growing list of organizations, businesses and residents who see responsible economic development as critical to the region’s future. Coalition members live work or do business in every Upper Peninsula county.

Coalition Members

Marty Fittante, CEO, InvestUP

Garth Stengard, manager, Gogebic County Road Commission

Barry Bolich, chairman, Gogebic County Road Commission

Dan Siirila, chairman, Gogebic County Board of Commissioners

Jay Kangas, supervisor, Charter Township of Ironwood

Mandy Lake, supervisor, Wakefield Township

Dennis P. Aspinwall, Bessemer Township Supervisor

George Dellich, owner, Club 28

Tim Lynott, CEO, Keweenaw Land Association

Mayor Kim Corcoran, City of Ironwood

Mike Smith, Executive Director, UP Construction Council

Alan Tulppo, superintendent, Gogebic-Ontonogan Intermediate School District

Jerald Wuorenmaa, executive director, Western U.P. Planning & Development Region

Mayor Dale White, City of Wakefield

Dave Anderson, general manager, Back 40 Project

Ryan Stern, Michigan Building & Construction Trades Council

Mike Yon, Gogebic County Board of Commissioners

Steve Lehto, business service specialist, Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!

Denny Olson, board member, Great Lakes Timber Professionals

Jim Paquette, owner, Custom Machining & Engineering

Chris Rigoni, owner, Bacco Construction

Rich Ernest, manager, Ontonagon Chamber of Commerce

Mike Foley, site manager, Highland Copper and Ironwood resident

Ed Legault, executive director, Delta County Economic Development Alliance

Mindy Meyers, Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance

Kelly W. George, Mackinac Credit and Compliance

John Jamar, CEO, CCI Systems, Inc

Bruce Moore, president and general manager, Highline-Midwest

Thomas H. Nagy, CEO, M. J. Electric, LLC

Steve Mattson, CEO, Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.

Bruce Noren, owner, Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort

Chris Lake, owner, Silver Creek Excavating

Dan Martinson, superintendent, Ironwood Area Schools

Wendy Frush, CEO, Munising Memorial Hospital

Munising Memorial Hospital

Brad Crimmins, A. Lindberg & Sons Inc.

Chris Olson, Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation

Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation

Steve Arwood

Kevin Vanatta, general manager, Newberry Motors

Brett J Botbyl, city manager, City of Menominee

Ryan Sistad, executive director, Better in our Backyard

Andy Moyle, Moyle Construction

Moyle Construction

Joe Thiel, CEO, Innovate Marquette

Alexander Kofsky, executive director, Accelerate UP

Brian Breneman, CPA, CGMA, Breneman Advisors

Breneman Advisors

Enhance C-Suite

Headwaters North

UP Construction Council

Kelly Plunger, president, Wendricks Truss, Inc.

Eric Schneller, owner, Snow Country Contracting

Tom Schneller, owner, Snow Country Contracting

David Rowe, CEO, MTEC SmartZone

Nikki Radke, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation

Heather Mosher, Acrisure

Roy Loukus, GM Williams Parts

Loukus Technologies

Natalie Chmiko, CEO, Lake Superior Community Partnership

Jeff Hagan, CEO, EUP Regional Planning

Matt Johnson, VP, Talon Metals

Nick Bink owner and general manager, Bink’s Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Bink’s Wines & Beverages

Zach Hautala, executive director, Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance

Cynthia Kuber, president, KK Integrated Logistics

KK Integrated Logistics

Victoria George, executive director, Schoolcraft Tourism & Commerce

Randy Larson, co-owner/operator, Holiday Inn and Hampton in Marquette

The Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation

Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development

Up Concrete Pipe

JM Longyear

Northern Hardwoods

Able Medical Devices

Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.

Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance

Greater Munising Bay Partnership

Luce County Economic Development Corporation

Ontonagon County Chamber of Commerce

Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance

Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!

Build U.P.

Plumbers/Pipefitters and HVAC Techs, Local 111

Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund

John C. Siira, president of Forward Wakefield Economic Development Corporation

Stan Kaczmarek, president Gundlach Champion

Jennifer Kelly

Mark Pontti, Evergreen Consulting Services LLC

John Walsh, Michigan Manufacturers Association

Pat’s Heavy Equipment

Pat’s Motorsports

Pat’s Storage

Bobcat of Greenland

K.P.M. Storage

Kip McIntyre

Kirk Ilenda, Lakehead Constructors

Derek Butler, Lloyd Flander

Kyle Fortier, Bacco Construction

Fittante & Colenso CPA

John Madigan

Lynn Artman

Dominic Fabbri, senior manager, Metso

Julie Tibaldo

Jason Bekkala

April Bekkala

Tonya Darner, CEO of UP Health Systems

Bob La Fave, village manager, Village of L’Anse

Steve Soderman, VanAire, Inc.

Jonathan Mead, president, UP Association of County Commissioners

1885 Capital/Superior Innovation

REL Inc.

Williams Parts & Supply Inc.

Pine & Mine Industries

Jennifer Watson, CEO, Limestone Financial Credit Union

Dave Goudreau, president, Northern Wings

Mike Furmanski, GM, Alger Delta CEA

Triest Forest Products, Inc.

Greenleaf Timber Holding, Inc.

Basic Towing, Inc.

North Shore Marine Terminal & Logistics, Inc.

Michigan Manufacturers Association

Albert Santoni, Dickinson Homes, INC.

Helen Johnson, RN, FACHE, CEO, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital & Healthcare Center

Helen Newberry Joy Hospital & Healthcare Center

Ed Glowacki, Consulting Geologist

Rapid River Knifeworks, Inc

Larry Johnson, 108th House District candidate

Sen. Ed McBroom, 38th District

Sen. John Damoose, 37th District

Rep. Dave Prestin, 108th District

Rep. Karl Bohnak, 109th District

Rep. Greg Markkanen, 110th District

Rep. Parker Fairbairn, District 107

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