8/24/2026

GOGEBIC RANGE - Michigan’s Strategic Fund Board will meet this week to consider, for a third time, roughly $50 million in state incentives for the proposed Copperwood Mine in Gogebic County. The project has failed twice before — first in a state Senate committee, then when funding was removed from the 2025 state budget. Canadian developer Highland Copper says the mine could create about 380 permanent jobs and 300 construction jobs. Supporters say it could generate more than $120 million in state and local tax revenue. Opponents cite environmental concerns, including the mine’s proximity to Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The meeting will determine whether the state adds new conditions, including private fundraising requirements, and whether the proposal can gain support after being rejected twice.