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Our U.P., Our Future

A coalition of local leaders, labor unions, business leaders and Upper Peninsula residents fighting for the future of the Upper Peninsula 

Fighting for the Future of the U.P.

Our U.P., Our Future is a coalition of more than 140 residents, business owners, labor leaders, industry representatives and community leaders dedicated to championing the creation of jobs and opportunities for the Upper Peninsula while protecting our natural resources and way of life. 

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The U.P. has faced decades of economic hardship. 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 “Our UP, Our Future” coalition represents a group of community members standing united in the belief that the UP deserves investments that will give the region a future. 

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One investment we are currently supporting is the Copperwood Project, which will bring hundreds of good-paying jobs to the Western U.P. Copperwood prioritizes environmental protections and meets all of Michigan’s rigorous standards – some of the most stringent in the country – demonstrating that economic opportunity and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. Learn more. 

Our Members

Our coalition includes a growing list of organizations and residents from every county in the Upper Peninsula who see responsible economic development as critical to the region’s future.

 

  • Garth Stengard, Manager, Gogebic County Road Commission

  • Barry Bolich, Chairman, Gogebic County Road Commission

  • Dan Siirila, Chairman, Gogebic County Road Commission

  • Jay Kangas, Supervisor, Ironwood Township

  • Mandy Lake, Supervisor, Wakefield Township

  • Dennis P. Aspinwall

  • George Delich, Owner, Club 28 

  • Kim Corcoran, Mayor, City of Ironwood

  • Mike Smith, Executive Director, UP Construction Council

  • Alan Tulppo, Superintendent, Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District

  • Jerald Wuorenmaa, Executive Director, Western U.P. Planning & Development Region

  • Dale White, Mayor, 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

  • 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, Ironwood Resident & Site Manager, Highland Copper

  • Ed Legault, Executive Director, Delta County Economic Development Alliance

  • Mindy Meyers, Executive Director, Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance

  • Kelly George

  • John Jamar, Chairman, CC Systems, Inc. 

  • Highline-Midwest

  • M.J. Electric, LLC

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

  • Bruce Mahler, Supervisor, Marenisco Township

  • Chris Lake, Owner, Silver creek Excavating

  • Daniel Martinson, Superintendent, Ironwood Area Schools

  • Munising Memorial Hospital 

  • A. Lindberg & Sons, Inc.

  • Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation

  • Steve Arwood

  • Kevin Vanatta, General Manager, Newberry Motors

  • Bregg J. Botbyl

  • Better in Our Back Yard

  • Andy Moyle, Moyle Construction

  • Alexander Kofsky

  • Breneman Advisors

  • Enhance C-Suite

  • Headwaters North

  • UP Construction Council

  • Kelly Plunger

  • Eric Schneller, Owner, Snow Country Contracting

  • Tom Schneller, Owner, Snow Country Contracting 

  • MTEC SmartZone

  • Nikki Radke, EDC Development Specialist, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation

  • Acrisure 

  • Roy Loukus, GM, Williams Parts

  • Lake Superior Community Partnership

  • Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning & Development

  • Matt Johnson

  • Nick Nink

  • Iron County economic Chamber Alliance

  • KK Integrated Logistics

  • Victoria George

  • Randy Larson

  • The Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation

  • Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development

  • UP Concrete Pipe

  • JM Longyear

  • Northern Hardwoods

  • Able Medical Devices

  • City of Wakefield

  • SMART Local 7

  • Jennifer Kelly, Clerk/Register of Deeds, Houghton County

  • Jake Nyquist

  • Erika Justus, Going PRO Talent Fund Coordinator, Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!

  • William Cuccurullo, Snowman Properties 

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  • Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance

  • Greater Munising Bay Partnership 

  • Ontonagon County Chamber of Commerce

  • Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance 

  • Debb Brunell, CEO, Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!

  • Build U.P.

  • Plumbers/Pipefitters and HVAC Techs, Local 111

  • Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund

  • Jim Baker

  • John C. Siira, President, Forward Wakefield Economic Development Corporation

  • Gundlach Champion

  • Mark Pontii, Founder Evergreen Consulting Services LLC

  • Michigan Manufacturers Association

  • Pat's Heavy Equipment

  • Pat's Motorsports

  • Pat's Storage

  • Bobcat of Greenland

  • K.P.M. Storage

  • Kip McIntyre

  • Kirk Ilenda, VP of Business Development, Lakehead Constructors 

  • Derek Butler, Director of Operations, Lloyd Flander 

  • Bacco Construction

  • Fittante & Colenso CPA

  • John Madigan

  • Lynn Artman

  • Dominic Fabbri

  • Julie Tibaldo

  • Jason Bekkala

  • April Bekkala

  • Tonya Darner, CEO, UP Health Systems

  • Bob LaFave

  • Steve Soderman, CEO and Co-Owner, VanAire, Inc. 

  • Jonathan Mead, President, UP Association of County Commissioners

  • 118 Capital 

  • Superior Innovation

  • REL, Inc. 

  • Williams Parts & Supply, Inc. 

  • Pine & Mine Industries 

  • Jennifer Watson

  • Dave Goudreau

  • Mike Furmanski, GM, Alger Delta CEA

  • Triest Forst Products, Inc. 

  • Greenleaf Timber Holding, Inc. 

  • Basic Towing, Inc.

  • North Shore Marine Terminal & Logistics, Inc. 

  • Albert Santoni

  • Helen Johnson

  • Ed Glowacki, Consulting Exploration Geologist 

  • Rapid River Kniwfeworks, Inc. 

  • Larry Johnson, Candidate, 108th House District

  • Ed McBroom, Senator, 38th District

  • John Damoose, Senator, 37th District

  • Dave Prestin, Representative, 108th District

  • Karl Bohnak, Representative, 109th District, 

  • Greg Markkanen, Representative, 110th District

  • Parker Fairbairn, Representative, 10th District

  • Brian Irizarry, Candidate, 110th House District

  • Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, Local 1510

  • Cory Heigl

  • Joel Schultz

  • Melissa Schultz

  • Paul Meneghini

  • Blue Line Site Solutions, LLC

  • Benjamin Schultz

  • Kelly Church

  • Chippewa County Board of Commissioners

  • Dennis Smith

  • Common Shore Solutions

  • City of Bessemer

  • Caneshia Harris-LaRoux

  • Mackinac Straits Health System 

  • Nikki Storey, CEO, Headwaters North

  • David Goudreau, President, Northern Wings

Stay Informed

Join a growing list of people and organizations fighting for the future of the Upper Peninsula

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