Video interview offers details on the Build U.P. housing fund and products
Get the scoop on Build U.P. straight from the source. In a new 20-minute video, InvestUP CEO Marty Fittante, Superior National Bank Executive Chairman Dave Vlahos, Marketing Department CEO Karyn Olsson, and SD Arwood Company President (and Build U.P. Fund Manager) Steve Arwood explain all about how the Build U.P. programs work.
Business Development
New MiSTEM Network Western U.P. Regional Director to focus on STEM education partnerships
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has named Dr. Emily Geiger as Western Upper Peninsula regional director for the MiSTEM Network. Dr. Geiger has extensive experience in STEM, including her most recent positions as a biochemistry instructor at Finlandia University and Gogebic Community College. She will coordinate and oversee Pk-12 and higher education STEM activities in the region, build partnership with businesses, and align efforts with the state’s goals.
Michigan among CNBC’s 2023 top states for business
For the second time, Michigan has placed among the top 10 in CNBC’s Top States for Business rankings. CNBC scored all 50 states on 86 metrics in 10 broad categories of competitiveness. Michigan came in at 10th overall in the 2023 rankings, 6th for cost of doing business (up from 9th last year), and 7th for cost of living (up from 12th last year). The state also made gains in technology and innovation and business friendliness.
Infrastructure
City of Negaunee holds ground-breaking ceremony for downtown enhancement project
The City of Negaunee marked the ground-breaking of its highly anticipated Streetscape Project with a ceremony on June 26. With a budget of $3.4 million, the project will revitalize the downtown area, making substantial infrastructure improvements while also focusing on placemaking initiatives. Approximately 75% of the project will be upgrades to water and sewer mains, installation of new sidewalks, street lighting, and the implementation of fiber networks.
Sault's downtown access and placemaking project reaches completion
The City of Sault Ste. Marie’s Downtown Access and Placemaking Project (DTAPP) has reached completion nearly five years after receiving a $4M block grant from the MEDC. Enhancements include street upgrades, parking lot upgrades, landscaping, interpretive pathways, and lighting. A total budget of $6,978,400 was authorized with a local match of $2.2M provided by the city.
Senate committee approves $235M in funding for new Soo Lock
The Senate Appropriations Committee will provide the Army Corps of Engineers $235M to continue construction on a new supersize navigation lock at Sault Ste. Marie as part of its annual energy and water development budget. The new lock will be the same size as the 55-year-old Poe Lock, the only one at Sault Ste. Marie capable of handling the biggest lake vessels that carry the majority of cargo between Lake Superior ports and those in the lower Great Lakes.
Jobs and Growth
Marquette’s Ore Dock Brewery to get state grant for expansion
Ore Dock Real Estate, LLC has received State funding in support of its plan to construct and rehabilitate a mixed-use development in downtown Marquette. The project will include four residential units, commercial space, a restaurant, and outdoor beer garden. It is expected to generate a total capital investment of $7.8M and create six full-time equivalent jobs. Ore Dock Brewery is also an awardee of MEDC Match on Main and Revitalization And Placemaking funding to help support the project.
Busy U.P. tourism season entering its peak
As the Upper Peninsula enters its peak tourism season, some business owners are seeing an increase over last year. The increase in visitors has been attributed to post-Covid eagerness to travel and improvements that have been made in state parks. Even during Covid, the U.P. had record-shattering visitation numbers from people looking for outdoor recreation. Pictured Rocks alone, a top destination, drew 915K guests last year. This year’s numbers are expected to be similar.
Provisions MQT coffee shop is among the first businesses in Marquette’s Founder’s Landing development
Provisions MQT, which opened in Marquette in the spring of 2022, is much more than just a coffee shop. Owner Jesse Renfors also hosts cooking and yoga classes and views the shop as a community gathering spot for meetings and collaboration. It is one of the first businesses to open in the Founder’s Landing development – Marquette’s effort to redevelop brownfield sites along the city’s waterfront.
Sault Tribe Inc. awarded $24M CDC contract to combat flu outbreaks
Chippewa Government Solutions, a subsidiary of the Sault Tribe, Inc. (STI), has been awarded a $24M contract by the Center for Disease Control to bolster efforts in detecting, treating, and preventing influenza outbreaks. The contract aims to enhance the CDC’s readiness and response to a possible flu pandemic. The milestone award is evidence of STI’s growing influence in federal contracting.
Community Vitality
Northern Michigan University cybersecurity camp offers HS students hands-on learning
Northern Michigan University hosted 37 high school students from across Michigan for a two-week GenCyber camp where they learned about cybersecurity, team-building, and interpersonal communication and gained insight into the field. The camp was made possible by a $150K grant from the National Security Agency Central Security Service.
Nonprofit Pine Creek Woodworking builds skills with top-notch equipment and classes
In a converted schoolhouse outside Iron Mountain, local volunteers and businesses came together to build a nonprofit woodworking school. With logs donated by Minnerick Logging, flooring donated by Connor Sports, and electrical material and labor from M.J. Electric, Pine Creek Woodworking opened its doors in early 2023. Fall classes will include programming, computer numerical control, woodturning, basic cabinetry, and charcuterie board making. Classes are free for members, and non-members pay a fee at the door.
Marquette County students get hands-on learning in skilled trades
For six weeks this summer, 29 high school students from Marquette County are getting a hands-on experience with a variety of trades. The camp kicked off with training from carpenters and millwrights who taught the students to build farmers market stands for the City of Negaunee. Subsequent weeks will feature operating engineers, boiler makers, and ironworkers. Students receive $12 an hour. The Upper Peninsula Construction Council holds the Building Trades Summer Camp every year at a different location in the U.P.
Sen. Gary Peters’ virtual office tour shows off his love of the U.P.
During a brief virtual tour of his Washington, DC office, Senator Gary Peters was proud to show off his favorite U.P. destinations. He pointed out his Mackinac and Isle Royale conference rooms, along with a framed hockey puck from Northern Michigan University and oversized photos of locales like Pictured Rocks and Lake of the Clouds.
Job Highlight
UPEA seeks Electrical and Structural Engineers — your choice of location
U.P. Engineers & Architects (UPEA) seeks an experienced Electrical Engineer and a Structural Engineer to join their team in your choice of locations: Houghton, Iron Mountain, Ishpeming, or Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, or Marinette, Wisconsin.
Electrical Engineer: If you come from the power side of the industry and enjoy day-to-day interfacing with project team members, this position may be a perfect fit for you. Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline; a Professional Engineer license, or goal of obtaining license in future; and three or more years’ experience working with facility design, including lighting, calculations, power distribution, fire alarm and data access required. Learn more here!
Structural Engineer: If you have a strong grasp of technical construction knowledge and are able to work independently on a variety of projects, we want you on our team.
Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a directly related discipline, and the ability to interpret/understand construction documents, drawings, and technical specifications. Knowledge and experience in structural design and experience and proficiency with industry software are preferred.
UPEA offers competitive salaries with performance bonuses, matched 401(k), PTO, employee stock ownership, and health, vision and dental insurance.
Michigan Products
Jerry Hill Innovations Inc., based in Chassell, is a veteran-owned manufacturer and distributor of the Jeri-Rigg, an innovative solution for keeping items secure. The Jeri-Rigg works as a tie-down strap, attachment strap, or anchor point that can be used in conjunction with a number of securing mechanisms, like bungee cords, ropes, netting, carabiners, chains, and more. It has dozens of uses around the home, in construction, transportation, and recreation — from boating to camping and off-road activities.
Jerry Hill came up with the idea for his product while loading a trailer for transport. He hooked one end of his tie-down strap in the trailer’s D ring, but the other side had no attachment point. His only option was to wrap the tie-down strap around the object and then hook it to itself, risking slippage or damage to his vehicle.
The Jeri-Rigg eye version has a tested workload between 1100-3000 pounds and a breaking strength between 3300-9000 pounds. The hook version has a working load between 280-500 pounds and a breaking strength between 840-1500 pounds. The 100% high-strength polyester strap is designed to handle the toughest of elements and conditions
Board Member Highlight
Lake Superior State University establishes new College of Great Lakes Ecology and Education
Founded in 1946, Lake Superior State University is a personal, small-town university that provides a superior blend of liberal and technical studies in the natural setting in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. With a vision to provide an innovation-driven, transformative education for all, LSSU focuses on undergraduate research and career-ready graduates, with academic programs that offer real-world, hands-on, engaged learning.