Lawmakers spike $50 million request for copper mine

A Michigan lawmaker requested $50 million in state funding to prepare infrastructure to lure economic development, including a copper mine, to the Upper Peninsula. The request did not make it into the final budget.

Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, submitted the request for Wakefield Township as part of the 2026 state budget.

“This funding request for Wakefield Township is to support crucial infrastructure for site readiness purposes that are necessary for the Township to pursue economic development opportunities,” the request reads.

Highland Copper, a Canadian company, wants to build a copper sulfide mine called Copperwood, according to the Daily Press of Escanaba.

The request from Markkanen specifies the money would go toward road upgrades, electrical grid fortification and expanded telecommunications services.

Township officials said the improvements would attract business investment that would benefit the local, state and regional economy. Spending on these things would generate revenue that would exceed the amount of the grant requested, the earmark request said.

“No matter how the appropriation happens, subsidizing private, for-profit corporations is a bad idea,” said Michael LaFaive, senior director of the Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

“The money would be better spent filling potholes and fixing bridges.”

A recent study published by the Mackinac Center shows the state’s taxpayer funded economic development apparatus does not provide the return on jobs that the announcements claim.

The study “Front Page Failures” concluded that only one out of every 11 jobs promised by taxpayer-funded direct subsidies to businesses gets created.

Markkanen did not respond to a request for comment.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has filed a lawsuit against the state of Michigan to challenge some earmarks.