$23 Million for Michigan projects including two in U.P.
State funding expected to leverage nearly $118 million in federal support
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MARQUETTE -- A $23 million state investment to support nine projects across Michigan, including two in the Upper Peninsula, has been announced with the funding expected to leverage nearly $118 million in federal support.
The investments, made through the Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund, are intended to expand infrastructure, strengthen workforce training, support advanced manufacturing and grow industries such as defense, aerospace and space technology. The projects are expected to create more than 1,000 jobs statewide.
In the U.P., funding will support satellite technology development at KMI Space in Marquette and improvements to the L'Anse Port in Baraga County.
"Every dollar we invest through the Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund brings more federal money home to Michigan, helping us create good-paying jobs and lead the industries of the future," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in announcing the investment.
• Marquette company receives $3.5 million for spacecraft development
KMI Space has been awarded $3.5 million to advance development, design and operations of its Laelaps spacecraft at its Marquette facility.
The spacecraft is designed to rendezvous with satellites in orbit, retrieve them and relocate them. The technology is intended to extend the operational life of existing satellites and reduce the costs and frequency associated with replacing them.
KMI Space estimates the project will create 60 additional jobs in Marquette.
The state investment is expected to leverage $34 million through the Strategic Funding Increase program, known as STRATFI, administered by SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force.
The project is part of Michigan's broader effort to expand its role in the aerospace and defense industries while attracting investment in emerging technologies.
• L'Anse Port improvements could support copper processing
The second U.P. project involves a proposed $700,000 state investment to reconstruct and extend the existing quay at L'Anse Port.
The funding is contingent on a federal award. If completed, the improvements would allow the port to accommodate larger vessels and heavy equipment, expanding its capacity to handle materials associated with a copper extraction site in Gay, Michigan.
The project would support plans by Quincy Materials Corporation to process an estimated 1.5 million to 2 million tons of legacy copper mine tailings annually into copper concentrate and supplementary cementitious materials.
The port project has the potential to leverage $11.25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Port Infrastructure Development Program, along with additional investments from businesses and shipping interests using the port.
The proposed improvements would expand the port's ability to receive and transport materials needed for the processing operation. The federal funding remains pending.
Beyond the U.P., the $23 million state investment will support projects in communities across Michigan, including Detroit. The initiatives span defense and space technology, port infrastructure, workforce development, community development, local parks, accessible public spaces and agriculture and food systems.
The state also expects the investments to support training for careers in nuclear energy and other in-demand industries.