Highland Copper has been awarded a $50 million grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund to help fund the $425 million Copperwood Mine in Gogebic County. There are some conditions to the grant funding, however. The company has to secure at least $150 million in funding by the end of December 2025 before the grant will be awarded. The state funding would be earmarked only for infrastructure upgrades to support the mine project, like reconstruction of County Road 519, development of new electrical connections that will cover western Gogebic County and boost broadband internet access in the area. Over an 11-year lifespan, the mine is expected to generate $121 million in state and local tax revenue, and provide roughly 380 jobs that are expected to pay somewhere between $80,000 and $120,000 – about twice the median regional wage of $41,000. Those opposed to the mine say mining is what initially put the area in poor standing financially and expressed concern for the natural resources in the area, saying the mine would put the Porcupine Mountains, Presque Isle Scenic Area and Lake Superior at risk.