LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – In 2023, major investments were made to grow Michigan’s electric vehicle and advanced manufacturing industries. The CEO of Invest U.P., Marty Fittante, said that with the help of state offices, they are working to make sure the same progress is made in the Upper Peninsula.
Fittante said that to be a part of the EV industry, they plan on creating ways to utilize the peninsulas’ existing resources for battery recycling and mineral refinement.
“Rather than rely upon trying to get these critical minerals from elsewhere, we’ve got them here,” Fittante said. “We can do it sustainably and sensibly. Eagle Mine in Marquette proves that out. so we hope to continue to kind of try to push that narrative.”
The Whitmer-Gilchrist administration has had a focus on population growth within Michigan. Fittante said that focus is just as important in the U.P. to continue to contribute to the state’s economic growth.
“It’s a difficult proposition,” Fittante said. “We know we need to grow the Upper Peninsula but its population has remained relatively static, but it’s gotten significantly older. we’ve we’ve lost the younger generation.”
Fittante said that part of the loss is because of updates needed to infrastructure in the U.P., the need for more housing in particular.
He said part of that work is being done by the Office of Rural Prosperity, a department created in 2022, led by Sarah Lucas, formerly with the Lake Superior Community Partnership.
“Rural Michigan has different challenges than other parts of the state, and through Sarah’s efforts and that of her team, they’re really putting a spotlight on where opportunity and rural communities like those all across the Upper Peninsula exist,” Fittante said. “Local units of government, local communities, local systems just don’t have the capacity to undertake some really good work. so Sarah and her team have made some investments along those lines.”
He said that having a department focused on creating tailored solutions is going to be an important part of creating more economic opportunities moving forward. Fittante said that in 2024, the state is looking forward to some big announcements as early as mid-January. As the state shifts its economic focus to electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing, He said he’s hoping to make space for the U.P. to contribute in a way that will enable Michigan to keep as much of the manufacturing and electronics recycling process within the state.
“With this transition that’s occurring to electrification. it’s how can we be part of that economy and be part of the state, national, and global economy in that space.” Fittante said. “From our perspective that is with regard to those natural resources that we do have.”
Fittante said it was an exciting year of new investments from the state, with projects like the Billeruid Mill in Escanaba and Calumet Electronics, and they are already working on ways for the Upper Peninsula to continue to grow and create new jobs to grow its economy.
