Five Development Projects to Watch in Marquette County
Posted by Lake Superior Community Partnership on July 30, 2014
Marquette County continues to grow! Here are five projects you should keep an eye on as they result in additional jobs and investment in our region.
Thomas Theatre Group
What it is: The $10 million building project includes a 31,667 square-foot theater with 10 screens and eventual plans to expand to 14. With all 10 theaters at full capacity, the multiplex holds 1,115 people in stadium-style seating. The development also includes a 280-space parking lot.
What is next: The state-of-the-art multiplex theater opened in May in Marquette Township and employs 30-35. They are committed to bringing the latest and greatest of the cinema industry to the Upper Peninsula.
Marquette General, A Duke LifePoint Hospital
What it is: Marquette General Hospital is a regional medical center currently located in the City of Marquette. In late 2013, they announced plans to build a $300 million facility.
What is next: The community anxiously awaits a decision on where in Marquette County the new hospital will be built. Wherever in the county it ends up, the hospital will be more efficient and enable them to continue to provide the highest quality of care in the Upper Peninsula.
Upper Peninsula Power Company
What it is: In early 2014, Integrys Energy Group announced the sale of Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Partners LP (BBIP) at a sale price of approximately $298.8 million. The sale is currently awaiting approvals from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
What is next: As they work through the ownership transition, the utility plans to grow its workforce, open new offices and add a customer call center. BBIP is currently looking in the Upper Peninsula to relocate their customer care operations, an engineering center and headquarters.
Great Lakes Recovery Center
What it is: Great Lakes Recovery Centers (GLRC) is a nationally accredited, non-denominational, non-profit organization that provides substance abuse and mental health treatment services in 11 Upper Peninsula communities. They operate two residential service locations and two outpatient service locations in Marquette County, employing over 100 people.
What is next: In June, they relocated their headquarters to Ishpeming. Later this summer, they will expand their capacity at both of their Marquette County residential treatment facilities by transferring their youth programming from their campus in Marquette to the new Adolescent Services Center in Negaunee. The total investment that they have made in Marquette County as a result of these relocations and expansions is over $1.6M.
Eagle Mine, a subsidiary of Lundin Mining
What it is: The Eagle Mine is an underground nickel and copper mine located in Michigamme Township. The company is refurbishing and reutilizing the Humboldt Mill in Humboldt Township to process ore from the Eagle Mine. Over the life of the mine, an approximate boost of $4 billion is expected to the Marquette County economy.
What is next: Throughout the summer of 2014 there will be roughly 600-700 contractors per day reporting to the mine and the mill to ready Eagle for production. When production commences in late 2014, there will be over 300 employed by the mine, making the mine the 7th largest private employer in Marquette County. Eagle continues to explore near the deposit for additional resources. Once the mine life is exhausted Eagle will restore the area to pre-operation conditions.
