Northern Hardwoods Lumber invests in energy efficiency upgrades with support from state and MEDC funding

The state of Michigan and MEDC announce a five million dollar investment that supports energy efficiency upgrades at a Houghton County lumber manufacturer. On Thursday Governor Whitmer’s office and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced Northern Hardwoods Lumber in Atlantic Mine, and Cedar Street Real Estate will receive a share of 5.5 million dollars that will lower operating costs for the lumber manufacturer, and create housing in Manistique.

Northern Hardwoods Lumber plans to install a new biomass boiler and back-pressure steam turbine at its Atlantic Mine facility. The investment in the facility will provide opportunities to reduce operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Northern Hardwoods will receive the majority of the announced funding. A 4.75 million dollar capital investment is supported by a quarter million dollar Michigan business development program grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund. In addition to the funds Northern Hardwoods will receive from the state and Michigan economic development corporation, it received one million dollars from the USDA’s Wood Innovations grant.

KEDA executive director Jeff Ratcliffe says the company continues a long tradition of supplying good-paying jobs in the Copper Country and is proud to support their continued investment the the community and appreciates the MEDC’s financial support for improving capacity and efficiency of a great employer in the Keweenaw. Parent Company, J.M. Longyear, Director of Financial Planning adds the project enables the company to continue operations and retain its talented workforce while furthering the utilization of renewable energy resources in the Upper Peninsula.