Highland Copper Provides Update on Michigan State Grant and Other Catalyts at the Copperwood Project

Core Insights - Highland Copper Company is making significant progress on its 100%-owned Copperwood Project, moving towards a near-term construction decision [1] Funding and Support - The Copperwood project is under consideration for a $50 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, pending final approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee [2] - Wakefield Township has requested a separate $50 million infrastructure grant from the Michigan legislature, demonstrating strong local support for the project [3] - The proposed grant aims to enhance economic development in Gogebic County by upgrading local infrastructure, which will also support the Copperwood project [4] - Local leaders, including Wakefield Township Supervisor Mandy Lake and Congressman Jack Bergman, emphasize the project's importance for domestic copper production and job creation [5] Engineering and Development - Highland has awarded Front-End Engineering and Design contracts to DRA Global for mine and process plant engineering, and to Foth and Tetra Tech for water management and tailings disposal facility engineering, respectively [6] - The company plans to transition into Phase 2 of its engineering program in Q3 2025, targeting 35% completion for mine and process plant engineering and 85% for the tailings disposal facility by Q1 2026 [7] - Successful completion of metallurgical drill programs has been reported, with 400 kilograms of core samples sent for analysis, achieving results comparable to previous tests [8] Environmental Mitigation - The 2025 construction season focuses on fulfilling obligations related to environmental mitigation, including the planting of nearly 20,000 trees [10] - An off-site stream mitigation project is underway to replace undersized culverts with a 50-foot-span bridge, enhancing fish habitat and meeting mitigation obligations [11] Strategic Outlook - The company is focused on key work programs to enable a construction decision for Copperwood in 2026, including site preparation, engineering progress, and funding opportunities [12]