Marquette, MI October 17, 2013 – The Cliffs Natural Resources/Eagle Mine Marquette County Community Fund announced today it will be making financial contributions to 12 community organizations totaling over $1.2 million. The Cliffs/Eagle Mine Fund was created in 2012 through an infrastructure transaction involving the two companies. The fund is intended to provide financial assistance to major community projects or programs in Marquette County. “We are very pleased that Cliffs and Lundin could join together to create a fund that will be able to support worthwhile community projects in Marquette County,” said Dale Hemmila, director of public affairs in North America for Cliffs. “The projects we’ve chosen to support represent a diverse group and will provide a significant benefit to the community.”
“Both Lundin and Cliffs have a long history of supporting communities where we operate”, said Matt Johnson, external affairs manager for Eagle Mine, a subsidiary of Lundin Mining. “The Cliffs/Eagle Mine Marquette County Community Fund focuses on education, youth, environment, health and community development. We’re pleased to be able to support projects that enhance the quality of life in Marquette County.”
Contributions from the Cliffs/Eagle Mine Marquette County Community Fund include:
• Negaunee Citizens Supporting the Arts $10,000
• City of Negaunee Bernie Rivers Field $25,000
• Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library $100,000
• Noquemanon Trail Network Council $150,000
• Peninsula Arts Appreciation Council Vista Theater $70,000
• Marquette County YMCA $400,000
• Room at the Inn $50,000
• Special Olympics $35,400
• Ishpeming Public Schools $20,000
• Iron Ore Heritage Trail $156,000
• Powell Township Volunteer Fire Department $100,000
• Forsyth Township Fire Department $100,000
Grant funding will support programs such as the Ishpeming Public Schools Strings program, the Negaunee Public Schools Music Department and the Special Olympics while other funding will be used for recreational enhancements by The Noquemanon Trail Network, Iron Ore Heritage Trail and the City of Negaunee’s Bernie Rivers Field complex.
Building and infrastructure enhancements will be supported by grants to the Ishpeming Public Library for an ADA compliant elevator, the YMCA for renovation of a newly purchased facility in Negaunee, Room at the Inn to purchase and renovate a warming center in Marquette and by the Vista Theater to add a movie projector and screen.
Powell Township and Forsyth Township volunteer fire departments will use their funding to purchase fire trucks.
The fund remains open to receive additional grant applications. The next review cycle will be in 2014. Guidelines for fund grant applications are available at the Lake Superior Community Partnership website:
http://marquette.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Cliffs-Eagle-Fund-Guidelines.pdf
The Cliffs/Eagle Mine Marquette County Community Fund is a joint charitable alliance between Cliffs Natural Resources and Eagle Mine, a subsidiary of Lundin Mining. The fund was created in August of 2012 as the result of a business transaction between the two mining entities and was initially capitalized at $4 million. The purpose of the Fund is to provide grant funding to community focused projects in Marquette County.
A four-person funding committee comprised of two individuals representing Cliffs Natural Resources and two individuals representing Eagle Mine reviews grant applications and makes funding decisions twice annually. The fund is scheduled to terminate when all of its assets have been expended. The Committee shall endeavor to disburse all money within five years of its establishment.
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