MARQUETTE, MI-- Cliffs Natural Resources and Rio Tinto Eagle Mine have entered into a deal they say will benefit both the community and their companies.
At a press conference in Marquette Friday morning officials announced a new, $4 million fund has been created to assist community-focused projects in Marquette County. In exchange the companies will gain improved rail line access and transportation.
The intent of the Cliffs/Rio Tinto Marquette County Community Fund is to provide financial assistance to major community projects or programs that focus on education, youth, environment, health and community development. The fund will look to support community based, long-term, legacy projects including bricks and mortar type endeavors.
Through a three-way agreement between Cliffs, Rio Tinto and third-party rail line operator Mineral Range Inc., the LS&I Railroad gains a three-mile rail bypass near its Eagle Mills Yard. Cliffs, through the LS&I Railroad, has also provided Rio Tinto the right to reactivate a 1.8-mile rail right-of-way to the Humboldt Mill, which had previously been placed in the State of Michigan’s Rails to Trails program. Mineral Range also receives the right-of-way for 12 miles of track from the Ishpeming rail yard to Humboldt Junction, previously owned by the LS&I Railroad.
The fund will begin taking grant requests in 2013. Grant application guidelines and contact information will be posted on the Lake Superior Community Partnership’s website at www.marquette.org.
