By Jan Tucker
Globe Writer
February 28, 2001

ONTONAGON -- SubTerra Underground Growth Center is drawing attention from some big national names.

Barry Fay, consultant and former manager of the White Pine Industrial Park, told an Ontonagon County Chamber Association audience at the Candlelight Tuesday that a recent program about the underground center has sparked interest from two big companies.

Fay said officials of SubTerra received calls from Monsanto and Merck expressing interest in what is being done. The growth center has a contract with Health Canada to grow tobacco plants for bone marrow cancer research. Fay said there remains a challenge to work with Copper Range and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to provide permanent access to the mine to move from a pilot project to a full growth project.

Fay also saluted the businesses, which together provide more than 120 jobs in the industrial park: White Pine Copper Refinery Incorporated, Customer Metal Fabrication Inc., Northland Electric and SubTerra, soon to be joined by Luppino Construction.

Fay also credited the federal, state and local entities which have provided $2.75 million to separate and build an infrastructure in the area of the industrial park. He cited the Ontonagon County Board, Village of Ontonagon, Carp Lake Township, Carp Lake Township Brownfield Redevelopment, Ontonagon Economic Development Corporation and federal and state agencies which have made the development possible. He also cited the cooperation of Copper Range in making the projects possible. "White Pine is alive and kicking," he added.