Operation Action U.P. business awards

Business representatives and community leaders met at NMU today to recognize organizations that made large economic strides in 2013.

It was all part of the annual meeting for Operation Action U.P., a coalition of stakeholders who have banded together to create and promote economic development and employment in the Upper Peninsula. The group helps to provide the area’s industry with a unified voice.

“Operation Action Upper Peninsula has been a fifty-year important enterprise to the Upper Peninsula,” Citizens for Affordable Energy founder and CEO John Hofmeister said. “The leaders in this room speak for themselves and the citizens of the Upper Peninsula about what matters.”

Peninsula Fiber Network, Superior Fabrication, L’Anse Manufacturing and the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation were all honored for their contribution to the economic well-being of the area.

“We have over 450 vendors, some of which are in the U.P. and also (lower) Michigan, so this allows us to network and be able to find out what are some of the problems with the other businesses as shared problems, and also to combine those issues together, where we can have for our industry,” Enstrom Helicopter president and CEO Jerry Mullins said.

“I’m very encouraged to be here, and to meet the people here, and to listen to what their plans are, what their thoughts are, and I just wish them the best in terms of organizing their voice,” Hofmeister said.

Operation Action U.P. has been involved in numerous economic growth initiatives throughout the area for the past five decades.