Escanaba Daily Press: Senator visits Manistique mill, tours U.P. on motorcycle

As part of a motorcycle tour of the Upper Peninsula, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., toured U.P. Paper in Manistique Monday morning.

During this visit, U.P. Paper General Manager Greg Anderson showed Peters around the mill, which produces recycled kraft paper. The paper produced at the mill is used to make products such as fast food bags, shopping bags, and packaging filler.

Later, Peters took some time to speak to U.P. Paper officials and the media. U.P. Paper President Lars Dannberg introduced Peters and spoke briefly about the mill and its history.

Manistique’s paper mill was previously owned by FutureMark, which closed the mill in the spring of 2015. After its closure, the mill building was purchased by members of the Zellar family and other investors. Production began at U.P. Paper in June 2016.

“We have been growing steadily, and we are doing really, really good,” Dannberg said.

After Dannberg’s introduction, Peters spoke about issues he has been involved with that he feels could have a significant impact on the U.P. One of these issues is access to funding for small businesses like U.P. Paper, particularly those located in rural areas.

“We’ve got to make sure our rural communities all across the state have access to the kind of capital and financing necessary,” he said. To help small manufacturing companies and other businesses access this funding, Peters has played a role in the introduction and passing of bipartisan provisions strengthening the Small Business Administration’s flagship lending program.

Environmental issues are also important to the U.P.’s economy, Peters said. Specifically, he noted the Great Lakes play a crucial role in bringing tourism to the area.

“The key to that is keeping the lakes clean,” he said.

Peters has supported the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and has been a part of efforts to increase pipeline-related safety on the Great Lakes.

Recent developments related to the future of U.S. healthcare were discussed by Peters during his visit, as well. In late July, a bill which would have partially repealed the Affordable Care Act failed in the Senate.

According to Peters, he intends to work with both Democrats and Republicans on this issue when Congress returns in September.

“Hopefully, we will be able to move forward in a bipartisan way to deal with healthcare,” he said.

Peters also touched on the importance of enforcing fair trade between the U.S. and China.

“We have to be very vigilant to make sure the Chinese are playing by the rules,” Peters said.

Anderson said he was happy to welcome Peters to U.P. Paper.

“It’s always good to have people like the senator come to the facility and see what they can do to help us,” he said.

Peters’ tour of the U.P. continued with a stop at Michigan State University’s Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center in Chatham Monday afternoon. He will be returning to the U.P. next week.