Lt. Gov. Visits Keweenaw Businesses

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist is in town.

Yesterday, he visited the Neuvokas plant in Ahmeek, where they turn basalt fiber into construction rebar that’s lighter and stronger than steel rebar, and doesn’t rust. Gilchrist says it’s the kind of product that could fit into Michigan’s road and bridge rebuilding program…

Neuvokas CEO Erik Kiilunen suggested it might be possible to design a process that would salvage the remaining copper from discarded stamp sands, and turn the leftover basalt into fiber for products such as his. Gilchrist… interested…

Gilchrist also stopped at rocket propulsion company Orbion last evening. This morning, he’s visiting the Great Lakes Research Center, the MTEC SmartZone, and the Houghton Elementary School.