DICKINSON COUNTY Circle Power Renewables has awarded Groveland Area Improvement Fund grants of $20,000 to the Wild Rivers Invasive Species Coalition and $5,000 to Wildlife Unlimited of Dickinson County for projects that will enhance the Groveland Mine Pond area on Michigan Department of Natural Resources lands in Dickinson County.

The grants are part of Circle Power Renewables’ commitment in conjunction with Groveland Mine Solar, a 100-megawatt alternating current solar facility being developed on former Groveland Mine property in Dickinson County, which operated from the early 1950s until 1981 under the Hanna Mining Company.

Circle Power established the Groveland Area Improvement Fund with the Dickinson Area Community Foundation to provide $25,000 in grants for recreation or habitat improvement projects in the Groveland Mine Pond or Pine Creek Basin area, Circle Power stated in a news release.

Grant recipients were chosen by a committee representing several Dickinson County sportsmen’s clubs: Upper Peninsula Sportsmen’s Alliance, Wildlife Unlimited of Dickinson County, the East Dickinson Sportsmen’s Club and the Dickinson County Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited.

“The process of granting this award was a true partnership between Circle Power, the Dickinson Area Community Foundation and Dickinson County’s sportsmen’s groups,” Circle Power CEO Jordan Roberts said. “We are grateful for the time and expertise these partners committed to ensuring the funds will be used impactfully, in a way that will benefit the environment and visitors to the Groveland Mine Ponds.”

The Wild Rivers Invasive Species Coalition will use the $20,000 grant to focus on managing and reducing invasive species, including phragmites, as well as harmful litter at the Groveland Mine Ponds. The grant will support three seasons of work beginning this spring and summer and continuing through 2027.

“We’re excited to get to work at the Groveland Mine Ponds this summer,” said Lindsay Peterson, WRISC grant coordinator. “This funding is providing our partners the opportunity to manage invasive species and clean up an area that many visitors enjoy. Be on the lookout for a volunteer day this summer, and we look forward to sharing how the project progresses.”

WRISC is a local conservation group representing multiple partner organizations throughout northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. They have been dedicated to the management of invasive species through cooperation, education, prevention and control since 2009.

The $5,000 grant to Wildlife Unlimited of Dickinson County will add a picnic area at the Mine Ponds at a site that has a fishing pier and vault toilet.

Wildlife Unlimited President Mike Anderson, who chaired the selection committee, said, “We are pleased that Circle Power committed funding to improve habitat and recreational use for our community members. By preserving these ecosystems, we not only safeguard the species that call the Mine Ponds home, but we ensure that visitors will get the most out of spending time fishing and recreating in the area. I appreciate the thoughtful work of my fellow committee members in assisting with the promotion of the grant and evaluating the great applications we received.”

“We were proud to partner with Circle Power and Dickinson area sportsmen’s groups for this grant opportunity,” said Tamara Juul, executive director of the Dickinson Area Community Foundation. “We appreciate how the sportsmen came together to help us positively impact the community and outdoor recreation.”