MANISTIQUE, MI-- The head of Manistique’s new mill venture is anticipating big success.
Lars Dannberg is President and CEO of UP Paper, LLC, which will be housed in the former FutureMark paper mill. He says he originally wanted to salvage the mill, but when Gulliver businessman Stan Zellar purchased the property Dannberg decided to take a chance on a new business.
“So, I saw for this kind of a golden opportunity, and we have a little diamond in the rough up there,” he says.
The mill will take recycled material and make lightweight craft paper for bags, like the type used by McDonald’s.
Dannberg says initial hiring will be slow, but should pick up.
“For the first period we’re going to be around 50 to 60, and then we’re going to go as the market goes, so up to 90 to 100 at peak capacity next year,” he says.
The mill will open at one-third capacity next month, and should reach peak capacity by next February.
Dannberg says the response from the community about the new venture has been unbelievable. He notes more than 1,000 people showed up at an open house last weekend.
