Nearly 700 people gathered in Milford on Monday evening to celebrate Labor Day with Milford Mining Company Utah (MMCU), enjoying a full afternoon and evening of live music, delicious food, community presentations and a spectacular fireworks show. The annual celebration began with performances from local favorite Livid Dead and country-rock band Van Waylon. Residents enjoyed food and entertainment throughout the evening before gathering for remarks from community leaders and dignitaries, including Milford Mayor Nolan Davis, and Beaver County Commissioner Tammy Pearson.
Special video messages were shared from Representative Celeste Maloy, Senator John Curtis, former Representative Chris Stewart and Governor Spencer Cox, all praising Milford’s resilience, the importance of Utah’s mining industry and MMCU’s investments in rural communities. Company leaders also highlighted MMCU’s current and future growth plans. The project will enhance production capacity and extend the current projected life of the mining operations.
“Utah’s rural communities are the best for so many reasons,” said Senator John Curtis. “The best place to invest, the best place for great workers and families and are great places to have businesses. Thank you to Milford Mining for your great investment in this community. I know you’ve grown from just a few jobs to many, and that you plan on continuing to grow. It’s so important not just for Milford, but for the county, for our state and really for the world. And we know we need copper. And of course, we want it coming from Utah.”
After these remarks, the energy shifted to the main stage for a headlining performance by Nashville country star Stephanie Quayle, whose 90-minute set had the audience on its feet. The evening closed with a dazzling fireworks display, launched in coordination with the local fire department.
Since reopening its doors in 2023 under new ownership, MMCU has already hired 160 new employees and contractors, invested $40 million in revitalizing mine infrastructure, and significantly increased copper production capacity within Utah.Looking ahead, the company plans to scale operations, explore adjacent mining sites, and integrate innovative, cutting-edge extraction technologies to meet the growing global demand for copper. MMCU is also pursuing university partnerships in Utah to establish apprenticeship programs that will prepare the next generation of skilled workers. Furthermore, MMCU is jointly exploring with the State’s top academic institutions ways to adapt and implement state-of-the art research and technology advances for metals mining applications.
“I’ve been with the House Committee on Natural Resources for a few days, and we’ve been talking about mining and how critical it is to the United States of America that we mine, refine and produce in our own country,” said Representative Celeste Maloy. “We must have mines that are operational. We also must build out the capacity to turn that ore into products in our own country.”
Copper, designated a critical mineral by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2023. This week, copper was recognized in USGS’ 2025 Draft List of Critical Minerals as essential for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence applications and defense systems. MMCU’s continued growth ensures that Utah will play a central role in strengthening America’s energy independence and technological leadership. By investing in rural communities, advancing responsible mining practices, and preparing the next generation of skilled workers, MMCU is positioning Milford not only as a hub of copper production, but as a cornerstone of the nation’s secure and sustainable future.
