Gunnison Copper (TSX:GCU) has received recognition from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs for creating 81 qualifying jobs at its Johnson Camp mine in Cochise County, US, in 2025.
The company expects US$2 million (about $2.84 million) in refundable tax credits through Arizona’s Qualified Facility Tax Credit Program, based on those positions and another 19 qualifying jobs anticipated this year.
Gunnison expects US$1.62 million in the December quarter of 2026 and a further US$380,000 in the December quarter of 2027.
The program links refundable state income tax credits to qualifying capital investment and employment. Gunnison’s Arizona operations received approval in May, with payments remaining subject to applicable requirements.
President and CEO Craig Hallworth recently met with Hobbs alongside People First Leader Alex Bovell to discuss the partnership.
“We look forward to building on this partnership as we continue investing in Arizona and advance the much larger Gunnison Project,” Hallworth says.
Hobbs says the investment supports employment in rural Arizona.
“My administration is committed to delivering opportunity to Arizonans in rural communities, and these jobs demonstrate the tangible benefits of our partnership with Gunnison and the Arizona Commerce Authority,” she says.
The recognition follows Johnson Camp’s commercial production declaration in September after its highest monthly output since restarting operations.
The mine produced more than 1.3 million pounds of copper cathode in August and continues to ramp up towards an annual nameplate capacity of 25 million pounds.
Gunnison Copper is a copper producer and developer controlling 12 known deposits in southern Arizona’s Cochise Mining District, including its flagship Gunnison Copper Project.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Main image: Gunnison Copper
