U.S. Secretary of Labor, Idaho Governor Visit Perpetua Resources to Discuss Stibnite Gold Project Importance to Securing U.S. Jobs and Critical Minerals

Rhea-AI Summary

Perpetua Resources (NASDAQ: PPTA) hosted U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Idaho Governor Brad Little to discuss the strategic Stibnite Gold Project. The project, designated as a White House Transparency Project, aims to become the only domestic source of antimony in the United States.

The Department of Defense has invested over $80 million in the project due to antimony's critical role in defense applications. The project is expected to create 550+ direct jobs in Idaho during operations. Additionally, Perpetua announced a $250,000 Stibnite Launch Scholarship partnership with the College of Western Idaho to support students in Geosciences and Mining programs, funding 12+ students annually for three years.

Positive

• Project designated as White House Transparency Project, highlighting strategic importance
• Department of Defense granted over $80 million to advance the project
• Will create 550+ direct jobs in Idaho during operations
• $250,000 investment in education through Stibnite Launch Scholarship
• Will become the only domestic source of antimony in the US

Negative

• Project still requires permitting approvals
• Timeline for project completion not specified

Stibnite Gold Project Listed as a White House Transparency Project

Perpetua Anticipates 550+ Direct Jobs in Idaho during operations

Perpetua Announces Stibnite Launch Scholarship with College of Western Idaho  

BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Idaho Governor Brad Little met with Perpetua Resources Corp. (Nasdaq: PPTA) (TSX: PPTA) ("Perpetua Resources" or "Perpetua" or the "Company") in Valley County, Idaho to discuss the Stibnite Gold Project's strategic importance to the United States and Perpetua's plans to provide family-wage, in-demand jobs to rural Idaho during the construction and operations of the Stibnite Gold Project. During the visit, Perpetua Resources announced a new education and job training partnership with the College of Western Idaho (CWI).

The Secretary's visit underscores the Trump administration's focus on domestic critical mineral projects that are essential to U.S. national security, like the Stibnite Gold Project. The Stibnite Gold Project is designed to restore the environment, provide family-wage jobs to rural Idaho, and produce gold and the critical mineral antimony. The Stibnite Gold Project, which was identified as a "Transparency Project" by the National Economic Development Council, is expected to provide the United States its only domestically mined source of the critical mineral antimony. Given antimony's essential role in hundreds of defense applications, the Department of Defense has granted Perpetua Resources more than $80 million to date to advance the Stibnite Gold Project.

"Perpetua is committed to Idaho," said Jon Cherry, CEO of Perpetua Resources. "We want our project to benefit local communities, and one of the most tangible ways we can do that is by providing meaningful, well-paying careers. For years, we have been laying the foundation – providing internships, working with local schools and investing in career education for local students – and soon we intend to offer quality, family-wage jobs to hundreds of Idaho workers at the Stibnite Gold Project. It was a true honor to host U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Governor Brad Little and tell them about our efforts to bring jobs to rural Idaho."

"The Stibnite Gold Project represents exactly the kind of American-led initiative we need to secure our critical mineral supply chains, strengthen national security, and create in-demand, mortgage-paying jobs," said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. "Under President Trump's leadership, the U.S. Department of Labor is committed to working with employers like Perpetua to ensure they have the skilled workforce they need to ramp up domestic production. I'd like to thank Governor Little and Perpetua Resources for hosting me today and providing an update on this important project, which fulfills our mission to put American workers first."

To advance Perpetua's commitment to hiring locally, during the Secretary and Governor's visit, Perpetua Resources announced the creation of the Stibnite Launch Scholarship to support CWI's Geosciences Department, helping prepare students with real-world, hands-on training for rewarding, high-skill jobs in Idaho's mining sector. Perpetua presented CWI with a $250,000 check to fund scholarships for 12 or more CWI Geosciences and Mining Technician students each year for the next three years and at least three students per year thereafter.

"Partnerships like this between Idaho businesses and our higher education institutions mean we can keep jobs, economic benefits, and expertise right here in Idaho. I appreciate Perpetua Resources for its commitment to supporting students and families and strengthening rural Idaho," Governor Little said.

Designed to complement the Idaho LAUNCH grant program, which provides students a one-time opportunity to have 80 percent of their tuition and fees covered at an eligible institution, the Stibnite Launch Scholarship can fund the remaining 20 percent of a CWI student recipient's tuition and fees, closing the funding gap and providing financial relief to [eligible students.    

"CWI is proud to be named the official education partner of Perpetua Resources," said CWI President Gordon Jones. "This partnership expands hands-on learning and workforce opportunities for our students, while also supporting the economic vitality of Idaho. By working together, we are preparing Idahoans for essential careers and ensuring our communities thrive for generations to come."

Idaho LAUNCH was created by Governor Little in 2023 to help Idaho students receive the training they needed to fill rewarding, well-paying jobs in the state. To date, nearly 11,000 Idaho graduating high school seniors and over 10,000 adults have taken advantage of LAUNCH grants.  

During their visit, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and Governor Little held a roundtable discussion with Perpetua Resources, project partners, and local education leaders to learn more about the opportunities mining is creating for Idahoans. Roundtable participants encouraged permitting reform to advance critical mining projects and pointed to LAUNCH as an essential program to advance Idaho's workforce readiness. 

Since her appointment as U.S. Secretary of Labor, Chavez-DeRemer has prioritized putting American workers first. As part of her "America at Work" listening tour, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has traveled across the country to meet with American businesses and workers to identify the skills and training programs our country needs to power the economy. Her stop in Valley County, Idaho, demonstrates her ongoing commitment to understanding the labor needs of Idaho's rural workforce and underscores how the Stibnite Gold Project can fuel the region's economic success.   

About Perpetua Resources and the Stibnite Gold Project
Perpetua Resources Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries, is focused on the exploration, site restoration and redevelopment of gold-antimony-silver deposits in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine district of central Idaho that are encompassed by the Stibnite Gold Project. The Stibnite Gold Project is one of the highest-grade, open pit gold deposits in the United States and is designed to apply a modern, responsible mining approach to restore an abandoned mine site and produce both gold and the only mined source of antimony in the United States. Antimony trisulfide from Stibnite is the only known domestic reserves of antimony that can meet U.S. defense needs for many small arms, munitions, and missile types.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Investors should be aware that the Stibnite Gold Project's designation as a Transparency Project does not imply endorsement of or support for the project by the federal government, or create a presumption that the Project will be approved, favorably reviewed by any agency, or receive federal funding. The designation of a project as a Transparency Project may be reconsidered based on updated information.

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding expected benefits from the Project, including providing a domestic source of antimony, local employment opportunities, national defense benefits and environmental benefits; expected benefits from the Stibnite Launch Program and other educational and training initiatives; and the number and nature of jobs expected to be created. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases or variations of such words and phrases or statements such as "anticipate", "expect", "plan", "likely", "believe", "intend", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "potential", "could", "may", "will", "would" or "should". Forward-Looking Information in this news release are based on certain material assumptions and involve, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Perpetua Resources to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include those factors discussed in Perpetua Resources' public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and its Canadian disclosure record. Although Perpetua Resources has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Perpetua Resources and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business, see the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Company's filings with the SEC, including Perpetua's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 19, 2025 and subsequent filings on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, which are available at www.sec.gov and with the Canadian securities regulators, which are available at www.sedarplus.com. Except as required by law, Perpetua Resources does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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SOURCE Perpetua Resources Corp.

FAQ

What is the significance of Perpetua Resources' Stibnite Gold Project for US national security?

The Stibnite Gold Project is strategically important as it will be the only domestic source of antimony in the US, a critical mineral essential for hundreds of defense applications. The Department of Defense has invested over $80 million in the project.

How many jobs will the Stibnite Gold Project create in Idaho?

The project is expected to create more than 550 direct jobs in Idaho during its operational phase, providing family-wage employment opportunities in rural areas.

What is the Stibnite Launch Scholarship announced by Perpetua Resources?

Perpetua Resources announced a $250,000 scholarship program with the College of Western Idaho to support 12+ Geosciences and Mining Technician students annually for three years, and at least three students per year thereafter.

Why did the US Secretary of Labor visit Perpetua Resources (PPTA)?

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer visited as part of her 'America at Work' tour to discuss the project's importance in securing US critical minerals and creating well-paying jobs in rural Idaho.

How is Perpetua Resources (PPTA) supporting local workforce development?

Perpetua is supporting workforce development through internships, partnerships with local schools, and the new $250,000 Stibnite Launch Scholarship program with the College of Western Idaho.