Good Morning, Southwest Michigan! This week in FIRST & 42, we recap our third annual State of Economic Development event where we revealed our new three-years strategic action plan, The Road to Regional Prosperity. On the savings front, eligible organizations can score no-cost LED tube upgrades through OEO Energy, cutting energy use up to 70%. New this week, we’re launching Member Insight Weekly, a blog written by Chamber members featuring fresh content every week. Kruggel Lawton also earned Best & Brightest recognition for workplace culture at both the national level and in West Michigan. Plus, join us for our February Chamber Connect at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, a casual after-hours meetup built for connection and community.
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
2026 State of Economic Development: Key Highlights
More than 500 regional leaders gathered for Southwest Michigan First’s 2026 State of Economic Development, featuring economic insights from Dr. Chris Thornberg, a look at AI’s impact from Erica Orange, and a spotlight on regional entrepreneurship. CEO Jonas Peterson also introduced The Road to Regional Prosperity, a new three year action plan building on more than $9.5 billion in regional economic impact.
● Applications for First Up 2026, Southwest Michigan First’s early-career development program for professionals in their first five years, are open through March 13.
Apply ›
● Michigan’s statewide startup competition PitchMI set its championship for April 7, with finalists competing for an additional $1 million investment.
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Upcoming Events
February Chamber Connect
Join us for our February Chamber Connect at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, a casual after-hours meetup designed to help you build relationships and expand your professional network.
Southwest Michigan First is seeking a Graphic Design and Marketing Associate to support Consultant Connect and internal marketing efforts, creating strategic visual content, event collateral, and multimedia storytelling across the region.
denotes Southwest Michigan First event
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