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title: FIRST & 42 - Road to Regional Prosperity
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Southwest Michigan’s people, ideas, and momentum all in one place. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

| View in browser Issue #176  \|  Monday, February 9 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. Read More Southwest Michigan Free LED Upgrades Through OEO Energy Read More Member Insight Weekly When Technology Becomes the Bottleneck Read More Sponsored Kruggel Lawton Earns Best & Brightest Read More   Quick Hits ● 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. Read › 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. Wednesday, February 11 \| 4 - 6 p.m. Register Portage Business Community Townhall @ Zap Zone XL Tuesday, February 10 \| 8:30 - 10 a.m. Rise & Thrive Coffee Connect @ WMU Heritage Hall Tuesday, February 17 \| 7:30 - 9 a.m. Small & Mighty Business Series: Networking 101 @ The Catalyst Center Wednesday, February 18 \| 12 - 1:30 p.m. Richland/Augusta/Galesburg Business Townhall @ Gull Lake Country Club Tuesday, February 24 \| 8:30 - 10 a.m. Business Breakfast Roundtable @ The Catalyst Center Thursday, February 26 \| 7:30 - 10 a.m. denotes Southwest Michigan First event Regional Events Winter In The Zoo: Winter Fest @ Downtown Kalamazoo Saturday, February 14 \| 12 - 4 p.m. Cold Hearted IPA Fancy Dinner @ Bell's Eccentric Café Wednesday, February 18 \| 6 p.m. Wizards, Wands & Wings Night @ Wings Event Center Saturday, February 21 \| 4:30 p.m. Mahler’s Third Symphony @ Miller Auditorium Saturday, February 21 \| 7:30 p.m. Marshall Restaurant Week @ Downtown Marshall February 21 - March 1 Jobs Board Graphic Design and Marketing Associate 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. Apply Here Featured Supporters INVESTORS CHAMBER MEMBERS NEW: Brightview Landscapes, LLC NEW: Brookdale Senior Living NEW: Gray & Associates Insurance Group NEW: Portage Public Schools Confections with Convictions The Hinman Company R.W. LaPine, Inc. Rose Street Advisors Quote of the Day "When you hand good people possibility, they do great things." Biz Stone Like what you see? Share the newsletter or send us your local news tip. Share Your News Forward to a Friend Powered by Southwest Michigan First 180 E. Water Street, Suite 2690 Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269.553.9588 Unsubscribe    Manage Preferences    View in Browser |
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