Southwest Michigan First offices will be closed on Friday, April 3.
Good Morning, Southwest Michigan! This week in FIRST & 42, we step inside Heirloom Stitching in St. Joseph County where a hand-guided process produces hundreds of boot uppers each day, while Western Michigan University soccer has received an anonymous $2 million donation for facility upgrades and program support. In our latest Legislative Update, we explore how aligning workforce and housing is shaping Michigan’s long-term competitiveness and congratulate Watermark Brewing Co. for being nationally recognized as one of the top beer gardens. Plus, we're looking ahead to our next Small & Mighty Business Series, Bitcoin for Businesses, on Wednesday, April 8.
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Every Stitch Matters: Inside the Hand-Guided Process at Heirloom Stitching
In Nottawa Township, where open farmland and small businesses shape the landscape east of Three Rivers, a quiet manufacturing operation is turning out hundreds of boot uppers a day through a process that depends as much on skilled hands as it does on machinery.
● Member Insight Weekly breaks down the pitfalls of chasing Google AI Overviews and where businesses should focus instead.
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● The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan awarded Wightman two Engineering Merit Awards and one Surveying Merit Award for regional projects.
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● Arcadia Creek Festival Place will remain active with major festivals before planned upgrades to the downtown space.
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● The Southwest Michigan First Chamber will host an informational meeting Monday, March 30, at The Catalyst Center for those interested in an eight-day guided trip to Italy this October.
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● Kalamazoo Forward Ventures has launched Tsunami Lab to help train entrepreneurs to acquire small businesses from retiring owners.
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● Delta is expanding service from AZO with a fourth daily flight to Detroit starting June 7.
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● The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber earned a statewide MEDC award for its work to grow population and talent across the region.
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Upcoming Events
Small & Mighty: Bitcoin for Businesses
Join us for this month’s Small & Mighty Business Series, Bitcoin for Businesses, with Amber Harris and the MI Bitcoin Trade Council, a practical session designed to help business leaders better understand Bitcoin and crypto and evaluate how they may fit into their business.
BJ Benjim’s is seeking a full-time Retail Clothing Store Manager to oversee daily operations, deliver a strong customer experience, and support the continued growth of its long-established men’s clothing store in the Portage and Kalamazoo area.
denotes Southwest Michigan First event
