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title: FIRST & 42 - Fiber, Flavor and Future Growth
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Southwest Michigan’s people, ideas, and momentum all in one place. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

| View in browser Issue #190  \|  Tuesday, September 8 Good Morning, Southwest Michigan! This week in FIRST & 42, an $87 million fiber project is creating a new digital link between Southwest Michigan and Chicago beneath Lake Michigan. Kalsec has opened a new spice processing center in Kalamazoo, expanding capacity to support global growth. Allison Allman of Kruggel Lawton CPAs has been named a 2026 MICPA Women to Watch Emerging Leader, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan is preparing to Paint The Town Green for youth mentorship. Plus, join us September 17 for the Chamber’s Choice Small Business Conference and Celebration, featuring practical small business insights, breakout sessions, networking, and the reveal of this year’s Chamber’s Choice Award winners. BERRIEN COUNTY $87M Project Builds New Digital Link from Chicago to Southwest Michigan Construction is underway in St. Joseph on a new underwater fiber link that will connect Southwest Michigan to Chicago and strengthen broadband infrastructure across the region. Learn More Kalamazoo County Kalsec Opens New Processing Center Read More Sponsored Allison Allman Named MICPA Emerging Leader Read More Kalamazoo County Paint the Town Green for Youth Mentorship Learn More   Quick Hits ● Michigan secured $145 million for passenger rail improvements, including major track upgrades between Kalamazoo and Dearborn. Read › ● Portage has selected Karen Dempsey-Horan to become its first female city manager, with a November start expected. Read › ● Kalamazoo Valley Community College will celebrate 60 years with a free community party September 18 at its Arcadia Commons Campus. Read › ● WMU is connecting employers with students through three fall recruiting events, beginning with the Fall Engineering Expo on September 23. View › ● Hanson International in St. Joseph received a state grant to expand EV tooling operations, retain 89 jobs, and add 15 new positions. Read › ● James L. Liggins Jr. has been named the 2026 Michael Franck Award recipient for outstanding contributions to Michigan’s legal profession. Read › Upcoming Events Chamber’s Choice Small Business Conference and Celebration Join the Southwest Michigan First Chamber for an afternoon of small business insights, connection, and celebration at the Chamber’s Choice Awards. Thursday, September 17 \| 1 - 5 p.m. Register Small & Mighty: Year-End Books & Tax Time @ The Catalyst Center Wednesday, September 9 \| 12 - 1 p.m. Paw Paw Wine & Harvest Festival @ downtown Paw Paw September 11 through September 13 Kalamazoo Scottish Festival @ Kindleberger Park Saturday, September 12 Monday Midday Mixer @ Gull Meadow Farms Monday, September 14 \| 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. St. Joe Fall Fest @ Lake Bluff Park Saturday, September 19 \| 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. denotes Southwest Michigan First event Jobs Board Looking to Hire? List your open positions on our Jobs Board for only $50 per listing. Each post includes 60 days online plus newsletter and social promotion. It’s an easy way to connect with the region’s best talent. Post a Job Featured Supporters INVESTORS NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS NEW: Creative Catering Services, Inc. NEW: The Green Door Kalamazoo NEW: The Arc Community Advocates NEW: Davis & Associates PRO Services Barry County Community Mental Health Creative Studio Promotions & Technology St Julian Wine Company, INC Quote of the Day "It wasn’t a cliff that I had jumped off. It was a place from which I could soar." Penny Pennington 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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