KALAMAZOO - The Southwest Michigan First Board of Directors has selected Jonas R. Peterson, CEcD, to serve as chief executive officer for the Southwest Michigan regional economic development organization. Peterson’s appointment follows a six-month national search that prioritized community input and inclusivity. “After a rigorous national search, Jonas Peterson rose to the top as the
KALAMAZOO – Friday Southwest Michigan First announced it has secured an anonymous gift of land along with a $100 million commitment for the construction of a new Career and Technical Education Center on the gifted parcel. “For years, local educators and employers have talked about the need for a centralized career and technical center in
KALAMAZOO – Southwest Michigan First announced the cumulative impact of its economic development and community efforts thus far in 2021 to support job creation in its seven-county Southwest Michigan region and provide support to businesses as they rally in the face of the ongoing COVID pandemic. Most recently announced on July 26 by Governor Gretchen
KALAMAZOO — The Kalamazoo City Commission unanimously voted to withdraw $10,000 in annual funding for Southwest Michigan First on the same day former GOP House Speaker Lee Chatfield started as the economic development organization’s CEO. The city has directed the funding to Southwest Michigan First’s Council of 100, a public-private regional economic development initiative, since 2015. City
KALAMAZOO - Lee Chatfield, former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, has been named the new CEO for Southwest Michigan First. Chatfield was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives for six years and was chosen by his peers to serve in the top two leadership positions for four of those years as
KALAMAZOO - Southwest Michigan First announced 1,434 small business recipients are receiving average grant awards of $5,000 each as part of the state’s Michigan Small Business Restart Program. Grants must be used for expenditures made between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020 for necessary disbursements incurred due to the public health emergency with respect
ALAMO TOWNSHIP – Kalamazoo-area manufacturer Quality Precast announced it will construct a 25,000-square-foot production facility and corporate headquarters, adding 20 new jobs. A precast manufacturer specializing in manholes, large block retaining walls and more, Quality Precast will invest $1,352,185 in this expansion. In support of this project, the company received a $3,000 grant approved by
COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP – Sigma Machine, a Tier 1 supplier, will invest $27.8 million to expand its current facility in Midlink Business Park, adding 58 new jobs. As a result, the Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant is awarding the company $350,000. Michigan was chosen over a competing site in Wisconsin for this project. In operation
KALAMAZOO - Jill Bland and Carla Winchester of Southwest Michigan First have been named Finalists in the categories of Female Executive of the Year and Female Innovator of the Year, respectively, in the Stevie Awards for Women in Business. On November 18, they will each ultimately be recognized as Gold, Silver or Bronze Stevie Award
KALAMAZOO - Southwest Michigan First is now accepting applications for its third annual Makers’ Mart competition where the winners get $2,500 in cash plus $2,500 in legal, marketing and accounting services. Catalyst University is scheduled for January 26, 2017, at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo. Makers’ Mart competition finalists will have the opportunity to present their products
