FIRST & 42

Why Video Isn’t Just Marketing—It’s a Growth Strategy

For many years, video was viewed as a luxury. It was something large corporations invested in because they had the budget, while smaller businesses focused on websites,...

The Runway Bet: How RAI Jets Built Their Way Into Aviation

RAI Jets didn't start with a polished brand or a big facility. It started in Sturgis with a family that poured concrete for a living and spent its off hours around an airport...

Tsunami Lab Graduates First Cohort of Future Business Owners

At the first Tsunami Lab graduation, keynote speaker Michael Davenport offered a simple way to think about the people who help a business succeed. Davenport, president and CEO of...

$930K Grant Expands Entrepreneur Support

Kalamazoo Youth Sports Facility Breaks Ground

More Than a Moving Truck: How to Make Your Next Move Less Stressful in Southwest Michigan

Whether you’re moving into your first apartment near Western Michigan University, relocating your family across Kalamazoo County, or expanding your business into a new location...

What’s Happening at Michigan’s School Drinking Fountains? A Look at the Filter First Law

While students are enjoying summer break, Michigan schools are busy preparing for the year ahead—and some of that work is happening at an unlikely place: the drinking fountain....

$4M Expansion Fuels Hildebrand Growth

Kruggel Lawton Expands in Portage

New Arena Targets NCAA Tournaments

Streets for All Takes Shape Downtown

The Business of Human Connection

I've spent the last seven years putting people in the same room together. Golf outings, weddings, board retreats, client appreciation events, milestone celebrations. After...

Kruggel Lawton Expands in Portage

Jul 27, 2026 | Sponsored Content

Kruggel Lawton

Why Video Isn’t Just Marketing—It’s a Growth Strategy

Aug 12, 2026 | Chamber Corner

JR Harper - Envision Advertising Design & Video Production

For many years, video was viewed as a luxury. It was something large corporations invested in because they had the budget, while smaller businesses focused on websites, brochures, print advertising, and social media posts. Today, that mindset has changed dramatically....

Streets for All Takes Shape Downtown

Jul 27, 2026 | Places, Thrive

Ryan Boldery | MLive

The Runway Bet: How RAI Jets Built Their Way Into Aviation

Aug 10, 2026 | Business, First & 42 Original, People

RAI Jets didn't start with a polished brand or a big facility. It started in Sturgis with a family that poured concrete for a living and spent its off hours around an airport runway. Long before the company name existed, the work was already there. In 1982, the Riley...

Tsunami Lab Graduates First Cohort of Future Business Owners

Aug 10, 2026 | First & 42 Original, People

At the first Tsunami Lab graduation, keynote speaker Michael Davenport offered a simple way to think about the people who help a business succeed. Davenport, president and CEO of Jireh Metal Products, described three types of workers: those who give roughly 30 hours...