FIRST & 42

Good Jobs, Clean Homes, Stronger Communities: The Ripple Effect of a People-First Business

When I started Jeannie Cleaning ten years ago, I thought excellent customer service was enough. I quickly learned it went beyond that. Coming from a restaurant background, I...

AI Is Here. The Real Question for Southwest Michigan Businesses Is Whether Our Systems Are Ready.

If you run a small or mid-sized business in Southwest Michigan, you’ve probably heard some version of this sentence lately: “AI is going to change everything.” That part is...

Goodwill Golf Classic Tees Up Third Annual Event

Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan will bring back its Goodwill Golf Classic on Monday, July 27 at Gull Lake View Golf Resort, with registration opening March 1. The...

Battle Creek VA Lands Federal Funding

WMU Names Student Pitch Finalists

Is Your Website Your Hardest-Working Employee?

Over the past few months, while meeting with business owners across Michigan, Northern Indiana, and the Chicago region, one comment keeps coming up: "We have a website… but we're...

The Evolving Role of Property Management in Southwest Michigan

As the Southwest Michigan housing market continues to grow and evolve, so does the role of property management. What was once viewed as a largely administrative function has...

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...

Aligning Workforce, Housing, and Michigan’s Economic Competitiveness

Recent conversations in Lansing highlight an important reality for Michigan’s economy: long-term competitiveness will depend on how well the state aligns workforce development,...

AI Search and the Pitfalls of Chasing Google AI Overviews

Google search results never stop evolving. And, as a small business, it can be a huge challenge to stay on top of new updates, understand new features, and explore the new...

Southwest Michigan Brewery Earns National No. 1 Ranking for Best Beer Garden

Beyond the Bottom Line: Breaking the Three-Generation Curse in Family Business

In the world of family business, there is a haunting proverb often whispered in boardrooms: “Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations”. The first generation builds the...

Tornado Relief Resources

Mar 9, 2026 | Sponsored Content

Tornado Relief Resources This page includes trusted links and on-the-ground resources following the tornadoes that impacted Cass, St. Joseph, and Branch Counties. We will update this page as new information is confirmed. Last updated: March 9, 2026 Quick actions Get...

Good Jobs, Clean Homes, Stronger Communities: The Ripple Effect of a People-First Business

Apr 15, 2026 | Chamber Corner

Jeannie Henderson - Jeannie Cleaning

When I started Jeannie Cleaning ten years ago, I thought excellent customer service was enough. I quickly learned it went beyond that. Coming from a restaurant background, I assumed my leadership experience would translate seamlessly to my cleaning business. But in...

Southwest Michigan Brewery Earns National No. 1 Ranking for Best Beer Garden

Mar 11, 2026 | Thrive

USA Today 10Best

Goodwill Golf Classic Tees Up Third Annual Event

Apr 6, 2026 | Business, Places

Eric Ringwelski | Southwest Michigan First

Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan will bring back its Goodwill Golf Classic on Monday, July 27 at Gull Lake View Golf Resort, with registration opening March 1. The third annual outing continues to support Goodwill’s work in education, training, skill...