The Importance of Window Treatments: More Than Just a Finishing Touch

When designing a space, window treatments are often thought of as a final detail—but in reality, they play a much bigger role. The right window treatments do more than frame a...

Old Walls, New Life: Inside Ironworks, PlazaCorp’s Downtown Transformation

On a stretch of downtown Kalamazoo where construction, restoration, and new momentum are starting to overlap, the Lofts at Ironworks (also known as Ironworks), is turning the...

Cancel Your ERP Project… or Whatever Expensive Acronym You Were About to Buy

ERP. CRM. WMS. PLM. HRMS. EMR. Pick your acronym. Add a polished demo. Stir in some magical thinking and a pint of unrealistic expectations. Marinate in a six or seven-figure...

A Stronger Future Along The Road to Regional Prosperity: Highlights from the 2026 State of Economic Development

Last Thursday, February 5, 2026, Southwest Michigan First hosted its third annual State of Economic Development event, welcoming more than 500 regional stakeholders, business...

When Technology Becomes the Bottleneck

The Hidden Cost of "Just How We Do It" A local manufacturing client came to us frustrated. Every online order had to be hand-entered into their system. That meant hiring temp...

OEO Energy Offers No-Cost LED Lighting Upgrades

Southwest Michigan First Chamber member OEO Energy is offering eligible organizations across the region no-cost LED tubes upgrades to replace existing fluorescent fixtures. The...

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