FIRST & 42

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

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...

2026 Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Winners Announced

Legitimize Your Presence: 4 Surprising Rules to Win Your Next Client Meeting

Introduction We’ve all been there: sitting across the table, or the screen, in a crucial business meeting, feeling the pressure to make a great impression. You have your pitch...

Local Partners Help Bring New Edwardsburg Library to Life

Several regional partners played a key role in bringing the new Cass District Library’s Edwardsburg Branch to life. The $7 million, 5.4-acre facility celebrated its grand opening...

Why Ownership Transition May Be Kalamazoo’s Most Underrated Economic Strategy

Main Street businesses have long been the foundation of Kalamazoo’s economy. They provide stable jobs, long-standing customer relationships, and a sense of place that national...

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...

Raising Cane’s Celebrates Portage Opening

80 New Apartments Planned for Battle Creek

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...

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...

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

Mar 11, 2026 | Chamber Corner

John Knowlton - Abundant Thought Revolution

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 business through grit and sacrifice, the second enjoys the fruits of that labor, and the...

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

Mar 11, 2026 | Thrive

USA Today 10Best

2026 Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Winners Announced

Mar 9, 2026 | Business

WSJM.com

Local Partners Help Bring New Edwardsburg Library to Life

Mar 6, 2026 | First & 42 Original, Places

Kimberly Viers - Southwest Michigan First

Several regional partners played a key role in bringing the new Cass District Library’s Edwardsburg Branch to life. The $7 million, 5.4-acre facility celebrated its grand opening on February 27, 2026, marking the first new library built in Cass County since 1978 and...

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

Feb 23, 2026 | First & 42 Original, Places

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 page from long-term project to lived-in place. Trisha Kidd, PlazaCorp’s director of project...

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