Month: May 2021

We’re going to let you in on a little secret: today is National Hamburger Day! If you get the chance to enjoy a home-grilled burger this holiday weekend, we challenge you to get out and see how yours stacks up against the pros. And if you don’t, well, taste and see what’s grilling out there. […]

Dr. Carmen Maring, principal at Gull Lake Middle School, is a passionate leader who is doing her part to make the middle school experience better for all students. “Everyone’s experience with middle school is varied, but overall, it’s not usually people’s favorite time period,” said Carmen. “I’m trying to rewrite the story for middle-level education […]

Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced updates to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (MIOSHA) COVID-19 emergency rules as many employers return to in-person work. The governor also announced an updated Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) COVID-19 Gatherings and Face Masks epidemic order, eliminating outdoor capacity limits and increasing indoor social gatherings to 50 percent capacity, which is set to […]

Kalamazoo RESA (KRESA) and Southwest Michigan First’s public-private partnership, formed ahead of the 2019 Career & Technical Education (CTE) millage campaign, remains strong as the two agencies are united in the goal of redesigning Kalamazoo County’s CTE system. The leadership of both agencies is confident they will be able to deliver a substantial amount of […]

The ‘MI Vacc to Normal’ Plan now features two steps to get the state back to normal by July 1st. Here we go Michigan. Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced an updated MI Vacc to Normal plan, which outlines steps Michiganders can take to emerge from this pandemic. As of June 1, capacity limits will lift […]

Summer means it’s time to grill out and chill out in Southwest Michigan. FIRST & 42 has gathered a list of four of the sauciest barbecue joints in the region for you to dig into—napkins not required, but highly encouraged. Moe Pritchett, owner of Big Moe’s BBQ Sauce and Catering, is an award-winning chef and […]

Cherise Buchanan is an active community member, entrepreneur, leader, connector, mentor, and much more. A member of the 2015 class of Leadership Kalamazoo, our region’s premier civic leadership development program powered by Southwest Michigan First, Cherise puts her skills and gifts in action each day to help create positive change. Cherise serves as a project […]

Miniature Custom Manufacturing (MCM) broke ground today on a 30,000-square-foot warehouse expansion at 170 N Leja Drive in the village of Vicksburg, Michigan. Once complete, the $3 million investment in new space will bring 50 new jobs to the area. After this latest addition is complete, MCM will be housed in three neighboring facilities totaling […]

Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is updating the Gatherings and Mask Order to align with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s latest guidance on face coverings. The new order will effect on Saturday, May 15 at 9:00 a.m.. “For more than a year, […]

Access to broadband and high-speed internet is vital to people’s ability to work, learn and carry out business. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more imperative than ever and building and strengthening broadband infrastructure throughout Michigan will be a driver of economic recovery efforts statewide. To support that effort, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation has […]

The number 55 was a big one announced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on May 10, 2021. That’s right Michigan: Officially, 55 percent of Michiganders have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This announcement marks the first milestone of the ‘MI Vacc to Normal’ plan, which would enable in-person work to resume across all […]

Not seasonally adjusted jobless rates edged down slightly in 10 of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas during March, with monthly rate decreases ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 percentage points, according to data released from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). “Michigan regional jobless rates displayed little change in March,” confirmed Wayne […]