Month: June 2022

Along with many other partners, KRESA, Michigan Works! Southwest, and Southwest Michigan First will be holding a Fall MiCareerQuest Southwest on October 25 and 26 at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center. MiCareerQuest Southwest is a fun and exciting career investigation event designed for 8th-grade students across southwest Michigan. Historically, we have had 4,000 students visit […]

The Kalamazoo-Portage Metro ranked as the lowest cost of living in the country in the first quarter of 2022, according to the Cost of Living Index (COLI). The after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living in Kalamazoo was more than 25 percent below the national average. On the same list, Grand Rapids Metro and […]

In partnership with several Kalamazoo organizations, including the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County and Southwest Michigan First, the Discover Kalamazoo team is working on an exciting initiative to develop a Unique Selling Proposition – or core branding message – for Kalamazoo County. This proposition will ultimately serve as the foundation for future Kalamazoo marketing efforts, helping […]

For the 11th straight year, Southwest Michigan First has been selected as one of The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in West Michigan. Winning companies are assessed by an independent research firm, which reviewed a number of key measures relative to other nationally recognized winners. Some of the categories applicants were scored on […]

Southwest Michigan (June 9, 2022) – The Workforce Development Board for Michigan Works! Southwest announces the award of a Going PRO Talent Fund Industry-Led Collaborative (ILC) grant totaling $138,065. The Going PRO Talent Fund creates and expands collaboration between Michigan Works! Agencies, economic development organizations, and educational agencies by funding demand-driven technical training across a […]