When the first cases of COVID-19 were detected in Michigan and emergency orders shut down the state in mid-March 2020, most people believed we’d be back to normal after a month or two. Now a full year in, and we are all continuing to face questions and learning to...
Looking for an affordable place to lay out your “Home, Sweet Home” welcome mat? If so, Southwest Michigan is a great choice. Kalamazoo continues to hold its place in the top five places in the U.S. with the lowest cost of living, closing out 2020 in the number two...
This morning Southwest Michigan First's newly appointed CEO, Lee Chatfield, submitted his resignation to the Southwest Michigan First Board of Directors. A statement from the organization confirmed the following, "At our 10:00 a.m. meeting today, the board accepted...
Governor Gretchen Whitmer Announces Nearly 6,000 Small Businesses Across Michigan Awarded $52.5 Million Through Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) grant program supports small businesses impacted by COVID-19...
UPDATE: On Monday, February 22, 2021, Lee Chatfield resigned as CEO of Southwest Michigan First. In a statement to the community, Southwest Michigan First updated its plans on how it will approach the future search. You can read that update here. Regional economic...
Through $39,015,052 in grants from the Going PRO Talent Fund, Michigan is helping nearly 30,000 workers across the state to secure employment, industry-recognized credentials and strong wages by providing training grants to more than 850 Michigan businesses to support...
Restaurants across Michigan received clearance on Friday from Governor Gretchen Whitmer during a press conference that they will be able to reopen for indoor dining. Beginning on February 1, 2021, restaurants may reopen their dining rooms with a restriction of groups...
Supporting Teammates through ‘Business as Unusual’ Joining the ranks as a 2020 Wonderful Workplaces champion is Greenleaf Trust, a privately held wealth management firm with specialized disciplines in asset management, trust administration, qualified retirement plan...
Creating a Great Experience for All FIRST & 42 is celebrating Gibson Insurance as a winner of this year’s Wonderful Workplaces competition. Gibson provides counsel and advice on complex business and people issues that go far beyond the scope of an insurance...
A Workplace Where the First Three Letters of the Profession Are FUN! FIRST & 42 is celebrating another 2020 Wonderful Workplace winner: the WMU Foundation. The team at WMU Foundation joins 14 other regional companies receiving the honor for their outstanding...
