by Eric Ringwelski | Mar 23, 2026 | Business, First & 42 Original
In Nottawa Township, where open farmland and small businesses shape the landscape east of Three Rivers, a quiet manufacturing operation is turning out hundreds of boot uppers a day through a process that depends as much on skilled hands as it does on machinery....
by Eric Ringwelski | Mar 23, 2026 | Business, Places
Recent conversations in Lansing highlight an important reality for Michigan’s economy: long-term competitiveness will depend on how well the state aligns workforce development, housing availability, and economic development policy. Last month, economic development...
by Eric Ringwelski | Feb 9, 2026 | Business
Last Thursday, February 5, 2026, Southwest Michigan First hosted its third annual State of Economic Development event, welcoming more than 500 regional stakeholders, business owners, and community leaders for an afternoon focused on economic insights, emerging trends,...
