by Eric Ringwelski | Mar 9, 2026 | Sponsored Content
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...
by Eric Ringwelski | Mar 9, 2026 | Chamber Corner
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 perfected, your slides are polished, and you’re ready to convince the client that you have...
by Eric Ringwelski | Mar 6, 2026 | First & 42 Original, Places
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...
by Eric Ringwelski | Mar 4, 2026 | Chamber Corner
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 chains are unable to duplicate. Yet many of these businesses are entering a period of...
by Eric Ringwelski | Feb 24, 2026 | Chamber Corner
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 view; they influence how a room feels, functions, and performs every day. From light control...
by Eric Ringwelski | 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...
by Eric Ringwelski | Feb 18, 2026 | Chamber Corner
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 budget. Sprinkle on an arbitrary go-live date. Bake in a 550-degree pressure cooker for 12-18...
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,...
