News
Is Your Website Your Hardest-Working Employee?
Over the past few months, while meeting with business owners across Michigan, Northern Indiana, and the Chicago region, one comment keeps coming up: "We have a website… but we're not sure if it's actually helping our business grow." Many companies launched their...
The Evolving Role of Property Management in Southwest Michigan
As the Southwest Michigan housing market continues to grow and evolve, so does the role of property management. What was once viewed as a largely administrative function has become a strategic service that directly impacts investment performance, housing quality, and...
Every Stitch Matters: Inside the Hand-Guided Process at Heirloom Stitching
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....
Aligning Workforce, Housing, and Michigan’s Economic Competitiveness
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...
AI Search and the Pitfalls of Chasing Google AI Overviews
Google search results never stop evolving. And, as a small business, it can be a huge challenge to stay on top of new updates, understand new features, and explore the new opportunities they offer. If you get all of your Google- and SEO-related news from LinkedIn, you...
Southwest Michigan Brewery Earns National No. 1 Ranking for Best Beer Garden
Beyond the Bottom Line: Breaking the Three-Generation Curse in Family Business
In the world of family business, there is a haunting proverb often whispered in boardrooms: “Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations”. The first generation builds the business through grit and sacrifice, the second enjoys the fruits of that labor, and the...
Tornado Relief Resources
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...
2026 Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Winners Announced
Legitimize Your Presence: 4 Surprising Rules to Win Your Next Client Meeting
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...
Local Partners Help Bring New Edwardsburg Library to Life
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...
Why Ownership Transition May Be Kalamazoo’s Most Underrated Economic Strategy
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...