Displaying items tagged: Southwest Michigan First

Calhoun County has received $1.1 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support brownfield redevelopment projects in Battle Creek and Albion.

The historic $2 trillion federal economic stimulus bill signed into law Friday contains $350 billion in loans for small businesses that could transition into grants.

Michigan’s loan and grant program for small businesses affected by the coronavirus is now accepting applications, state officials announced today.

Here is the growth report for November 9, 2019.

Michigan is the most attractive state in the Midwest for new aerospace manufacturing businesses.

A new medical device company in Kalamazoo plans to begin building a business around a product acquired from Stryker Corp. to treat a painful and potentially life-threatening condition.

Forman Glass LLC, a Comstock Charter Township-based glass and glazing company, is relocating production of its window and entrance frames from Ft. Wayne, Ind. to Southwest Michigan.

Miniature Custom Manufacturing LLC, a high-volume injection molding manufacturer, is expanding its plant in the township of Vicksburg, 15 miles south of Kalamazoo.

KALAMAZOO — The Kalamazoo affiliate of Grand Angels easily exceeded expectations after launching more than a year ago.

In politically conservative Calhoun County, Scott Fleming embraces the economic potential of legal marijuana businesses.

MACKINAC ISLAND — It’s been nearly one year since Kalamazoo became a “laboratory” for a new form of philanthropy-backed municipal finance.

MACKINAC ISLAND — Michigan political and business leaders generally agree that the state’s infrastructure, workforce development and talent efforts need further investment. 

Developers are planning a multi-story, mixed-use development in downtown Kalamazoo that could begin to take shape this summer.

MATTAWAN — The proposed sale of MPI Research Inc. to Charles River Laboratories International Inc. for $800 million would end local ownership for a company that’s one of the largest employers in the greater Kalamazoo area.

A nearly year-long federal court case between two Kalamazoo-area economic development organizations over the use various iterations of “269” in publications and marketing materials has been dismissed.

COVERT — Officials in Van Buren County felt a sense of relief last month when one of its largest employers and sources of tax revenue pledged to stay in the community for four more years.

Newell Brands Inc. plans to invest $7.3 million and create 87 new jobs as part of an expansion at its R&D facility in Kalamazoo.

Controversial economic development legislation passed the Michigan House on Wednesday afternoon, setting the stage for Gov. Rick Snyder’s likely signature.

Here is the MiBiz Growth Report for June 26, 2017:

Economic developers from West Michigan and across the state increasingly find their roles shifting.

KALAMAZOO — Western Michigan University will launch a new product design institute to create a hub of designers in Southwest Michigan and supply local companies with talent.

Legislation that passed the state Senate last Thursday seeks to level the playing field for economic development organizations trying to attract companies to Michigan’s border communities.

KALAMAZOO — It may have taken five years, but the partners behind one of the largest mixed-use projects in downtown Kalamazoo finally have secured the financing they need for the development. 

KALAMAZOO — A major expansion by Stryker Corp. could provide a welcome shot in the arm for Southwest Michigan’s life sciences sector. 

Talent will continue to reign as the top issue Southwest Michigan First needs to tackle in 2017, according to CEO Ron Kitchens. He believes that the future of communities will depend on their ability to attract and retain Generation X and Millennial workers. To do that, his organization plans to integrate some of its employees into universities around the region, advocate for affordable downtown housing and promote an “open culture,” he said. Kitchens spoke with MiBiz about how economic developers’ jobs are shifting to focus on talent. 

To help make Michigan more attractive for large-scale real estate developments, lawmakers want to give developers new options to help fund their projects.

Investments in rail infrastructure eventually will expedite the time it takes for Amtrak passengers to commute from Kalamazoo to Chicago, potentially cutting travel times by a half hour. 

The budget cuts at the state’s economic development organization have forced industry executives in West Michigan to adjust their tactics.