Leading the way

Southwest Michigan First is guided by a group of some of the most influential business, academic, and nonprofit leaders in the region. Since the beginning, we’ve partnered with C-level executives in virtually every industry. These like-minded individuals care deeply about the future of our community and meet regularly to ensure the economic growth and vitality of our region.

They are the big thinkers and change makers who envision Southwest Michigan as one of the most economically prosperous regions in Michigan and the United States. They’re also the ones clearing the path that leads to enhanced prosperity and improved quality of life for all people, including those traditionally less served.

In 2023, Southwest Michigan First introduced a three-year action plan, Path to Regional Prosperity, designed to unite the region and advance its mission to increase economic prosperity for all in southwest Michigan. With the addition of high caliber leaders representing major employers from each of the region’s seven counties, the new Southwest Michigan First 75 Board of Directors puts our region in a better position to be one of the most economically prosperous regions in the state.

Companies led by the directors of Southwest Michigan First are serious about economic, workforce, and community development. They are responsible for nearly 35,000 regional workers; employ a global workforce of more than 360,000; and generate over an estimated $4.6 billion in annual local salaries earned in the seven counties of Southwest Michigan.