Southwest Michigan First shares the good news of the region it serves on FIRST & 42—our own media platform where we communicate about the people and companies you should get to know, community events, economic updates and more.
LATEST NEWS
Business Consulting, Community Development, Economic Development, and More
Southwest Michigan First distributes positive news about the region it serves through FIRST & 42, a digital platform offering updates on what the organization and local businesses are doing, as well as other regional happenings, in our geographical latitude—parallel 42. You can enjoy FIRST & 42 news from us in two ways: when you want it on the standalone site or delivered straight to your inbox through our digital newsletter called “First & 42: The Kalamazoo Region’s Digital Daily” on Mondays. Subscriptions are free, so there is no excuse not to get all that you need to know fast and at your fingertips—meaning on your phone, computer or watch.
If you’re interested in staying up to date with all of our latest news and announcements, click the button below to explore all that FIRST & 42 has to offer.
Southwest Michigan First Receives $600,000 Grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation
11/28/2023
Funds will allow Southwest Michigan First to expand community, economic and workforce development projects in southwest Michigan with a focus on Calhoun County.
WMU president outlines vision for student success in State of the University address
10/30/2023
Striving toward student success: that was the vision for Western Michigan University as WMU President Edward Montgomery gave the 2023-24 State of the University Address Wednesday afternoon.
2 new life science companies ‘graduate’ from WMed Innovation Center
9/28/2023
The WMed Innovation Center is an incubator for growing science and technology businesses. The 69,000-square-foot building offers lab space and office space companies can rent out. Companies get access to high quality materials and support services, according to the WMed Innovation Center website.
Invest in the Future of Southwest Michigan and Beyond with the WMU Bronco Challenge
8/28/2023
Western Michigan University (WMU) is about to launch the second year of an innovative sustainability initiative after a successful inaugural year in 2022-23.
KRESA’s CareerNOW Program Opens Free Culinary Pre-Apprenticeship for Young Adults
7/28/2023
Kalamazoo RESA’s CareerNOW program, in collaboration with local organizations and Firekeepers Casino Hotel, is thrilled to announce a free Culinary Skills Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
Gov. Whitmer Announces 350 New Jobs After Winning Business and Housing Investments Across the State
6/14/2023
Three business expansion projects and one community development project expected to create a total of 350 new jobs and generate a total private investment of more than $25 million have received support from the Michigan Strategic Fund
Western Michigan University Hosts Corporate Engagement Southwest Michigan Corporate Leadership Breakfast
5/28/2023
On April 26, 2023, Western Michigan University’s (WMU) corporate engagement team hosted the first Southwest Michigan Corporate Leadership Breakfast, inviting local industry partners to campus to hear about WMU’s new approach to building strategic partnerships.
AtWork, a rapidly growing national staffing franchise, announced the opening of its new office in Kalamazoo, extending the company’s overall reach in the upper midwestern United States.
