Business

Anna-Magdalena Christianson is on a journey. It’s a journey to help other people to get better, which in return helps her get better. Christianson is Executive Director of MI-Journey, the recently established mental health facility, which also serves as a drop-in recovery center at 2460 M-139 in Suite B in Benton Charter Township. The organization held a joint St. Patrick’s Day Party and formal Ribbon Cutting ceremony as part of an Open House event on Friday afternoon.... ...Read Full Story

Saturday, May 6th will be a busy and rewarding day in Michigan’s Great Southwest. With thousands of people turning out in the streets for the Blossomtime Grand Floral Parade at 1pm that day, weather watchers are hopeful for great conditions ideal for a parade. After the parade is over, everyone is invited to check out the first ever Kentucky Derby Party to benefit the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan slated to take place at The Inn at Harbor Shores in St. Joseph.... ...Read Full Story

Orchards Mall shoppers have finally learned the fate of the Benton Harbor JCPenney Company store after last month’s corporate announcement regarding closure of a number of stores nationwide. However, seven Michigan stores are on the closing list including the Lakeview Square Mall store in Battle Creek.... ...Read Full Story

History has been made once again in a spectacular way, in one of the most philanthropic community’s in the nation. Tonight’s (Thursday) United Way of Southwest Michigan Annual Celebration proved that the community is in good hands, as the annual campaign cut through a $4-million goal like a hot knife through butter.... ...Read Full Story

Full disclosure, folks. I am a member of the governing board of directors at WNIT Public Television in South Bend, and also serve on the national board of America’s Public Television Stations. Even if I were not on either of those boards however, I would be sharing with you the very real threat that President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget poses to public media today.... ...Read Full Story

Nobody can more successfully argue the merits and cost-saving benefits to one’s health care plan for home medical equipment than a major provider of that very equipment like Van’s Medical Equipment of Southwest Michigan. Recognizing the value of face-to-face conversation and the resulting education, the Van’s Medical Equipment team has recently returned from an Annual Legislative Day in Lansing sponsored by the Michigan Homecare and Hospice Association.... ...Read Full Story

A major automotive supplier with plants in both Benton Harbor and Stevensville has revealed plans this week to establish a new stronghold in the Czech Republic where they will invest about $50-million for a new casting foundry for the chassis and powertrain components in passenger cars.... ...Read Full Story

Typically when economic developers search for the ideal site, they’re working on behalf of clients interested in a wide array of amenities from location to visibility and from cost of utilities to the availability of a skilled workforce. Then, too, comes the day when those same economic developers need to find that perfect space for themselves. Today, there’s word of an amazing partnership that seals the deal for both parties — client and economic developer — as Cornerstone Alliance pulls the trigger on a deal that will result in the investment of more than $1-million dollars in downtown Benton Harbor this year.... ...Read Full Story

The remarkable technology increasingly available to conceive of something new and then fabricate a prototype of your new concept using high-tech tools like 3D printers, laser cutters and more is no longer a far flung dream. The capabilities are actually here and now thanks to the gleaming new Hanson Technology Center on the Napier Campus of Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor. Coming soon, you will have the chance to see for yourself and perhaps join the world of makers through the college’s new Fab Lab located there.... ...Read Full Story

Four years ago they were the first in the entire state of Michigan to achieve Stage 7 certification regarding their work with electronic medical record keeping, and now they have achieved re-validation of that honor. Lakeland Health is still almost in a league of its own in that regard as they celebrate the achievement of going virtually paperless when it comes to medical charts.... ...Read Full Story

He’s already one of the friendliest and most approachable master chefs anywhere in Michigan’s Great Southwest, but if you have longed for the opportunity to witness the magic of Celebrity Chef Tim Foley up close and personal, you will do well to line up your tickets in a hurry for his upcoming “Culinary Inspirations” cooking demonstration and dinner to benefit the Heritage Museum in St. Joseph.... ...Read Full Story

It took almost four years to plan…about six months to build…and just minutes to fall in love with. They cut the ribbon today on the sparkling new air terminal for Dowagiac Municipal Airport during the noon hour and the wait is finally over for a modern facility to accommodate pilots of all kinds when utilizing the airfield for business, pleasure, or any other function.... ...Read Full Story

Berrien County’s economic development team is on a roll, with another major assist to a manufacturer in Michigan’s Great Southwest…the second so far this month. The Cornerstone Alliance joined JR Automation Technologies of Stevensville, in announcing the forthcoming creation of 60 new high paying jobs and a sizable expansion of their Red Arrow Highway plant to the tune of a $1.9-million investment.JR Automation is a Michigan-based company that designs and builds custom automation equipment for multiple industry sectors from several facilities including the former Dane Systems of Stevensville, Michigan.... ...Read Full Story

The amazing generosity of a decidedly philanthropic local community is shining brightly on a crisp late winter day as the Krasl Art Center announces that plans are well underway for the 1.7 million dollar place-making initiative Sculpting Community which is designed to reactivate their grounds and offer the community an inclusive people centered outdoor space.... ...Read Full Story

Our late winter run-in with the snowman won’t even begin to stop the proceedings this weekend at the official start of the 2017 boating season. Regardless of weather that season always begins with the annual Wolf’s Marine and Wolf’s Diver’s Supply Open House which happens this year on the upcoming weekend of  Saturday and Sunday, March 18th and 19th.... ...Read Full Story

If you’re going to cap off your 40th Anniversary in business in style…you might as well end the celebration on a high note. That’s exactly what the crew at B&L Information Systems of Bridgman did at the annual Partner Conference with Progress Software last month in Orlando, Florida.... ...Read Full Story

It came about a week later than had been anticipated, and it arrived on a snowy day in Michigan’s Great Southwest, but the Dairy Korner in St. Joseph is back up and running…and officially open for business. You can now stop by the long-running ice cream stand for a nice hot breakfast of oatmeal, a cup of coffee and more and then stop back by for lunch or dinner as well…or just any old time for your favorite ice cream treats.... ...Read Full Story

After the former EspressGo coffee station along Red Arrow Highway just north of Glenlord disappeared, many folks wondered what was coming next. Williams Buildings erected one of their notable design platforms there, and now the owners are just about ready to swing open the doors. Eric and Sophie Bauchet of Stevensville are debuting The Great Lakes Center, a new professional space which they say is ideally suited for small business owners.... ...Read Full Story

The future of entrepreneurship in Michigan’s Great Southwest picked up a huge boost today with the announced promotion of Stacey Stephens at Cornerstone Alliance, where she has been named Senior Director of Entrepreneurship and Special Projects.... ...Read Full Story

Some might find it difficult to top having a Baseball Hall of Famer is a keynote speaker, but organizers of the Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor clearly didn’t shrink from the task this year, reaching out to the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Justice Stephen Markman for this year’s Passport to Manhood celebration in Benton Harbor.... ...Read Full Story

Even Danielle Southerland probably didn’t know what to expect when she drew the assignment as General Manager of The Orchards Mall in Benton Harbor. However, in relatively short order she says she has “taken a very strong liking to my new home.” She also wants desperately to return the mall to its once and former glory. In that process, she is reaching out to the community-at-large to find other interested parties who would be willing to help enhance the appearance of the Orchards Mall and help attract both consumers and merchants to the sprawling center at 1800 Pipestone Road in Benton Charter Township.... ...Read Full Story

As the world of business and government management becomes increasingly data driven, it comes as no surprise that companies like Benton Harbor-based Wightman & Associates are being tapped more and more for services by their GIS Department. As a result, the company has expanded the GIS team with several new hires.... ...Read Full Story

The next manufacturing company to set up shop in Michigan’s Great Southwest could very well have German or Italian roots thanks to the diligence of the team at Cornerstone Alliance.... ...Read Full Story

A 25-year old Hartford man trying to leave a Marathon Service Station and convenience store in Lawrence Township late last night backed his vehicle into a Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department squad car and ended up being taken to jail for being registering than two times the legal limit for blood alcohol level. Sadly, he had his two-year old son in the car at the time of the incident.... ...Read Full Story

A year and a half ago Whirlpool Corportion filed a lawsuit in a Texas federal court accusing TST Water LLC of willful patent infringement on refrigerator water filters. Yesterday, Friday, March 10, 2017, a Texas federal jury concurred with Whirlpool’s legal team and awarded more than $7-and-a-half million dollars to the appliance manufacturer in damages.... ...Read Full Story

Bob Burch might argue that he doesn’t look a day over 40, but next Tuesday, March 14th his beloved Chemical Bank will celebrate their 100th Anniversary in business. I don’t know if Bob will be along for the ride, however, Chemical Financial Corporation’s Executive Management team and its Corporate Board of Directors will begin next week’s celebration by ringing the opening bell at Nasdaq in New York City that day, Tuesday, March 14th. Mr. Burch, by the way, is Community Bank President for Chemical Bank’s Benton Harbor region.... ...Read Full Story

If you’re looking to celebrate all things green without having to spend a lot of your own long green, get ready for a seriously great Spring Art Hop which delightfully happens to land directly on St. Patrick’s Day next week.... ...Read Full Story

Notre Dame Federal Credit Union’s loss is United Federal Credit Union’s gain as a key asset gets transferred in the form of the talented Christine Aranyos who has been appointed Director of Corporate Marketing at United Federal in St. Joseph.... ...Read Full Story

With ever increasing importance placed on acquisition of knowledge and the ongoing drive to increase the rate of collegiate grads in Michigan, a focus on collaboration agreements between Michigan’s independent, non-profit colleges and universities and the state’s community college sector is helping thousands of students earn their degrees, according to a new report issued today by Michigan’s Independent Colleges & Universities (MICU).... ...Read Full Story

Lakeland Health continues to lead by example when it comes to crafting the leadership of the future not only for their own institution by for the community at large as well. Lakeland’s “Leading Toward the Future” leadership development program, recently graduated its third cohort of team members. The ongoing program is presented by Lakeland University, a corporate university within Lakeland Health that develops and delivers educational programs for growing clinical, management, and leadership capabilities. To date a total of 51 team members and 13 physicians have completed the program.... ...Read Full Story