The trio of finalists for the role of President of Lake Michigan College has been reduced by a third, as the Board of Trustees embarks on the home stretch of its presidential search after hosting three candidate finalists on its campuses last week.... ...Read Full Story
Fifth Third Bancorp, which has multiple branches throughout Michigan’s Great Southwest, has reported today they scored net income for the full year of 2016 totaling $1.6-billion, which was down 9-percent from the net income of $1.7-billion reported by the bank holding company for Fifth Third Bank in 2015.... ...Read Full Story
It’s official…2016 is now the new benchmark for a peak market year in the modern history of Michigan’s Great Southwest. As Philip Amodeo puts it, “Like climbing a ladder one rung at a time the SWMI housing market has reached the top rung.” Amodeo is Association Executive for the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors. He adds, “The housing market in 2016 posted the highest numbers across the board in our year-over-year comparison since 2006. The previous peak year was 2006. Then the housing market began to slide until 2012 when the number of houses sold yearly began to climb. 2016 will now be our new benchmark for a peak market year.”... ...Read Full Story
Another shining star in the Michigan’s Great Southwest universe has been cited as being among the very best in the world. She’s a diamond in an emerald orchard and she’ll be recognized as one of less than 100 award winners this spring at the 15th Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.... ...Read Full Story
In a filing today with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, Whirlpool Corporation has announced plans to restructure its dryer manufacturing operations in the United Kingdom as a result of last summer’s Brexit vote to step away from the European Union.... ...Read Full Story
Some people run because it’s good for them. Some run because they enjoy it. Then, there is a hearty group of hardcores who will run any time, anywhere because there’s chocolate involved. If you count yourself among those chocophiliacs or chocoholics or whatever you want to tag yourself with, you need to know that there is a race coming up designed with you in mind. The only catch is, you will not only be racing for the goodies at the end, you might be running against the elements. The race is next month.... ...Read Full Story
Any Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce member who might be struggling to succeed picked up a free, but world class round of advice from a world renowned audiologist who just happens to be a hometown super star who continues to anchor her business right here in Michigan's Great Southwest. They would also do well to mirror the hard work of the key major award winners honored by the Chamber tonight as well. ... ...Read Full Story
United Federal Credit Union's new Director of Regional Marketing is the first to admit that she LOVES to work. Knowing CEO Terry O'Rourke's desire to have a team filled with people like that, Coli Smith has probably already made herself an extremely valuable asset to an organization that knows a thing or two about the value of assets. Smith brings more than 14 years of experience spanning marketing, strategy, branding, product management, design, and creative consulting within the financial industry to her new role in St. Joseph.... ...Read Full Story
It certainly didn't take President Donald Trump long to begin to win over the domestic manufacturing sector. On his first official day on the job this morning the President met with domestic manufacturers and promptly signed an executive order that withdraws the United States from the negotiating process of the Trans-Pacific Partnership more commonly referred to as simply the TPP. The action makes moot legislation introduced by Debbie Stabenow late last week that would have demanded the withdrawal. ... ...Read Full Story
Anybody who is currently in business or has ever launched a new business learns pretty fast that there is not a whole lot of truth to the theory of "if you build it, they will come." True enough, some folks are fortunate to get a rapid-fire burst of energy from people eager to sample the new kids on the block, but simply opening your doors and waiting for the surge is hardly a marketing strategy.... ...Read Full Story
We all know that the amazingly mild weather of the past weekend is unlikely to continue for very long. This is, after all, Michigan and it's winter. The good news is once the snow and ice return to your front porch and you decide that you want to remain cozy by the fireplace, the crew at the Lakeshore Excellence Foundation will be ready to provide a little online shopping entertainment for you from the convenience of your own home or office.... ...Read Full Story
While there were thousands of comments on social media over the remarkably spring-like weather at the front end of this weekend, St. Joe Today organizers were just happy that this wasn't the weekend for their Magical Ice Festival. Mother Nature has a couple of weeks to get her house back in order and start acting like the winter most expect if there's going to be a traditional 13th Annual Magical Ice Fest on February 3rd, 4th and 5th in downtown St. Joseph.... ...Read Full Story
A St. Joseph woman who has developed her own successful online children's clothing and accessories business called Flyby Kids will share her success with the community by hosting a charity Flyby Kids Trunk Show at Fire & Ice Pizzeria & Creamery in a couple of weeks to benefit The Alex Mandarino Foundation.... ...Read Full Story
Rob Cleveland has wasted little time in surging to the top of his game and it has not gone unnoticed. In fact, the affable President of Cornerstone Alliance has learned today that he is ranked among the Top 50 Economic Developers in all of North America. That's no small feat when you look at the vast majority of his colleagues on the list released today by Consultant Connect, a consulting agency designed to bridge the gap between economic developers and site consultants.... ...Read Full Story
There's further proof that tourism strength in Berrien County continues to surge. The latest snapshot of the West Michigan economy from the W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research says that leisure and hospitality sectors in the county accounted for significant employment growth over the past year. Nearly half of all non-farm payroll came from that sector while manufacturing and government gains combined to nearly match the gains based on tourism. ... ...Read Full Story
Nothing like launching the new year with a promotion. Just ask the four key management team members at United Federal Credit Union who are sporting shiny new badges and crisp new business cards thanks to their elevation in the ranks. The St. Joseph-based Credit Union has kicked all four up the ladder to strategic leadership positions, and they are all recognizable faces in the local networking community.... ...Read Full Story
What are the hottest American places for new and expanding businesses? That's the question posed by Area Development Magazine in their sixth annual search for the top spots nationwide. Short answer? Right here! While they admit that it is a complicated question to answer due to countless metrics that could point you to countless locations, they continue to use the metrics most critical to site selectors searching for places to drop anchor and launch new or expanding enterprises.... ...Read Full Story
They've been dating one another since last summer, and now…they're getting married. It's official, the YMCA organizations in Berrien County's two largest metropolitan areas are merging into a single organization after a six-month trial arrangement in the form of a management agreement. ... ...Read Full Story
The myriad forms governments typically need from the world of business are frequently frustrating enough, but in its ongoing bid to become more business friendly and especially more user friendly, the Michigan Department of Treasury is streamlining online operations for business owners.... ...Read Full Story
The excitement was palpable last summer when the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and Buchanan Schools rolled out initial word about the amazing new Buchanan Promise. That excitement was certainly understandable given the fact that the news immediately impacted every student in the system beginning this year. Now, the further details are emerging and tonight is a very important crossroads for the program so that everybody understands how it works and how to sign up.... ...Read Full Story
Members of the downtown promotion organization, St. Joseph Today will find a new face behind the desk at the agency's Welcome Center in the central business district…but for many it will be a familiar face, as well.... ...Read Full Story
Horizon Bank continues to expand its horizons…announcing the site of its first full-tilt branch in Grand Rapids at 250 Pearl Street NW, targeted for opening next month. The Michigan City-based bank had previously opened a commercial lending office there four years ago, but now they're ready to go all in for the Furniture City.... ...Read Full Story
Following closely on the heels of the big three automaker's recent announcements regarding thousands of new jobs for Michigan and the nation, Speedway revealed today that they are looking to hire more than 1,000 employees across nine states including here in Michigan for multiple positions including leadership posts at the retail chain.... ...Read Full Story
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder tonight presented his seventh State of the State address to the Legislature, outlining an accountable model for continuing strong economic growth and attracting new talent to Michigan. In fact, he wants to attract enough people so that there will be 10-million Michiganders by 2020. ... ...Read Full Story
As innocent as that lily-pad flower looks, it is just one of nine specific species that are currently considered to pose a significant threat to the environmental health of Michigan's Great Southwest. It is the European Frog-Bit.... ...Read Full Story
The eclectic diner located at 613 Pleasant Street has been home to several colorful characters over the years from the Central Grill to Sharon's Food with a New Attitude…from Maxine's to the Port O' Call and Dockside Inn. The longest running and most successful tenant over the past 40 years or better, however, has been the one that sits there today ready to celebrate 15 years in business — Thornton's Home Town Cafe. In fact, Kathy Thornton has been so successful there that she has purchased the entire building with an eye toward expansion over the next couple of years.... ...Read Full Story
The New Year is turning out to be a robust one in the world of automotive manufacturing for Michigan and the nation, with news this time from General Motors who will invest an additional $1-billion in U.S. manufacturing operations. That's on top of the $2.9-billion announced over the course of last year and the more than $21-billion that GM has invested in U.S. operations just since 2009.... ...Read Full Story
It's going to be a very busy week for the Lake Michigan College staff, board and administration as all three finalists for the role of college president make their way to town for campus tours and face-to-face interviews from mid-week on. Members of the community at large are also welcome to sit in on the interview sessions beginning Wednesday evening and continuing through Friday night.... ...Read Full Story
Already known regionally for its branding as "The real local bank," St. Joseph-based Edgewater Bank is enhancing that image through creation of a new Mortgage Center in Royalton Township and is in the process of beefing up that center by recruiting additional mortgage professionals in the local market.... ...Read Full Story
A man whose work in the South Haven community dating back more than a decade earned him the unofficial title of "Community Pastor," has been recognized today by Lake Michigan College as the organization's Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Award winner for 2017. South Haven Pastor Aaron Cobbs, who actually joined the renowned civil rights leader on walks in Selma, Alabama, was presented with the high honor at the college's 22nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration this morning. ... ...Read Full Story