Business

By now most people recognize that it is highly irresponsible to simply dump unwanted or outdated computers, televisions and other electronic devices. Some of the metals and other contents of such devices can cause serious harm to the environment, ground water and other health hazards. Fortunately, in Michigan's Great Southwest we have the resources of the professional team at Berrien County to help handle such items carefully and responsibly through guided recycling.... ...Read Full Story

A dozen years ago Jeroen Wielens moved to St. Joseph in a global reassignment from Whirlpool Europe. That was in 2004, and now he has become Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of a newly formed team called iXerv Americas. It's a new unit of iXerv Global, a certified partner and provider of business process and strategic solutions for SAP SuccessFactors which is headquartered in Belgium.... ...Read Full Story

In a world that increasingly needs skilled trades people, employers often find gaps in the workforce of Michigan's Great Southwest, and nobody knows that moreso than the people working to fill those jobs on a regular basis. Electing to become a better part of the solution instead of a part of the problem, the team at Williamson Employment Services of St. Joseph has announced plans to donate scholarship money each year specifically targeted to those engaged in the study of the skilled trades.... ...Read Full Story

The economic storm clouds from earlier in the year have temporarily dissipated, the latest numbers look good, and perhaps industrial teams in Michigan's Great Southwest are building a case for resurgent economic strength. Or have we hit the calm before the next storm? The monthly numbers are out on the West Michigan economy from Professor Brian Long at Grand Valley State University's Institute for Supply Management, and essentially show things to be "a little stronger."... ...Read Full Story

"In order to give the best health care, in order to attract the best talent that we can attract, we have to continually invest in both." The words this morning of Dr. Loren Hamel, President & CEO of Lakeland Health at a press conference further detailing the proposed new $160-million expansion pavilion on the St. Joseph campus of the Lakeland Medical Center.... ...Read Full Story

If you were hoping to golf Saturday in the #DeniseBohnStrong Golf Outing at Indian Lake Hills in Sister Lakes, the bad news for you is that the course is filled to capacity and beyond. That's great news for organizers and Denise's children for whom the event is a major league fundraiser. The good news for anyone who would still like to be part of this amazing outpouring of love is that the afterglow at The Farmers Country Club is a wide open affair, including great food, wonderful prizes, and the chance to honor one of the most amazing advocates in the battle against breast cancer in the entire nation.... ...Read Full Story

Bulldozers have made short work of the former home of Old National Bank on the front lot of the Fairplain Plaza, as they pave the way for a new urgent care center coming soon on that site. Demolition crews from Midwest Construction of Zeeland are clearing the site to get things ready for a new MedExpress Urgent Care center at 1803 M-139 next to Aspen Dental.... ...Read Full Story

We've seen bed racing in the streets of St. Joseph…and companies have taken to the streets in souped up office chairs for NasChair, so how strong are your crew's team-building skills these days? Even more importantly, how strong are your boat-building skills? Whirlpool Corporation and the crew at United Way of Southwest Michigan invite you to sharpen both skills in their first ever "Rock the Boat Cardboard Boat Races" on the last Saturday of August. Fair warning, however — your registration deadline is rapidly approaching next Monday, August 8th.... ...Read Full Story

On the eve of the #DeniseBohnStrong Golf Tournament this weekend comes word of the inaugural Denise Bohn Award, honoring the work of our dear friend and colleague for her never-ending dedication to her role as a breast cancer activist. A Pinktober Sock-Hop Charity Gala will raise money for the Southwest Michigan community of Susan G. Komen. ... ...Read Full Story

Not that anyone needs much prompting beyond the 90-degree forecast today, but beer lovers need to find their favorite brew pub, neighborhood bar, or other watering hole before the day is out to celebrate the arrival on the scene of National IPA Day today, Thursday, August 4th.... ...Read Full Story

Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph is about to embark on a massive 5-story expansion project with a price tag of $160-million due to break ground this fall and targeted for completion in four years.... ...Read Full Story

If you own a business in Michigan, keep an eye out for a fraudulent e-mail circulating the state purportedly from "The Office of The Attorney General." Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has released a new alert today after several Michigan businesses reported receiving the suspicious e-mail. ... ...Read Full Story

As the Michigan Wine Trail continues to grow with new destinations added along the way every year, a key group of industry authorities is working to assure that the interests of their industry are supported "from vineyard to bottle and onto the consumers' table." Thanks to their hard work three of the top officers of the newly created Michigan Wine Collaborative are from the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail right here in Michigan's Great Southwest.... ...Read Full Story

For more than four decades, Rotarians in South Haven have been bringing together airplanes, classic cars and pancakes as a part of the National Blueberry Festival. In fact…it has become the organization's primary fundraiser. Fans of the big event are invited to the South Haven Rotary Club's 44th Annual Fly-in Pancake Breakfast & Classic Car Show on Sunday, August 14th from 7am until noon.... ...Read Full Story

Whirlpool Corporation is throwing full support behind the Berrien County Board in rebutting the federal Economic Development Administration demand for a loan payback. (That story can be found here: http://www.moodyonthemarket.com/County-Standoff-with-Feds-Over-1M-Loan/22831508 )... ...Read Full Story

Watervliet City and Township voters clearly like the way things have been going on their tax proposal front. All of the measures before them were approved in the Tuesday Primary Election. The Watervliet City Library Millage was renewed 99 to 17. In Watervliet Township voters approved a Police Protection Renewal 287 to 76…a Public Safety Millage Renewal 256 to 102…a Road Millage Renewal 267-95…and the Watervliet Township District Library Millage Renewal 279 to 87.... ...Read Full Story

Berrien County is at loggerheads with the Federal Economic Development Administration over government demands that the County's Revolving Loan Fund repay more than $610,000 from a loan made 15 years ago to Whirlpool Corporation. The County is calling that demand "unacceptable," and they are "not inclined to submit to the EDA's recent demands for repayment."... ...Read Full Story

It was a building built shortly after World War II. Due to a shortage of steel, building trusses were impossible to get, so the building's trusses were made from bed frame parts that were welded together, and Niles Avenue was nothing more than a dirt road at the time. This week, the former long time home to Sieman's Mazda of St. Joseph has been meeting the wrecking ball to make way for a gleaming new Honor Credit Union branch at 2712 Niles Avenue in the Southtown neighborhood.... ...Read Full Story

Small to mid-sized business owners remain largely upbeat about their prospects for doing business in the state of Michigan, and say that overall sales and profits "remain strong with little sign of decline." That's the quick assessment of the June 2016 Michigan Future Business Index published last week by a partnership between the Michigan Business Network and Accident Fund Insurance Company of America. ... ...Read Full Story

Love it or hate it, the realm of social media has become a major cog in the wheels of commerce, virtually essential to the manner in which businesses operate in this 21st Century. How does your business stack up? Are your key personnel engaged in the social networking fabric that encompasses the entire world, including the world of business? If you feel that you're flopping around aimlessly, on the outside looking in or simply want to use the tools of social media to a stronger advantage, the change agents at Team Kinexus are ready to help move you into the mainstream.... ...Read Full Story

"This is the community's college. This is our college. We need to give the community an opportunity to show their pride in what we've done here and what we've been able to do in supporting this institution since 1960." With that being said, Lake Michigan College Board Trustee Paul Bergan supported a motion from his colleague Judy Truesdell to place a 10-year millage vote on the November ballot for .48 mill for facility improvements at all LMC campuses.... ...Read Full Story

Scott Schonschack is already a master sign crafter. However, like any entrepreneur with a head full of ideas, he knows there is much more that he can do for his clients, and he's proving it through his latest business enterprise A&I Design Solutions headquartered in The Box Factory for the Arts. It's kind of ironic that his new venture is literally yards from where Art & Image was born at the base of that same Broad Street hill years ago. ... ...Read Full Story

Dr. Robert Ward III has, in essence, made the cover of U.S. News & World Report, so you can forgive the huge smile radiating from his face. Dr. Ward is the Medical Director of the Lakeland Stroke Center, and while neither his name nor his picture appear on the cover of the magazine, his team at Lakeland Health is recognized as being among the Best Hospitals alluded to in the bold cover story of the special edition.... ...Read Full Story

A hearty group of St. Joseph High School alums are ready to fire up the time machine once again and transport you magically back to yesteryear to witness a live showcase of variety show acts that originated on stage up to 50 years ago, but your time is running out to reserve your tickets.... ...Read Full Story

The company that maintains together, scores gains together. With that premise in mind, six private and public employers in the City of Niles are teaming up with Be Healthy Berrien to help more than 100 employees get more physical activity during the average work day. Each partner not only garners technical assistance from Be Healthy Berrien, each earns $1,000 to get their worksite wellness program started.... ...Read Full Story

Because there is no commercial air service at Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, some people forget that the local community even has an airport. Fortunately for the hundreds of aircraft that need the airfield in Benton Harbor, it is a strong and healthy general aviation airport, and voters are being asked tomorrow to protect the investments that have been made there for the good of all of us. Millage renewals are on the ballot in the City of St. Joseph as well as in Benton Township, St. Joseph Township, Lincoln Township, and Royalton Township. Both the City of Bridgman and Lake Township have added the levy onto their ballots this cycle as well. ... ...Read Full Story

The exponential growth of tourism in and around the community of St. Joseph is also positively impacting Amtrak's Pere Marquette passenger rail service into and out of the St. Joseph Amtrak Depot below the bluff alongside Silver Beach Pizza. In fact, passenger counts in both May and June at St. Joe were up by more than 31-percent, far outstripping any other stop along the route.... ...Read Full Story

The more than $30-million project that has dramatically increased the footprint of an already massive Lane Automotive in Watervliet will also dramatically increase the workforce there. So much so that the company is hosting a sizable Job Fair this week in two segments at their showcase facility along I-94.... ...Read Full Story