2027 LEADERSHIP ACCELERATOR APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Victoria Kostecki Program Manager Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Vkostecki@smrchamber.com smrchamber.com 2027 Leadership Accelerator Applications NOW OPEN! October, 15th,2026 St. Joseph, MI – The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, in partnership with Lake Michigan College and The Purpose Partners, is proud to announce that its Leadership Academy program, Leadership Accelerator, is now accepting applications for the 2027 Cohort. Designed for
Lake Michigan College Names Dr. Kim Hodges Dean of Health Sciences
Lake Michigan College (LMC) is pleased to announce that Dr. Kim Hodges, DNP, RN, NE-BC, NPD-BC, has joined the College as Dean of Health Sciences. Hodges brings academic leadership, clinical practice, nursing professional development, and healthcare administration experience to LMC. She joins the College from Indiana University (IU), where she most recently served as Assistant Dean in the School of Nursing. Before that, she served as Clinical Assistant Professor in the IU Department of Community and
$4M Rural Development Fund grant opportunity available to strengthen rural communities
--- PRESS RELEASE --- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Friday, Oct. 2, 2026MEDIA CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth $4M Rural Development Fund grant opportunity available to strengthen rural communities Rural communities may submit letters of intent through Nov. 2 LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP) is launching the latest round of the Rural Development Fund grant with $4 million available to support projects that strengthen rural communities, infrastructure, workforce and economic
Buchanan Celebrates Community Leaders at Annual Meeting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Jasmine Hansen Events Director Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce jhansen@smrchamber.com BUCHANAN CELEBRATES COMMUNITY LEADERS AT ANNUAL MEETING Dennis Mori, Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and Tracy Dippo honored for their service to the Buchanan area FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 5th, 2026 BUCHANAN, MI — Business owners, community partners, and local leaders gathered Thursday, Oct. 1, at The Loading Dock in downtown Buchanan for the Buchanan Area
Michigan Secretary of State Mobile Office Coming to Lake Michigan College on October 15
The Michigan Secretary of State Mobile Office will visit Lake Michigan College on Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Napier Avenue Campus, 2755 E. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor. The visit is open to the community. The visit's primary goal is to make voter registration easy and accessible ahead of the November 3 general election. Residents can register to vote for the first time or update the address on an existing registration on-site. The Mobile Office brings many services normally
BUCHANAN HARVEST FEST & CHILI WALK RETURNS OCTOBER 3, REVIVING A BELOVED BUCHANAN TRADITION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media & Chili Walk Contact: Allison Hayes Community Relations Manager Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce (269) 695-3291 ahayes@smrchamber.comBUCHANAN HARVEST FEST & CHILI WALK RETURNS OCTOBER 3, REVIVING A BELOVED BUCHANAN TRADITION The Daylong Downtown Celebration Will Feature Chili Walk, Live Music, Kids Activities, Shopping, Food & More FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 21st, 2026 BUCHANAN, Mich. — The Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) invites residents and
Regional Chamber Honors and Celebrates the 2025 HYPE Winners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Jasmine Hansen Events Director jhansen@smrchamber.com 269-932-4605 Regional Chamber Honors and Celebrates the 2025 HYPE Winners November 20, 2025 Stevensville, MI – Southwest Michigan’s brightest entrepreneurial talent gathered at the Watermark Solarium last night for the second annual HYPE – Highlighting Young Professional Excellence. Hosted by the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber in partnership with the Emerge Innovation Hub, this dynamic event
Attention Is the New Currency: Smart Ways Small Brands Earn It and Keep It
Modern consumers scroll fast, decide faster, and remember little — unless you give them a reason to stop. For startups and small businesses, that means every second of attention must count. This guide unpacks practical, non-gimmicky strategies to attract, convert, and retain time-pressed customers while building long-term trust. TL;DR If you only have 30 seconds: Lead with clarity and empathy, not complexity. Make your first impression friction-free — one click, one message, one
St. Joseph, MI Businesses: How to Respond to the CTA, BOI and FinCEN Now
The Corporate Transparency Act may require certain U.S. companies to disclose beneficial ownership information to FinCEN to combat financial crimes. While a Texas federal district court’s preliminary injunction puts this requirement on hold, many experts expect that to be overturned. In that event, failure to file could lead to fines of $500 per day, up to a maximum of $10,000, and possible criminal penalties. However, filing your Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report will help you avoid fines
Regional Chamber’s HYPE Pitch Competition Fuels Dreams for Young Entrepreneurs
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Arthur Havlicek President & CEO info@smrchamber.com 269-932-4042 Regional Chamber’s HYPE Pitch Competition Fuels Dreams for Young Entrepreneurs November 21, 2024 Stevensville, MI – Southwest Michigan’s brightest entrepreneurial talent gathered at the Watermark Solarium last night for the debut of HYPE – Highlighting Young Professional Excellence. Hosted by the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber in partnership with the Emerge Innovation Hub, this dynamic
