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May 12, 2026
DETROIT, Mich. — The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber has earned a 2025 Make It in Michigan Award from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for its leadership in advancing the state’s economic development strategy and creating innovative solutions to spur population growth and talent attraction in Southwest Michigan.
This year marked the first‐ever Make It in Michigan Awards, meant to recognize organizations and partners advancing MEDC’s economic development strategy across three strategic pillars — People, Places, and Projects. A total of six organizations – two per pillar – were selected through a competitive review process that evaluated innovation, system-level impact, multi-partner collaboration, alignment with state priorities, and the ability to leverage private investment for broad economic and community benefit.
The Regional Chamber was recognized under the People pillar for its work addressing one of Michigan’s most pressing long-term economic challenges: population growth.
Over the past several years, the Regional Chamber has built a cross-sector economic development ecosystem that aligns employers, educators, community organizations, and regional partners around a shared strategy for talent attraction and business investment. By coordinating these efforts across Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties, the Chamber has helped position Southwest Michigan as a model for the type of collaborative, region-wide approach increasingly viewed as essential to Michigan’s long-term growth.
MEDC specifically highlighted Discover Southwest Michigan, a regional initiative launched by the Regional Chamber to recruit prospective residents and connect them with career opportunities across Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties. The program was selected as a pilot through the state’s Make MI Home Grant Program, which supports innovative approaches to attracting new residents to Michigan communities.
“The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber has worked diligently through the Make MI Home grant to ramp up their population growth initiative, Discover Southwest Michigan,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the MEDC. “The response to this program was so successful that it was oversubscribed, fielding 1,175 applicants since its launch in May. We applaud their creativity and resilience, and we look forward to celebrating the continued success of the People, Places, and Projects in Southwest Michigan and beyond for years to come.”
The award was formally presented on March 9 during MEDC’s annual Leadership Summit at MotorCity Casino’s Sound Board in Detroit, where economic development leaders from across the state gathered to discuss Michigan’s economic outlook and recognize innovative partnerships driving growth.
Arthur Havlicek, President and CEO of the Regional Chamber, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
“On behalf of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, we are deeply honored to receive this recognition from MEDC,” said Havlicek. “Michigan’s economic success depends on strong partnerships and bold strategies to grow our population and workforce. We are grateful for MEDC’s leadership and for their partnership as we work together to position Southwest Michigan as a destination for talent, opportunity, and investment.”
The recognition reinforces the Regional Chamber’s growing influence in Michigan’s economic development landscape and underscores the importance of regional collaboration in strengthening the state’s long-term economic competitiveness.
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