NILES, MI – U.S. Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) visited Delta Industrial Valves, Inc. of Niles Wednesday morning (April 11) to highlight the area manufacturer’s continued growth as well as the importance of adopting a national energy policy, including approval of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project. Started in 1987, Delta Industrial Valves manufactures severe [...]

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Tourism spending in Michigan jumped a surprising 8 percent in 2011 and should increase by a healthy 6 percent clip this year, reflecting the ongoing economic recovery, Michigan State University researchers said in their annual tourism report. Michigan’s $17-billion-a-year tourism market – one of the state’s largest industries – should have [...]

State legislators and other officials drew fire from the Cass County Board of Commissioners Thursday evening (April 5) after attending the Michigan Association of Counties conference. For more on the story from the Dowagiac Daily News, click on the following link:  Frustration with state boils over

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) Friday (April 6) noted that warmer temperatures this winter and lower natural gas prices lowered heating bills statewide. “Michigan’s natural gas customers saw lower heating bills this heating season, thanks both to warmer temperatures and lower natural gas prices,” said MPSC Chairman John D. Quackenbush. During the 2011-2012 heating [...]

“The future of small towns will require helping entrepreneurial young people learn the skills and find the resources they’ll need to succeed with local businesses.” This statement offers the essence of an interesting article by Craig Schroeder in The Daily Yonder, a piece entitled Wise Towns Will Spur Young Entrepreneurs.  Schroeder is Senior Fellow for [...]

If you could use some encouraging words regarding Michigan’s economy, you may appreciate an article by Amy Lane in Bridge Magazine, a publication of The Center for Michigan. To access the story, click on the following link:  Prospects brighten for Mich. Heavyweights

The Three Rivers City Commission has ratified a new, three-year contract with the Police Officers Labor Council (POLC). Approval of the pact came Tuesday evening (April 3) following a closed session to discuss labor negotiations. In commenting on the agreement, City Manager Joe Bippus said, “They are offering a reduction in holiday pay, reduction in [...]

Unemployment rates declined moderately in February in all Southwest Michigan metro areas as support staff in the education sector (private and public) continued to be recalled to work following seasonal layoffs. The civilian labor force (the number of employed workers plus those looking for jobs) rose in nine of twelve regional labor markets. In Branch [...]

The Constantine Village Council has agreed to continue downtown revitalization efforts through the Constantine Downtown Development Authority and tax increment financing (TIF). Action to adopt a resolution for an updated Downtown Development Plan and a related TIF Plan came on a unanimous vote Monday evening (April 2), but not without a lot of questions and [...]

World Fare hosted its fourth annual Rivers of Justice Film Festival at the Riviera Theatre in downtown Three Rivers Saturday evening (March 31). The event – organized by the fair trade store at 37 North Main Street – provided an opportunity to learn about social justice issues that touch this community and the world. The [...]

A recent e-mail from NextworldTV provides some food for thought on the subject of work and working.  It also introduces an interesting video on the topic.  Here’s the message: To access the video, which is about four minutes long, click here. After viewing the video, if YOU have any thoughts on the subject that you’d [...]

Participation by the City of Three Rivers in the Michigan Main Street Program continues to move forward. Christy Trammell, executive director of the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority (DDA), provided an update on the process during the regular monthly meeting of the DDA Board of Directors Friday morning (March 30), a session held a week [...]

LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder has signed an agreement with several Great Lakes states and federal agencies regarding offshore wind energy. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) does not create or call for creating any regulatory processes or review requirements. Instead, it requires various regulatory agencies to identify their current regulatory regimes for offshore wind [...]

There’s only one week left to take advantage of the early registration discount for the 2012 Small Town and Rural Development Conference. The early bird rate of $100 ends on Friday, April 6. Here’s information from Kari Marciniak, Coordinator of the Michigan Rural Council, from a brief outline regarding the conference slated for April 16-18 at Crystal [...]

Triple Ripple Community Gardens is off and running with a new growing season! Initial work, spurred by the early spring weather, began last Saturday afternoon (March 24) as a handful of volunteers tackled cleanup and soil preparation tasks.  It’s the third year for the free community gardens, located at Huss School in Three Rivers. During [...]

LANSING, Mich. – Personal income in Michigan last year grew at the strongest rate in more than a decade, providing another substantial indicator of Michigan’s rebounding economy, Gov. Rick Snyder said Thursday (March 29). The state’s personal income growth rate is the strongest since 2000, according to 2011 figures released by the U.S. Bureau of [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in February continued its downward trend, declining over the month by two-tenths of a percentage point to 8.8 percent, according to data released Wednesday (March 28) by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). Total employment rose by 22,000 in February as the number of unemployed [...]

The upcoming weekend will bring the fourth annual Rivers of Justice Film Festival to the Riviera Theatre in downtown Three Rivers. The event – organized by World Fare – will be a great opportunity to learn about social justice issues that touch our community and our world.  It will take place Saturday evening (March 31). [...]

LANSING, MI - Due to the immense interest in Michigan Main Street Center’s Associate Main Street program, staff have made available a second round of services for the 2012 year.  If the program goes well, bi-annual application deadlines are expected to be implemented in the future, allowing Main Street services to benefit a larger number of [...]

Nature’s Fuel continues to move forward with the process aimed at locating in the former Rexam plant in Constantine. The alternative energy company – based in Fort Wayne, Indiana – is working toward setting up operations in the facility at 950 Industrial Drive to turn wood scrap into a bio gas or oil. During an [...]