Glen Oaks Community College is among the potential players in the proposed ‘Economic Development and Innovation Partnership’ between St. Joseph County and Angola, Indiana-based Trine University. Dr. Gary Wheeler, president of Glen Oaks, discussed the proposal and its relationship to the college during “A River Country Conversation” interview with Bruce Snook of the River Country [...]

Revitalization of the former Village Square Shopping Center and its transformation into The Shoppes at MarketPlace North is nearing the finish line. This rather substantial economic development project was set in motion in October of 2010 when Tom Meyer and his son, Aaron Meyer, joined forces to purchase the bulk of the property in the [...]

The Trine “Development Agreement” that will be the focal point of a public forum and hearing next week is now available via St. Joseph County’s website at www.stjosephcountymi.org. In action Tuesday evening (July 5th), the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners scheduled the combination forum/hearing for Wednesday, July 13th, at 6 p.m. in the Commission [...]

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will conduct the second public hearing on the ‘Trine University Economic Growth Proposal’ Tuesday evening (July 26th). The hearing will be the focus of a special board meeting in the Commission Room of the Historic Courthouse in Centreville, beginning at 6:30. Commissioners agreed to schedule the hearing during [...]

To the Editor: Is St. Joseph County going to the dogs?  You might have thought so if you’d attended the County Commission meeting Tuesday, June 21.  At least 50 persons came to support the creation of an Animal Control Advisory Board.  After the applause, they all got up and left!  With the bulk of business [...]

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a combination ‘community forum’ and ‘public hearing’ on a proposed agreement between the county and Angola, Indiana-based Trine University for an ‘Economic Growth and Innovation Partnership.” The session is set for Wednesday, July 13th at 6 p.m. in the Commission Room of the Historic Courthouse in [...]

“It’s kind of like a ‘chapter two.’” This is how Rick Shaffer, Chairman of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, characterized the situation regarding efforts to bolster economic development in the county following the August 8th announcement by Trine University that it was stepping back from its ‘Economic Growth and Innovation Proposal’ for partnering [...]

“Overall, I’ve got to tell you that I’m really pleased with the partnership.” These were the words Ken Jones, president of the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) board, used to sum up the working relationship with Kalamazoo-based Southwest Michigan First in 2012. The comments came as Jones presented the EDC’s annual report for [...]

“This is a good and exciting day and we’re ready to work, and we’re really looking forward to what’s going to happen this next year and for many years to come.” These were the words of Ken Jones, president of the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Tuesday evening (January 3rd) following unanimous action [...]

Last week – in a unanimous action – the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved two documents establishing a new approach to economic development in the county, an approach that partners the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) with Kalamazoo-based Southwest Michigan First Corporation and Southwest Michigan Partnership, LLC. This week brought additional [...]

An ‘Economic Growth and Innovation Partnership Proposal’ from Trine University in Angola, Indiana came in for some discussion during the ‘Commissioner Comments’ portion of Tuesday’s (April 5) St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Terry Katz of the Sturgis Journal has written about the dialogue during the meeting and in other recent conversations in which [...]

2011 has brought a good deal of attention to the subject of ‘economic development’ in St. Joseph County with much of the conversation focused on the so-called ‘Trine proposal.’  Although it did not materialize, the proposal did prompt much thought and discussion – and it’s encouraging to note that the topic is still being explored, [...]

A new Menards home improvement store continues to take shape in Three Rivers. The store – with more than 215,000 square feet – is being constructed on Broadway, west of US-131. Site preparation work began on July 9th. Indications are the facility will likely open in the spring of 2013. According the City Manager Joe [...]

We’ve been taught to think that “growth” is good, something to strive for, needed, even inevitable.  The idea has been woven into our lives and is evident in our language, practices, and institutions.  Two cases in point here in our home state:  the “Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth” and the “Michigan Economic [...]

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners received more input regarding a proposed ‘Economic Development and Innovation Partnership’ with Angola, Indiana-based Trine University during a special meeting Tuesday evening (July 26th). The purpose of the session that began at 6:30 and adjourned at 9:10 was to conduct a second public hearing on the topic.  As [...]

Two St. Joseph County residents have questioned the legality of a proposed ‘Economic Growth and Innovation Partnership’ between Angola, Indiana-based Trine University and St. Joseph County. Vince Mifsud, a Sherman Township resident, and Daniel Lucas of Constantine voiced their concerns during the ‘Citizens Comments’ period at the outset of Tuesday’s (June 7th) St. Joseph County [...]

In the wake of recent discussion and debate about an ‘Economic Growth and Innovation Proposal’ from Trine University for a partnership with St. Joseph County, Dr. Gary Wheeler, President of Glen Oaks Community College, has outlined “two specific ideas” for assistance the college could render.  The suggestions are included in a letter addressed to Rick [...]

Economic development in St. Joseph County was the focal point of a two-hour workshop by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday afternoon (August 23rd). The dialogue included input from David Stoker, an attorney from Cohl, Stoker & Toskey, P.C., regarding the use of county funds toward economic development. To learn more about Tuesday’s [...]

Economic development in St. Joseph County was in the spotlight again Monday (October 3rd) during a St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners work session. Up for discussion was a proposal from the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) for a partnership with Kalamazoo-based Southwest Michigan First. As noted in minutes of the County Board’s [...]

My ‘online reading’ on Christmas Day yielded a great discovery! Starting with an e-mail message from Fred Kent, President of the Project for Public Spaces (PPS), I learned that PPS has been given a matching grant to further develop its internship program “to focus on conducting and disseminating research around the information that people need [...]