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First Aired August 12, 2023 The first-ever effort to provide tuition for every graduate of a school district happened in 2005 right next door to Battle Creek – with the Kalamazoo Promise. With Battle Creek Public School’s first set of Bearcat Advantage scholars headed off to college, Community Matters asked one former Kalamazoo Public Schools insider to …
First Aired August 12, 2023 Ford Motor Company’s intent to build a new battery plant in Marshall, Michigan presents an interesting opportunity: The chance to build a new manufacturing facility from the ground up. On this episode of Community Matters, we ask manufacturing consultant Mike Craig of the west-Michigan-based GKW Business Solutions to help us understand what innovations Ford might …
First Aired August 5, 2023 Calhoun County Clerk Kimberly Hinkley encourages residents to go to the polls on Election Day Tuesday, August 5, 2023. In this episode of Community Matters, Hinkley discusses the smattering of ballot questions voters will decide on. Hinkley also looks ahead to the implementation of 9-day early voting in the state, …
First Aired August 5, 2023 In an update on the Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan project, Jim Durian, CEO of the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) tells Community Matters the unbuilt plant is already attracting allied industies. Durian said a concrete mixing company, Shafer Redi-Mix, intends to buy a space at The Brooks industrial and research park – a move that …
First Aired August 5, 2023 UPDATE: After this story was published, efforts to move the next hearing to later August 2023 did not eventuate. A hearing was heard on August 9, 2023, as originally scheduled. A final written decision from the judge in the case is expected in late August 2023. Opponents of the Ford BlueOval …
First Aired July 29, 2023 Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Steve Frisbie returns, this time with Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott. The pair discusses the outcome of the county’s annual audit, as well as the Board’s extension of Scott’s contract. Episode ResourcesCalhoun County websiteCalhoun County Board of Commissioners websiteCalhoun County Administration website ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERSFormer WBCK Morning Show host …
First Aired July 29, 2023 With the expected Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan plant in Marshall, some may be wondering: When can I apply for one of the 2500 jobs expected? What type of jobs will they be? What skills would I need? At press time, Ford had not offered insights yet into many of those details. …
First Aired July 22, 2023 A member of the legal team representing the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) tells Community Matters he does not believe the Committee for Marshall – Not the Megasite will win its lawsuit. Attorney Richard Lindsey believes a written opinion in the case released July 17, 2023 by Judge William Marietti – which shot down an …
