Business

This year’s holiday season in downtown Three Rivers got off to a good start. We held a well-attended Christmas Around Town with a full range of activities for the families who came out. Between Meritt’s hard work, our calls to action, and the work of others, more people are starting to step to the plate and help make our events …

Michigan’s minimum wage will rise to $9.25 an hour starting January 1st. That’s a 35-cent raise from the current minimum of $8.90 per hour. It’s the final definitive increase provided by a 2014 law, the state said Friday. Beginning in 2019, however, the minimum wage is due to increase annually with inflation unless the unemployment rate is high. Employers can …

A reactor at a nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan is back in operation after being shut down since September for refueling and maintenance. Indiana Michigan Power says Cook Nuclear Plant’s Unit 1 reactor was connected to the transmission grid on Tuesday. The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph reports the company says the shutdown was longer than usual since it was …

Officials say the discovery of about three dozen boxes of cremated remains in southern Michigan after the death of a funeral director isn’t being investigated as a potential criminal matter. Calhoun County Medical Examiner Dr. Joyce DeJong says the family of Joy Spencer Spoor discovered the cremains in storage after her Octotober 14 death. Spoor was a former owner of …

Layoffs are expected to begin late this year from a northern Indiana factory with about 115 workers that’s slated for closure. The company that owns the Crown Audio plant in Elkhart has notified state officials it intends to lay off 50 workers effective Dec. 22. Harman International Industries announced last month it would close the factory that makes audio devices …

Our new AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer program coordinator, Meritt Dickerson-Weed, is entering her second month of service here in Three Rivers, and will co-author this column for the foreseeable future. She will be known in this space henceforth as “Main Street Meritt.” Thus, the writing that follows is a joint effort. The word change comes with multiple connotations. Often, we associate …

In response to the needs of business and industry across the state, Michigan Works! Southwest is excited to announce the availability of training dollars to assist businesses in expanding their pool of skilled workers. $27.6 million in funding is available to employers in Michigan through the 2018 State of Michigan Skilled Trades Training Fund (STTF). STTF provides funding to employers …

This week, a new person started work with us in downtown Three Rivers through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Meritt Dickerson-Weed has a reputation for hard work, respectfulness, and dedication. She is a graduate of Three Rivers High School, has worked downtown at Lowry’s books, and has been an active volunteer in a number of community initiatives. She will be with …

I have received encouragement for this column almost daily from readers like yourselves. Many people have been following what is happening in downtown Three Rivers, and want to believe in a positive change. The revitalization work we are doing is important, and I believe someday soon, its results will exceed expectations. But, it’s easy for me to say that, and …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for a variety of businesses to be recognized later this year at its annual dinner and awards banquet. Categories in need of nominations are: Brick Awards, for a significant investment in their business from physical improvements and other components; Community Service, for an outstanding job of serving the community over …