Business

Ford Motor Co. said Monday that it’s pausing construction of a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall until it is confident it can run the factory competitively. The move comes as the company is in the midst of national contract talks with the United Auto Workers union, which wants to represent workers at battery factories and win them top wages. …

Ford is telling owners of more than 140,000 SUVs in the U.S. to park them outside because they can catch fire even when the engines are turned off. The company is recalling certain Lincoln MKC SUVs from the 2015 to 2019 model years. Ford says a short-circuit can develop in the 12-volt battery monitor sensor. It can overheat and cause …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation delivered some good news for the village of Constantine Tuesday. They announced that Michigan Strategic Fund approved a new dairy-processing facility that will reduce the carbon footprint of dairy byproduct and bring new jobs and infrastructure to the community. A total capital investment of $41.1 million is expected. MMPA and Dairy …

February’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by nine-tenths of a percent from January. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 5.9 percent in January to 5 percent in February. In addition, Cass County also experienced a drop in its unemployment figures from …

Crossroads Mall in Portage is searching for assistance with funding to fix the crumbling roads surrounding the mall. Kalamazoo-based WWMT recently reported on the pothole-riddled state of the circular road, sharing that mall owners are turning to Kalamazoo Metro Transit for help with the estimated $700,000 project. Buses travel nearly 800 routes a week along Ring Road, surrounding the mall, …

DeNooyer Chevrolet and DeNooyer Ford will be hosting an Electronics Recycling Event on Wednesday, March 29th, 2023, at both locations, in partnership with Schupan Asset Management. The event will be hosted in each dealership’s respective parking lots with Schupan’s vehicles being the designated drop-off location from 10am until 2pm. Accepted items include the following items: Computers/Laptops/Servers Printers/Scanners Cable Boxes/Routers Mobile …

Ford Motor Co. plans to build a $3.5 billion factory in Michigan that would employ at least 2,500 people to make lower-cost batteries for a variety of new and existing electric vehicles. The plant, to be built on land being readied for industrial development near Marshall, would start making batteries in 2026. It would crank out 35 gigawatt hours worth …

November’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by three-tenths of a percent from October. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.3 percent in October to 4 percent in November. St. Joseph County’s November 2021 unemployment rate was 3.4 percent. In addition, Cass …

Vicksburg Village Council members in October announced that nine local businesses would, collectively, be awarded more than $63,000 in grants aimed at property improvements within the village’s Downtown Development Authority boundaries. The first two businesses were to be presented their respective grant awards Thursday afternoon. Historically, the Village of Vicksburg has provided small grant opportunities that were restricted to façade …

A Three Rivers institution for more than a century is closing this week. The Three Rivers Commercial-News announced it will cease operations and its final edition will be published on Saturday. Quoted in today’s edition, owner Dirk Milliman said the closure was announced to staff Tuesday. He said the culprit is lack of revenue due to a shrinking advertiser base. …