Business

The Michigan Works! of Kalamazoo-St. Joseph counties is hosting a job fair this weekend to fill more than 500 positions at American Axle in Three Rivers. The company announced earlier this month its plan for a $100 million investment in its Three Rivers plant. About 500 hourly positions and 40 salaried jobs will be available, company officials said. Saturday’s job …

St. Joseph County treasurer Judith Ratering has included the county in a state program designed to assist homeowners who have fallen behind on their property taxes. “Help for Hardest Hit; Step Forward, Michigan” is a state initiative to assist homeowners who have endured a financial hardship and are unable to catch up on their property taxes. Discussing the program last …

About 100 people attended the inaugural Three Rivers Harmony Fest chili cook-off and home-brew beer fundraiser Feb. 2. More than $800 was collected to help fund this year’s Harmony Fest, which marks its 20th anniversary Labor Day weekend. In the chili competition, Fred Pruitt from Three Rivers Health took top honors, with Pub 21 and Paisano’s Bar and Grill coming …

Glen Oaks Community College officials have announced the school is providing employee training to Sturgis Molded Products in order to advance employee-processing skills. Sturgis Molded Products is one of two recipients in St. Joseph County of an Incumbent Worker Training Grant designed to upgrade the skills of its employees. The $36,000, fully funded grant was awarded through Michigan Works and …

A 44-year-old Three Rivers woman was issued a moving violation after the vehicle she was driving rear-ended a school bus last week in Park Township. Investigators from the White Pigeon detachment of the Michigan State Police said the incident occurred at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the railroad crossing on Moorepark Road, just east of U.S. 131. Police said the Three …

White Pigeon Community Schools Superintendent Ron Drzewicki said Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. and TowerPinkster, will be hosting a contractor outreach meeting 3 to 4 p.m. Feb. 26 at Central Elementary School. The meeting – open to any licensed and bonded contractor – will focus on bid requirements and promote participation in construction projects to be funded by a five-year, 3-mill sinking fund …

The St. Joseph County United Way had a record-setting 2013 campaign, as its fundraising effort received more than $735,000. During its annual victory celebration Thursday in Three Rivers, representatives from the Centreville-based agency announced the figure, which is the most in the local United Way’s 15-year history. It also marked an increase of more than 8 percent from the $680,000 …

Voters in the Three Rivers Community Schools district will be asked later this year to renew a non-homestead tax that generated more than $3.7 million last year. The 20-year-request will appear before voters in May, as the current non-homestead tax is expiring soon and renewal of what is currently more than 17.2 mills the district collects is essential to its …

The St. Joseph County United Way will announce this afternoon the results of its 2013 fundraising campaign. Though it started last February, the 2013 drive kicked into high gear in August with the Donut Days giveaway in each of the county’s eight communities. The 2013 goal is $715,000, the most the Centreville-based agency has ever sought. A month ago, Kelly …

State Rep. Matt Lori on Tuesday announced the St. Joseph County Grange Fair will receive a $20,000 state grant to fund construction of an educational exhibit pavilion to showcase beef. The county is participating in the County Fairs Capital Improvement Program, which provides Michigan’s county fairs with funds for proposed enhancements to fairgrounds across the state. Lori said agriculture has …