Business

The Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority has announced it was awarded a $750,000 grant for making handicap-accessible upgrades, and lighting and sidewalk improvements. Bestowed by Michigan Strategic Fund, the grant will cover a large portion of expenses related to making the Downtown Mural Mall ADA-compliant to ensure easy access between Railroad Drive and Main Street. Steps currently in place will …

Two weeks after announcing the closing of its Sturgis supermarket, officials from the Miller’s Super Valu grocery store chain said the store’s last day in business is Sunday. LaGrange, Ind.-based Miller’s said a shrinking customer base contributed to the end of its 30-plus years in business in Sturgis. A gas station and convenience store in an outlot outside the east …

A $3.5 million tax abatement for a building addition and equipment was expected to appear before the Sturgis City Commission. Sturgis Molded Products was scheduled to appear Wednesday night before municipal officials in hopes of gaining approval of the request. The company plans to invest $ 2.9 million in equipment and $600,000 in the proposed building addition. Company officials said …

Physician News: • Hospital Physician Partners (HPP) has successfully begun physician staffing of our Emergency Department. Dr. Grover, Dr. Schumaker and Dr. Solanki will continue to work in our ED. Dr. Grover has accepted the position as the Medical Director effective March 1st. Other Important News: • Sturgis Hospital is one of only 323 hospitals in the World and 308 …

The Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County has announced the date of its annual dinner-auction benefit. The agency’s 10th annual dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. April 28 in the cafeteria at Three Rivers High School. The auction portion of the event starts at 6:30 p.m. Outback Steakhouse of Kalamazoo is donating, preparing and serving the meal. Tickets are $10 …

Indiana Michigan Power Co. has announced that work on the upgrade of power poles and lines from Park Township to Sturgis Township is expected to get started by the end of next month. The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based company said the 14-mile improvement is in addition to an eight-mile line improvement between Schoolcraft and the Moorepark neighborhood. That project is slated …

State Rep. Matt Lori has announced a $168,000 grant to help St. Joseph County farmers better manage their yields while protecting the environment. The funds come from the Southwest Michigan Adapt Network, a new partnership involving the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services and the Environmental Defense Fund. Lori said …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners voted this week to a variety of agriculture-related services offered by the Michigan State University Extension. Following action Tuesday, Dr. Dale Mutch, an agriculture and agribusiness institute extension educator from Michigan State University Extension Office, will join the county. Mutch is a senior extension educator of sustainable agriculture. Meanwhile, approval was given to hire …

Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners on Tuesday approved a special-exception-use permit for Menards. As a result, the Wisconsin-based home-improvement center is clear to break ground on its 215,000-square-foot store on the south side of Broadway Road, just west of U.S. 131. City officials said Menards representatives indicated they would like to break ground as soon as possible in …

The fate of where the Weenie Kings push-cart hot dog stand will set up for business in 2012 remains unresolved. Three Rivers Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners on Tuesday discussed the situation after being told by Weenie Kings proprietor Mike King that the Three Rivers Public Library Board has approved a policy that prohibits commerce from taking place in the …