Southwest Michigan First Corp
Southwest Michigan First Corporation is a regional economic development organization based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Established in 1988 and tax-exempt since July 1989, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity with 26 employees. The corporation serves as an economic catalyst for Southwest Michigan, focusing on attracting and retaining businesses, reducing poverty, and growing jobs throughout the region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.2M
-32.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
-38.8% YoY
Grant Count
22
+69.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$76K
-63.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization is chartered to serve as a regional economic development agency for Southwest Michigan, building effective partnerships among business, education, foundations, and the public sector. The corporation pursues new opportunities for growth and development, serves as a primary pro-development advocate within Southwest Michigan, and takes an active role in developing the area's human, technical, and capital resources.
Southwest Michigan First operates across three primary strategic areas:
- Economic Development: Retaining, expanding, and attracting businesses
- Workforce Development: Enhancing, preparing, and aligning the regional workforce
- Community Development: Advocating for, enhancing, and promoting vibrant business environments and communities
The organization's work spans private, public, government, education, and nonprofit sectors, providing tailored solutions including business acquisitions, supplier connections, and custom coaching to help companies transition from good to best-in-class operations.
Grantmaking
Southwest Michigan First administers grants to small businesses and community organizations, primarily through funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
Grant Range
**: Typical awards range from $6,253 to $2,379,369, reflecting both small business support and larger regional development initiatives.
Ready to take the next step with Southwest Michigan First Corp?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization focuses exclusively on Southwest Michigan, serving as the regional economic development entity for the area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023 (most recent tax filing):
- Total Revenue: $8.03 million
- Total Expenses: $7.48 million
- Total Assets: $13.6 million
- Total Liabilities: $9.86 million
- Number of Employees: 26
Financial Rating: The organization maintains an 86% score with a Three-Star rating, reflecting strong accountability and financial management.
The organization reported conflict of interest transactions in its December 2023 tax filing, which are disclosed on Schedule L as required.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,206,842 | $13,622,051 | $10,780,961 |
| Revenue | $6,829,723 | $8,034,787 | $5,452,905 |
| Expenses | $6,025,163 | $7,479,006 | $5,142,028 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $576,770 | $60,422 | $13,692 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
135 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Southwest Michigan First Corp
First Path Program
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST CORP
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
KRESA's CareerNOW Program - Culinary Skills Pre-Apprenticeship
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST CORP
Amount
Varies
Deadline
August 4, 2026
MI New Favorite Snack Contest
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST CORP
Amount
$50,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include 215 Em Partners Llc ($550,000), City of Marshall ($327,200), 266 Michigan Ave Kalamazoo Llc (coney Island) ($325,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 215 EM PARTNERS LLC KALAMAZOO, MI | REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING GRANT (MEDC) | $550,000 |
| AC FOUNDRY INC JACKSON, MI | INDUSTRY 4.0 GRANT (MEDC) | $25,000 |
| ALPHA RESOURCES LLC STEVENSVILLE, MI | INDUSTRY 4.0 GRANT (MEDC) | $25,000 |
| CITY OF KALAMAZOO KALAMAZOO, MI | REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING GRANT (MEDC) | $27,137 |
| CITY OF MARSHALL MARSHALL, MI | REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING GRANT (MEDC) | $327,200 |
| CITY OF STURGIS STURGIS, MI | REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING GRANT (MEDC) | $22,200 |
| 266 MICHIGAN AVE KALAMAZOO LLC (CONEY ISLAND) PORTAGE, MI | REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING GRANT (MEDC) | $325,000 |
| COVERT TOWNSHIP COVERT, MI | REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING GRANT (MEDC) | $12,460 |
| DECATUR TASTINGS LLC DECATUR, MI | INDUSTRY 4.0 GRANT (MEDC) | $25,000 |
| ECONOMIC MODELING LLC MOSCOW, ID | CDC GRANT FUNDING (MEDC) | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jonas Peterson serves as Principal Officer of the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JONAS PETERSON | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 39 | $469,655 |
| AARON ZEIGLER | CHAIR | 1.3 | — |
| DANIELLE MASON ANDERSON | SECRETARY | 1.3 | — |
| GREG DOBSON | VICE CHAIR | 1.3 | — |
| JOE CEKOLA | VICE CHAIR | 1.3 | — |
| TOM WEBB | TREASURER | 1.3 | — |
| AIMEE JACHYM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BECKY THOMPSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BEN NOBIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BILL HUIZENGA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BILL JOHNSTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BILL MANNS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BILL PARFET | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BJORN GREEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BOB HANCE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRIAN BELLWARE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRIAN JANSSEN | DIRECTOR - PART YEAR | 1 | — |
| BRIAN MCDANIEL | DIRECTOR - PART YEAR | 1 | — |
| CARRIE YUNKER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHRIS ORLOWSKI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAN BARTHOLOMAE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAN JAQUA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DANIEL COFFMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID MAURER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DEAN KINDLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DEVON VOSTER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ED MONTGOMERY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ERIC STOLL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| FRED SCHUBKEGEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| FRITZ BROWN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GREG O'NIEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GREG SALISBURY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| IAN KENNEDY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JACK ENDRES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES ESCAMILLA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES LIGGINS JR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMIE CLARK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEFF O'BRIEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JIM FELTCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN KERR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOSE GOMEZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KEN MILLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KEVIN MURPHY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LYNN CHEN-ZHANG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARC SCHUPAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARGIE SIMMONS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK JONES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK OLSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK WELCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARLEE D'ARCO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MATT WEISHAAR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL A JONES SR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHELLE VANTORRE-WERME | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MIKE ODAR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MIKE ROZEWICZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MITCH MOLDOVAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NANCY TURTLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NATALIE VALENTINE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PATRICK LENNON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PERRY WOLFE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RICH MACDONALD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROB STACHLEWITZ | DIRECTOR - PART YEAR | 1 | — |
| RUSS MCFEE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SCOTT LEBEAU | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SEAN WELSH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHAWN PREMER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEVE CARLISLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TG NULTY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TIM RAYMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TODD MCDONALD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TRAVIS GRIMSLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TROY CUVELIER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TYLER SHEERER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WYATT CLINE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KIM WEISHAAR | PART-YEAR CFO (LEFT AUG 2024) | 40 | $127,452 |
| MICHAEL JENSEN | VP OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS | 40 | $22,135 |
| CARLA SONES | PRESIDENT | 13 | $244,961 |
| JILL BLAND | EXECUTIVE VP-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $260,577 |
| ABBIE RUMERY | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $136,805 |
| CLARENCE LLOYD | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $134,440 |
| JUSTINE LAUX | SENIOR DIRECTOR | 39 | $100,450 |
| NICHOLAS RIASHI | SENIOR DIRECTOR | 6 | $138,200 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, Southwest Michigan First supported workforce development initiatives, with 43 Southwest Michigan businesses receiving grants to train employees. The organization continues to administer state-funded economic development programs and serves as a key partner in regional prosperity initiatives supported by state government funding announcements.
[PDF] MICHIGAN STRATEGIC FUNDSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Southwest Michigan First Corp fund?
The organization is chartered to serve as a regional economic development agency for Southwest Michigan, building effective partnerships among business, education, foundations, and the public sector. The corporation pursues new opportunities for growth and development, serves as a primary pro-development advocate within Southwest Michigan, and takes an active role in developing the area's human, technical, and capital resources. Southwest Michigan First operates across three primary strategic a…
How do I apply for a grant from Southwest Michigan First Corp?
Southwest Michigan First administers grants to small businesses and community organizations, primarily through funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). **Grant Activity (2023)**: • Administered approximately $2.75 million in grants to businesses • Notable grants included $2.38 million to Battle Creek Unlimited for Revitalization and Placemaking initiatives • Grants to Cornerstone Alliance for Collaborative Development Council activities **Grant Range**: Typical awards …
Where does Southwest Michigan First Corp make grants?
The organization focuses exclusively on Southwest Michigan, serving as the regional economic development entity for the area.
What size grants does Southwest Michigan First Corp award?
In 2024, Southwest Michigan First Corp awarded 22 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $76K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Southwest Michigan First Corp's EIN?
Southwest Michigan First Corp's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2853785. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Southwest Michigan First Corp's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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