2026-06-25T10:23:46+00:00 2025-12-31 331498605 Plante & Moran PLLC 2601 CAMBRIDGE CT SUITE 300 AUBURN HILLS MI 48326 990 2025-01-01 382853785 SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST CORP SOUT 2695539588 180 EAST WATER STREET 2690 KALAMAZOO MI 49007 CARLA SONES INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2695539588 2026-06-25 true SAMANTHA L BECKER P01344887 2483757100 2026-06-25 2025 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z CARLA SONES 180 EAST WATER STREET 2690 KALAMAZOO MI 49007 9146941 false X SOUTHWESTMICHIGANFIRST.COM X 1988 MI TO SERVE AS A REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION FOR SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN. 67 65 25 67 0 5491214 8331893 733718 710272 576770 69865 28021 34911 6829723 9146941 1689653 4115604 0 2718835 2957486 0 336657 1616675 1715765 6025163 8788855 804560 358086 9206842 12738808 4643047 7816927 4563795 4921881 Increase prosperity for all in Southwest Michigan. false false 4115604 4115604 SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST ADMINISTERED APPROXIMATELY $4,116,000 IN GRANTS TO BUSINESSES THROUGH FUNDING FROM THE MEDC (STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION) DURING 2025. 2406587 0 710272 OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - THE PURPOSE IS TO SERVE AS A REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION TO ATTRACT BUSINESS TO AND RETAIN BUSINESS IN, AND TO REDUCE POVERTY AND THE BURDEN OF GOVERNMENT BY GROWING JOBS IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN. 6522191 true true false true false false false false false false true false false true true false false true false false false false false false false false false true false true false false false false false false false false false true false false false false true true true true false false true 36 0 true 25 true false false false false false false false false false false false false X 67 65 false false false false false false false true true false false false false true true true true true true true false false MI X CARLA SONES 2695539588 180 EAST WATER STREET STE 2690 KALAMAZOO MI 49007 DANIELLE MASON ANDERSON SECRETARY 1.3 0.0 X X 0 0 0 GREG DOBSON CHAIR 1.3 0.0 X X 0 0 0 JOE CEKOLA VICE CHAIR 1.3 0.0 X X 0 0 0 JONAS PETERSON CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 40.0 0.0 X X 494194 0 149858 TOM WEBB TREASURER 1.3 0.0 X X 0 0 0 AARON ZEIGLER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 AIMEE JACHYM DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 ANDREA HAAS DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 ANGELA GILDEA DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BECKY THOMPSON DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BEN NOBIS DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BETH STEWART DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BILL HUIZENGA DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BILL JOHNSTON DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BILL MANNS DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BILL PARFET DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BJORN GREEN DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BRANDON HOGGARD DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BRIAN BELLWARE DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 DAN BARTHOLOMAE DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 DAN JAQUA DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 DANIEL COFFMAN DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 DAVID MAURER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 DEVON VOSTER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 FRED SCHUBKEGEL DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 FRITZ BROWN DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 GREG O'NIEL DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 GREG SALISBURY DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 IAN KENNEDY DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JACK ENDRES DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JAMES ESCAMILLA DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JAMES LIGGINS DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JAMIE CLARK DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JEFF O'BRIEN DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JIM FELTCH DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JOHN KERR DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JOHN WALDRON DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JOSE GOMEZ DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 KEVIN MURPHY DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 LYNN CHEN-ZHANG DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 MARC SCHUPAN DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 MARGIE SIMMONS DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 MARK JONES DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 MARK OLSON DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 MARLEE D'ARCO DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 MATT WEISHAAR DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL A JONES SR DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 MIKE ODAR DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 MIKE ROZEWICZ DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 MITCH MOLDOVAN DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 NANCY TURTLE DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 NATALIE VALENTINE DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 PERRY WOLFE DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 RICH MACDONALD DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 ROBERT SAWYER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 RUSS KAVALHUNA DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 RUSSELL LAUDERDALE DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 SCOTT LEBEAU DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 SEAN WELSH DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 SHAWN PREMER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 STEVE CARLISLE DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 TERRY RUBENTHALER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 TG NULTY DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 TIM RAYMAN DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 TODD MCDONALD DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 TROY CUVELIER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 WYATT CLINE DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 CARLA SONES PRESIDENT 11.0 29.0 X 260231 0 43290 MICHAEL JENSEN VP OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS (PART YEAR) 40.0 0.0 X 48712 0 7417 TWAYNE HOWARD CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 40.0 0.0 X 29249 0 19744 JILL BLAND EXECUTIVE VP-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 40.0 0.0 X 260474 0 46113 ABBIE RUMERY VICE PRESIDENT 40.0 0.0 X 141174 0 31891 CLARENCE LLOYD VICE PRESIDENT 40.0 0.0 X 136715 0 39279 HEATHER BURNETT DIRECTOR 40.0 0.0 X 103054 0 23373 JUSTINE LAUX SENIOR DIRECTOR 39.0 1.0 X 111622 0 6792 NICHOLAS RIASHI SENIOR DIRECTOR 6.0 34.0 X 141111 0 35329 1726536 0 403086 8 false true false 0 4635187 3696706 8331893 CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP FEE 561499 392143 392143 OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 561499 182757 182757 STATE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 561499 112024 112024 OTHER CONTRACTS/GRANTS 561499 23348 23348 0 0 0 0 710272 69865 69865 19602 0 19602 0 19602 19602 0 0 0 REBATES & REIMBURSEMENTS 561499 15309 15309 0 0 0 0 15309 9146941 710272 0 104776 4115604 4115604 1359281 734791 517198 107292 1045542 503983 448515 93044 41517 21386 16672 3459 330557 170277 132743 27537 180589 93025 72520 15044 8927 3292 5635 76793 76793 8549 8549 19760 10179 7935 1646 176167 68993 107174 0 93501 93501 79573 79573 87838 87838 339487 174877 136329 28281 59136 37304 7744 14088 651898 579931 25701 46266 562 562 87791 87791 18234 18234 DUES AND MEMBERSHIPS 7549 7549 0 0 0 0 8788855 6522191 1930007 336657 3591404 4444348 2543252 5512152 141805 144248 0 0 0 0 149437 188799 157618 166130 694777 401566 318031 293211 31 31 0 0 2305264 1989889 9206842 12738808 208994 258040 690856 3993615 1291500 1424357 0 0 0 2451697 2140915 4643047 7816927 4052060 4429181 511735 492700 4563795 4921881 9206842 12738808 358086 0 X false true true false X 8129800 4068887 6837766 5491214 8331893 32859560 0 0 0 0 8129800 4068887 6837766 5491214 8331893 32859560 6515651 26343909 107482 144039 196609 97181 89467 634778 0 0 4893 1403 6249 2279 15309 30133 33524471 3990026 0.78581 0.7986 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 10 Other Income DESCRIPTION - MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE, COLUMN A - 4893.0, COLUMN B - 1403.0, COLUMN C - 6249.0, COLUMN D - 2279.0, COLUMN E - 15309.0, COLUMN F - 30133.0; RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false false false false false true 8549 false false 8549 false Schedule C, Part II-B, Line 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE LOBBYING ACTIVITY LOBBYING TO STATE LEGISLATURE ABOUT TAX AND BUSINESS ISSUES AFFECTING THE SEVEN-COUNTY REGION THAT MAKES UP SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN. 217741 96169 121572 391911 271216 120695 85125 34181 50944 293211 OPERATING RIGHT-OF-USE ASSET 1985409 FINANCE RIGHT-OF-USE ASSET 4480 1989889 Federal Income Taxes RETIREMENT LIABILITY 151192 LEASE LIABILITIES - OPERATING 1985409 LEASE LIABILITIES - FINANCE 4314 2140915 true Battle Creek Unlimited Inc 4950 West Dickman Road A-1 Battle Creek MI 49037 381951806 249461 0 N/A N/A Strategic Site Readiness Program (MEDC) City of Kalamazoo 241 W South Street Kalamazoo MI 49007 386004627 GOVT 1391155 0 N/A N/A Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (MEDC) City of Sturgis 130 N Nottawa St Sturgis MI 49091 386004653 GOVT 769092 0 N/A N/A Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (MEDC) Cornerstone Alliance 80 W Main Street Benton Harbor MI 49022 382772476 501(c)(3) 11000 0 N/A N/A CDC Grant Funding (MEDC) Covert Township 73943 E Lake St PO Box 35 Covert MI 49043 381953720 GOVT 134002 0 N/A N/A Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (MEDC) Hibshman Screw Machine Products Inc PO Box 138 69351 Union Road Union MI 49130 382174824 8765 0 N/A N/A Industry 4.0 (MEDC) JCR Offroad Inc 9350 Shaver Rd Portage MI 49024 208180771 25000 0 N/A N/A Industry 4.0 (MEDC) Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S Park St Kalamazoo MI 49007 381617060 501(c)3 331171 0 N/A N/A Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (MEDC) Market One 330 W Main St Suite 110 Benton Harbor MI 49022 843582323 11000 0 N/A N/A CDC Grant Funding (MEDC) One Well Brewing LLC 4213 Portage St Kalamazoo MI 49001 465430509 25000 0 N/A N/A Industry 4.0 (MEDC) Research Consultants International FDI Inc 625 President Kennedy Suite 501 Montreal NONE CA H3A1K2 981467501 20000 0 N/A N/A CDC Grant Funding (MEDC) Spencer Manufacturing Inc 165 Veterans Drive South Haven MI 49090 382707755 25000 0 N/A N/A Industry 4.0 (MEDC) Village of Lawton 125 S Main St PO Box 367 Lawton MI 49065 386007185 GOVT 811341 0 N/A N/A Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (MEDC) Village of Marcellus PO Box 429 Marcellus MI 49067 386004572 GOVT 170501 0 N/A N/A Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (MEDC) 7 7 Schedule I, Part I, Line 2 Procedures for monitoring use of grant funds THE ORGANIZATION ISSUED GRANTS ON BEHALF OF THE MICHIGAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MEDC). THE MEDC ALLOCATED FUNDS TO REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS FOR VARIOUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES SUCH AS PLACEMAKING AND INDUSTRY 4.0 GRANTS. SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST WAS THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOCATING FUNDS TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN. THE ORGANIZATION REGULARLY FOLLOWS-UP WITH THE GRANT RECIPIENTS TO DETERMINE IF THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESPECTIVE GRANT AGREEMENTS. X true true X X X X false false false false false false false true false JONAS PETERSON CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 393516 0 85000 0 15678 0 123080 0 26778 0 644052 0 0 0 CARLA SONES PRESIDENT 233267 0 26016 0 948 0 13276 0 30014 0 303521 0 0 0 JILL BLAND EXECUTIVE VP-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 244693 0 5000 0 10781 0 13319 0 32794 0 306587 0 0 0 NICHOLAS RIASHI SENIOR DIRECTOR 108098 0 32125 0 888 0 7153 0 28176 0 176440 0 0 0 CLARENCE LLOYD VICE PRESIDENT 115466 0 19000 0 2249 0 6922 0 32357 0 175994 0 0 0 ABBIE RUMERY VICE PRESIDENT 125121 0 9541 0 6512 0 7152 0 24739 0 173065 0 0 0 Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a Health or social club dues or initiation fees ALL KEY EMPLOYEES LISTED ON FORM 990, PART VII RECEIVE THE HEALTH CLUB DUES BENEFIT. THIS IS TREATED AS TAXABLE COMPENSATION. Schedule J, Part I, Line 7 Non-fixed payments THE BONUS FOR THE CEO IS BASED ON PERFORMANCE AT DISCRETION OF THE PEOPLE & COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD. THE BONUSES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TEAM ARE BASED ON PERFORMANCE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CEO. CATALYST DEVELOPMENT MORE THAN 35% OWNED 416723 180 E WATER STREET RENT AND PARKING CHARGES. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT IS COMPETITIVELY PRICED. false Schedule L, Part IV, Column (b) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERESTED PERSON AND ORGANIZATION: MORE THAN 35% OWNED BY BILL JOHNSTON, DIRECTOR. Schedule L, Part IV, Column (d) DESCRIPTION OF TRANSACTION: 180 E WATER STREET RENT AND PARKING CHARGES. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT IS COMPETITIVELY PRICED. Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b Review of form 990 by governing body THE ACCOUNTING TEAM (INCLUDING THE CFO AND SENIOR DIRECTOR) REVIEWS THE FORM 990 PRIOR TO THE AUDIT & FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REVIEW. A COPY OF FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO ALL AUDIT & FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS (COMMITTEE CHAIR AND AT LARGE) FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO THE DUE DATE OF THE RETURN. AFTER THE AUDIT & FINANCE COMMITTEE REVIEWS AND APPROVES THE FORM 990, PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COPIES OF THE RETURN ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR REVIEW. THE FORM 990 IS THEN PRESENTED AND APPROVED AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING PRIOR TO FILING THE RETURN WITH THE IRS. Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c Conflict of interest policy ALL EMPLOYEES AND BOARD MEMBERS ARE COVERED UNDER THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. WHEN A BOARD MEMBER JOINS, THE MEMBER IS REQUIRED TO FILL OUT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRE. BOARD MEMBERS ARE THEN REMINDED ANNUALLY TO UPDATE THE QUESTIONNAIRE IF THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A CONFLICT NOT PREVIOUSLY DISCLOSED. THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER REVIEWS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRES FOR POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. IF A MATTER IS UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE BOARD IN WHICH THERE IS A POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THE BOARD MEMBER IS EXCUSED FROM ALL DELIBERATIONS AND VOTING ON THE MATTER. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15a Process to establish compensation of top management official THE PROCESS FOR DETERMINING COMPENSATION OF THE CEO INCLUDES A REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY INDEPENDENT PERSONS, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AS WELL AS A COMPENSATION STUDY WHICH IS PERFORMED BY AN EXTERNAL SEARCH FIRM EVERY FEW YEARS. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15b Process to establish compensation of other employees See disclosure in Part VI, line 15a. Form 990, Part VI, Line 19 Required documents available to the public ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, ETC. AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. Form 990, Part XI, Line 2 THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN OVERSIGHT PROCESS OR SELECTION FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN BUILDINGS LLC 180 EAST WATER STREET STE 2690 KALAMAZOO MI 49007 462319546 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MI 0 0 SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN MICHIGAN FIRST CORP SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST CORPORATION NO 2 180 EAST WATER STREET STE 2690 KALAMAZOO MI 49007 383437867 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MI 501(c)(3) 7 NA false CONSULTANT CONNECT PO BOX 50664 KALAMAZOO MI 49005 472851823 CONSULTING MI SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST CORP C Corporation 2663420 2014961 true false false false false false false false false false false false false true true false false false false CONSULTANT CONNECT O 702102 TIMESHEETS CONSULTANT CONNECT N 180432 REVENUE AND TIMESHEETS