Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Event Center
PRESENTED BY SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST
Next Generation Committee
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST
A group of emerging leaders, under the age of 40, from throughout Southwest Michigan who are committed to the growth of our region. Their
role is to advise the Southwest Michigan First Board of Directors on issues that will help the region become “sticky” to the younger generations.
JOSH IOCCA
Plant Manager at Flowserve
Has worked at Flowserve in various roles since September 2008.
Before that, he was a procurement specialist at Pfizer.
Graduated from Wabash College with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mathematics.
Josh, his wife and four children live in Kalamazoo.
KIM WEISHAAR
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND MANAGING PARTNER OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST
Has worked at Southwest Michigan First since April 2017.
Prior to this role, Kim worked at EY (Ernst & Young) in Charlotte, Chicago and Grand Rapids.
Holds Master’s and Bachelor’s of Science degrees in Accounting from Miami University.
Kim and her husband live in Kalamazoo.
Event Center Sub-committee Members
Matt Berry, Impact Label
Marcus Brussee, Mercantile Bank
Kaj Carlson, Webster Electric AGE RANGE
Josh Iocca, Flowserve 25-36
Scott Lemons, Humphrey Products
Kevin Murphy, | Miniature Custom Manufacturing
Chris Orlowski, | XL Machine Company
Jon Rumohr, TowerPinkster
Jason Scheffers, VanDam & Krusinga
INDUSTRY
Patrick Scheffers, Huntington Bank
REPRESENTATION
Kate Tillotson, WWMT Newschannel 3
7
Aaron Whitaker, Whitaker LaChance Insurance
Event Center | The “Why”
CREATES “STICKINESS” TO
THE REGION
− Creates connection to the
community for students
and young adults
TARGETED events
− Collegiate sporting events
− Professional sports
− Concerts
− Family-oriented events
− Expos
− Conferences
− Regional high school
sporting events
− Graduations
Event Center | Area Impact
People attracted to the
region/city
Additional development of
restaurants, hotels, bars,
businesses, housing, etc.
Business entertainment
(suites/corporate boxes)
Scalable, multi-use space
Change in culture of
downtown/atmosphere
Creation of jobs
Development of under-utilized
space
Integrated parking for day, night
and weekend use
Southwest Michigan First
JOBS • CHAMBER • LEADERSHIP
KEN MILLER
Chief executive officer and principal of millennium restaurant group
Southwest Michigan First, Director
Western Michigan University (WMU) Trustee
WMU Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Director
WMU Haworth College of Business Advisory Council, Member and Past Chair
Michigan Restaurant Association, Director and Chair
Downtown Tomorrow Inc., Former Chair
RON KITCHENS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST
Southwest Michigan First, Director
Western Michigan University (WMU) Trustee
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Director and President of Executive Committee
History of a Great Idea
Previous Assumptions
— The Great Recession hit at the height of the event center discussion, leaving many to question this kind of major
investment during an economic downturn.
— Some questioned the economic impact of a community event center at that time. (Over the past 10 years, we
have seen a number of new community event centers built across the country and Canada that have been very
successful.)
What Changed?
— Leaders involved in the original discussions never gave up on the idea of a regional event center based on the
positive economic aspects in other communities.
— With cranes in the sky and lots of positive signs of growth in Kalamazoo, now is the time to take the community to
the next step in attracting and retaining talent.
Private Sector Investments
2017-2020
All of these projects have
two things in common:
Newell expansion Lot 2 apartments
Stryker medical expansion Westgate center 1: They are all privately
Stryker instruments research and Porter st. mixed-use conversion funded, to the tune of
design campus Lot 9 office & apartments more than $1.35 billion,
Kalamazoo gourmet expansion Rose street hotel and
Pfizer manufacturing expansion Exchange place
2: They are all dependent on
Consumers credit union Peregrine 100 the community’s ability to
headquarters Gibson redevelopment
grow and retain
Corner at drake – Costco/trader The foundry college-educated
joes
residents.
Vicksburg mill
Bronson/gazette redevelopment
The Key to College-Educated Residents
While these investments are The Kalamazoo region is The importance of bachelor’s Since the great recession,
the net
our future sustainable success is standpoint.
in residents with bachelor’s
College-educated degrees. If the Kalamazoo region
residents.
new jobs
were simply average,
The region ranks in the our families would have
BOTTOM TIER $700 million more created in America required a
of its peers in percentage of in their bank accounts annually.
growth of its 18-34-year-old college degree.
population.
Much as an individual’s future is
predicted by their education level,
a community’s future is predicted
by its ability to grow and retain
college-educated residents.
77%
Support placing the
issue on the ballot
21% opposed, with 2% undecided
Polling Results
Per a poll taken of 400 Kalamazoo voters from July 30 to August 3, 2018
by Marketing Resource Group (MRG) of Lansing, MI.
52%
Support the 1% food and
beverage tax to fund 36% Opposed 12% undecided
Polling Results
Per a poll taken of 400 Kalamazoo voters from July 30 to August 3, 2018
by Marketing Resource Group (MRG) of Lansing, MI.
68%
Of young voters support
the event center and would
vote yes ON THE BALLOT
What are we asking for?