The first Market Van Buren Business Recognition Awards were held this week in South Haven. Market Van Buren’s Zach Morris tells WSJM News the event was held to celebrate those businesses that have continued to make the economy grow in the area even during the pandemic. The guest speaker was Brian Calley, former Lieutenant Governor of Michigan and President of the Michigan Small Business Association. He shared the results of a survey done by his group.
“34% of the businesses that filled out his survey stated that they’ve lost 25% or more of their income, while 52% of the businesses that filled out the survey said they’ve been giving raises and increasing the payroll on their business over the last year,” Morris said.
Morris says it felt great to honor the businesses that make a difference.
“The energy of having everyone in person was totally different than a Zoom meeting. Having everyone together for the first time in well over a year was just refreshing.”
As for the winners, Best New Business of the Year is Learn and Grow Childcare in Hartford; the Community Champion of the Year is Lounsbury Excavating in Paw Paw; the Economic Pioneer of the Year is Barber Packaging in Bangor; the Innovator of the Year is Getman Corporation in Bangor ; and the Business Resilience Leader of the Year is Mercantile Bank of Michigan in Paw Paw.
