Kalamazoo’s name is so distinctive strangers around the world have been known to break into song at hearing the name. With such a recognizable moniker you’d think Kalamazoo wouldn’t need nicknames, but through the years changing names have reflected the city’s refusal to stand still. The Zoo, Celery City and the Mall City are a few. The innovative thinking that brought downtown K’zoo the nation’s first pedestrian mall in 1959 continues to work today. Innovators have developed thriving life sciences, biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms. They build on the expertise of Kalamazoo’s universities. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Davenport College all are centers of research, development and technology. They surround a downtown vibrating with condos, apartments and homegrown, top-notch restaurants. The universities are woven into the city’s social fabric and contribute to a cultural scene that Kalamazooans love to boast about. The Kalamazoo Symphony, Kalamazoo Institute of Art and a vibrant local theater community are a few of the offerings. Locals also love their festivals that fill the air with music and the scents of ethnic foods wafting over the Arcadia Festival grounds and the Kalamazoo River. Outdoor activities from biking on the Kal-Haven trail to disc golf and standard golf on a nationally-acclaimed course in Milham Park are the start of the city’s leisure side. Sports fans have competitive college teams, minor league baseball and hockey to follow. And it all comes with a Promise. All high school graduates who live in Kalamazoo qualify for a scholarship that pays 100 percent of their tuition at any public university or community college.
For Kalamazoo area organizations dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak, some relief is in sight. Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s Community Urgent Relief Fund is part of a network of resources now available.
Vine property owners say they want to get ahead of the COVID-19 crisis so they decided to provide rent relief.
The need for assistance from Senior Services of Southwest Michigan is up and so is the number of volunteers stepping up to meet those needs.
There are places where you can enjoy nature and still maintain a safe distance from those also enjoying the outdoors. The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has acres of nature to share.
Two business brains offer insights on economics and small business survival as we ask what's ahead for local businesses and the economy.
A few words from someone who believes in Kalamazoo: City Commissioner Jeanne Hess.
As patrons are ordered to stay home local businesses are struggling to survive. The City of Kalamazoo has a new program to help those businesses.
Their customers are stuck at home, so the owners of the Stamped Robin in Kalamazoo figured out a way to give them access to unique but affordable wines and artisan beers delivered to your door.
In a time when audiences can't come to Kalamazoo arts organizations the arts groups come to the audiences by moving events online.
The Sherman Lake YMCA and the Kalamazoo Maple Street Y are working together to make sure 1,000 meals a day are delivered to youngsters in Kalamazoo area neighborhoods.
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