Kalamazoo

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

− Attracts next level

entertainment

 SERVES AS REGIONAL HUB /

SOCIAL CENTER
− Enhances downtown
experience for the entire
community

 BRINGS VISITORS AND

EXISTING RESIDENTS TO
DOWNTOWN
“City populations grew faster from 2010 to 2016 than those in the suburbs, reversing a
60-year trend that started in 1950, according to census data. And cities — not suburbs
— are the now primary generators of the nation’s economic growth, according to
research compiled by the Federal Reserve.”
– The New York Times, 2018
Event Center | The “Where”
Event Center | The “Who”

 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

 The past effort: 2007-2009

— A group of community and business leaders saw the potential economic impact of an event center.
— This past effort focused on the Arcadia Commons West Site for which drawings and engineering were completed.
— Sources of funding were based on the Food and Beverage Surcharge as well as Hotel Accommodations Tax.
— Kalamazoo County appointed a vetting committee which proved the funding source was viable to pay bonds.

 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
 Newell expansion
 Stryker medical expansion
 Stryker instruments research and
design campus
 Kalamazoo gourmet expansion
 Pfizer manufacturing expansion
 Consumers credit union
headquarters
 Corner at drake – Costco/trader
joes
 Vicksburg mill
 Bronson/gazette redevelopment
 Lot 2 apartments
 Westgate center
 Porter st. mixed-use conversion
 Lot 9 office & apartments
 Rose street hotel
 Exchange place
 Peregrine 100
Gibson redevelopment
 grow and retain
 The foundry
All of these projects have
two things in common:
1: They are all privately
funded, to the tune of
more than $1.35 billion,
and
2: They are all dependent on
the community’s ability to
college-educated
residents.
The Key to College-Educated Residents
While these investments are
making Kalamazoo County both
vibrant and desirable for current
and future residents, the key to
our future sustainable success is
College-educated
residents.
The Kalamazoo region is
20% below the
national average
in residents with bachelor’s
degrees.
The region ranks in the
BOTTOM TIER
of its peers in percentage of
growth of its 18-34-year-old
population.
The importance of bachelor’s Since the great recession,
95% of
degrees cannot be overstated
from both an economic
equity and family income
the net
standpoint.
If the Kalamazoo region
new jobs
were simply average,
our families would have
$700 million more created in America required a
in their bank accounts annually.
college degree.
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.

An events center, a focus on making our urban

core user-friendly and vibrant, and a
concentrated effort on supporting Western
Michigan University’s student growth and
retention is the next critical step in Kalamazoo
Counties quest to MAGNIFY THE FUTURE.
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.

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.

60% said they would

use the event center
36% not likely
4% uncertain
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?

1. Instruct staff to move 2. Give the Green light

forward on the to put together with us
Land exchange. a plan to place the
issue on the ballot.
THANK YOU