KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners has decided to renew funding for Southwest Michigan First after yanking it in protest last year over their decision to hire former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield.
The Democratic majority of the board was not happy with the politics of of the very conservative Chatfield and ended their annual $75,000 grant to the economic development non-profit.
The opposition from the county and other community groups prompted Chatfield to step down.
The board voted to renew their sponsorship of the group, now that they have hired Jonas Peterson as CEO. He previously served as President and CEO of Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance.
The vote by the Board of Commissioners was not unanimous, with Commissioner John Gisler voting no on principal.
The Board of Commissioners received a presentation from Peterson at their last meeting.
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