Over the past eighteen months, few communities in Southwest Michigan have moved faster than Greater Buchanan. Public and private dollars have poured into infrastructure, placemaking, and redevelopment. The Grant Hotel and McCollum’s Restaurant & Bar brought life back to a long-dormant downtown landmark. The Buchanan Social District opened new doors for foot traffic and local business. And the momentum has continued to build—one project, one reinvestment, one ribbon cutting at a time.
Now, that momentum has a new engine behind it.
A Formal Partnership
The Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber have entered into a formal partnership designed to strengthen business support, expand local capacity, and position Greater Buchanan for its next phase of economic growth. The agreement marks the latest adoption of the Regional Chamber’s collaborative model, with Buchanan joining Niles and Bridgman in a coordinated, county-wide approach to economic development.
Under the new structure, the Buchanan Area Chamber will maintain its local identity, governance, and membership while integrating into the Regional Chamber’s operational infrastructure—preserving local leadership and focus while unlocking enhanced advocacy, expanded programming, broader regional visibility, and a renewed focus on business retention, expansion,
and attraction.
“The City of Buchanan has long valued the support the Regional Chamber has given to our community, and a formal partnership with our local chamber will only multiply that impact,” said Mark Weedon, Mayor of Buchanan. “It strengthens our ability to serve local businesses and positions Greater Buchanan for long-term growth and economic vitality.”
Building on a Longstanding Relationship
The agreement formalizes a working relationship that has quietly been building for years. The two organizations previously collaborated on the Buchanan Social District and key downtown redevelopment projects, including The Grant Hotel and McCollum’s Restaurant & Bar. The Regional Chamber has also provided steadfast support to the City of Buchanan and Buchanan Charter Township on various economic development priorities.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to more closely partner with the Buchanan Area Chamber and the Greater Buchanan community,” said Arthur Havlicek, President & CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. “There’s tremendous momentum in Buchanan, and we look forward to helping this community reach its full potential.”
Havlicek credited the Buchanan Chamber Board of Directors for embracing a forward-looking approach that positions both the organization and the community for continued growth.
A Fresh Start
For the Buchanan Chamber board, the partnership represents more than an operational alignment. It’s a reset—a deliberate move to rebuild confidence among area businesses through consistent leadership, transparency, and expanded resources.
“This partnership with the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber represents a fresh start and an opportunity to reset and refocus on the mission of the chamber,” said Kyle Zelmer, Buchanan Area Chamber Board Chair. “Our business community deserves strong support, collaboration, and a shared vision for growth. We recognize that trust has been strained in recent years, and rebuilding those relationships is essential moving forward.”
Zelmer emphasized that the partnership will prioritize collaboration with key local partners, including the Buchanan Downtown Development Authority and the Buchanan Business Boosters, as the community continues to grow.
“By getting back to our roots and working alongside the Regional Chamber, Buchanan DDA, the Business Boosters, and our local business owners, we can work together to bring renewed energy, collaboration, and growth to Buchanan,” Zelmer added.
The Way Forward
Buchanan’s decision to align with the Regional Chamber continues a pattern that has reshaped how Southwest Michigan approaches economic development. With Bridgman, Niles, and now Buchanan operating under the same collaborative framework, the Regional Chamber is building the kind of coordinated ecosystem that successful communities across the country rely on to compete for talent, investment, and opportunity.
Additional details regarding new programming, events, and initiatives for Buchanan will be shared in the coming weeks. For a community that has spent the last eighteen months betting on itself, the next chapter is just beginning.
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