Celery Flats is rising from tornado devastation with an innovative approach that's catching statewide attention.

 

Eighteen months after a destructive tornado stripped Portage's historic park, the community has launched the Library of Trees — a groundbreaking project that's turning disaster into opportunity.

 

Rather than randomly replanting, volunteers and city staff are mapping surviving trees to create a living database of climate resilience. Annie Pryor, the city's recreation program manager, explains that these survivors are "telling us stories about soil health, temperature shifts, and pest resistance."

 

This data-driven strategy is guiding Portage's largest reforestation effort ever — 250 new trees this fall funded by $150,000 in state grants.

 

Twin Lakes Nursery will handle professional planting under a $182,500 contract, while community volunteers continue weekend mapping sessions and the popular "Leaf-A-Legacy" donation program.

 

Early results show higher survival rates for native species selected through the program compared to previous random plantings. Other Michigan communities are now requesting information about Portage's innovative approach to storm recovery.

The Park Trades Center at 326 West Kalamazoo Avenue transforms a century-old manufacturing building into Southwest Michigan's most vibrant creative community.

 

Over 100 artists and creative entrepreneurs now occupy 95 studios across 140,000 square feet of this historic space.

 

Originally home to the Kalamazoo Loose Leaf Binder Company starting in 1906, the building welcomed its first artists in 1971 after industrial tenants moved out.

 

Today's makers practice diverse crafts including glassblowing, metalsmithing, ceramics, woodworking, photography, painting, textiles, and printmaking.

 

Monthly Art Hop events on first Fridays draw hundreds of visitors who explore open studios and witness live demonstrations.

 

Six special 2025 Art Hop celebrations will feature after-hop concerts, guided tours, and community projects.

 

The facility maintains a decade-long partnership with nearby Kalamazoo College, providing studio space where senior art students work alongside professional artisans.

 

Students report this experience shifts their mindset from art student to practicing artist while exposing them to exhibition opportunities and professional networking.

 

Available studio spaces continue welcoming new artists, ensuring this arts incubator remains a living, growing creative hub.

Pro Services Inc., a prominent multi-skilled trades contractor based in Portage, Michigan, is launching a major local expansion expected to create at least 250 new union jobs.

 

This move highlights the company's ongoing dedication to strengthening the area’s workforce and supporting economic growth amid rising demand for skilled trades.

 

Founded in 1987, Pro Services Inc. delivers installation, maintenance, and staffing solutions for clients across the U.S.

 

With a $1.25 million grant from the Michigan Business Development Program, the company will invest $12.4 million, including relocating its headquarters to Tech Park Way in Portage.

 

New roles offer competitive wages starting around $28 per hour with full benefits, providing stability and advantages as union positions.

 

The hiring process is already underway, aiming to fill these vital roles and help address the skilled trades gap in the region.

 

This expansion signals a robust commitment to Portage’s future as a growing hub for manufacturing and skilled labor.

Bab El Salam has revitalized Portage’s food scene with its new Mediterranean buffet, now open daily at 129 W. Centre Ave.

 

Under new ownership since 2023, the restaurant has transitioned from a hybrid market and eatery to a full-scale dining destination featuring three buffet stations.

 

Diners can enjoy authentic favorites like beef and chicken shawarma, kafta chicken, gyro meat, roasted veggies, and a range of salads, dips, and soups, all complemented by fresh pita bread.

 

The buffet is accessible to all with lunch starting at $16 and dinner at $19, plus special pricing for children and students.

 

In addition to the buffet, Bab El Salam offers daily specials and unique wraps such as the Shadia, Sarita, and Lisa, priced between $6 and $8.

 

The restaurant’s dedication to quality and authenticity has quickly earned praise from locals, solidifying its place in Portage’s vibrant dining community.