This story is part of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative’s coverage of equitable community development. SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. To learn more, visit swmichjournalism.com .

KALAMAZOO, MI – It was 30 years ago that Kalamazoo-area residents woke to news that hit like a collective gut punch.

The Upjohn Co. – the pharmaceutical company based in Kalamazoo County since 1886 -- announced it was merging with Pharmacia, a Swedish drugmaker.

At the time of the 1995 merger, Upjohn employed almost 7,000 people locally. But Upjohn was more than just the county’s largest employer and taxpayer. For decades, it was the community’s safety net, its problem solver, its sugar daddy, the region’s dominant entity.

With the

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