Kent County Opens New Fleet Services Facility
New facility will enhance operations and efficiency
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (September 26, 2023) – Kent County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today for its new Fleet Services building, located at 831 Ball Avenue NE in Grand Rapids. Its brand-new 13,170 square foot facility will serve as a centralized hub for the maintenance and repair of more than 300 county vehicles and equipment.
"We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of our new state-of-the-art Fleet Services facility, a testament to our commitment to efficiency and fiscal responsibility,” said Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Stan Stek. “This cutting-edge facility empowers us to bring critical services in-house, reducing our reliance on external resources and, in turn, safeguarding taxpayer dollars.”
The Fleet Services Division provides preventative maintenance and repair services, emergency and municipal vehicle upfitting, fueling infrastructure, motor pool vehicles, and other ancillary services to county departments and offices excluding the Department of Public Works. The new facility will provide:
- a shop with 12 work bays and 20-foot ceilings,
- specialized bays for different vehicle types,
- open workspaces for emergency and municipal vehicle upfitting,
- designated storage spaces for equipment,
- a large parts storage space to expedite repair times,
- updated technology and fiber network, and
- offices and workspaces for the six fleet maintenance staff.
Over the past five years, Kent County has experienced a remarkable growth in population, leading to a corresponding 20 percent increase in the size of our county fleet.
"I want to thank our Fleet Services team,” said Kent County Administrator Al Vanderberg. “They play a pivotal role in keeping our county running smoothly and our vehicles on the road, ready to serve our community.”
Construction started on the Fleet Services building in late 2022, and County staff began using the facility in September of 2023. The project cost approximately $4.4 million and was funded through the Capital Improvement Program, which reduces or eliminates the size of debt associated with large capital projects.
Kent County contracted with Progressive AE for architecture and engineering and Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. for construction.
“What makes this accomplishment even more remarkable is that we achieved it without resorting to bonding or incurring unnecessary debt,” concluded Stek. “By diligently managing our resources, we are better positioned to meet the ever-evolving needs of our community.”
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 Click here for additional facility and event photos.
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