Congratulations Commissioner Ponstein
Congratulations to Kent County Commissioner Stan Ponstein for being sworn in as the 114th president of the Michigan Association of Counties. Commissioner Ponstein was sworn in on September 20 by Grandville Mayor Steve Maas.
HOME-ARP Grant to Address Homelessness and Housing Stability Needs
(Chad Coffman, Community Action)
The Kent HOME Consortium, a partnership between Kent County and the City of Wyoming that includes all of Kent County outside the city limits of Grand Rapids, has received a $3.4 million grant award through the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This funding is similar to the $127 Million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) except that it must focus on reducing homelessness and increase housing stability in the Kent HOME Consortiums jurisdiction. (The City of Grand Rapids received a similar award directly from HUD.)
Consulting firm Baker-Tilly has been hired to conduct research and gather the community input necessary to prepare a Needs Assessment, which will be used to create a HOME-ARP Allocation Plan for submission to HUD. Multiple online community forums will be held to engage community partners and solicit their feedback about the homelessness and housing stability needs in Kent County (outside of the city limits of Grand Rapids). A public hearing will be held at a later date to collect feedback on the Draft Allocation Plan.
Community Surveys for service providers and the general public, and a detailed summary of the HOME-ARP Grant, is available on Kent County’s Community Development Program website through October 7, 2022.
Broadband Survey Launching Soon
(Jenny James, Deputy County Administrator)
Kent County has partnered with Merit Network to gather input from County residents regarding Internet access.
Residents will be asked to participate in a 5-minute survey, followed by an online Internet speed test for those who have service. The survey can be taken online, via SMS text, or a paper survey can be requested. We are encouraging all residents to participate, whether they have Internet at home or not.
On Sept. 30, we are hosting an informational webinar for community stakeholders as we will need everyone's assistance in making the survey a success. Immediately following the webinar, the survey will be released to the public. An e-mail invitation was sent to community stakeholders on Thursday with all of the pertinent details.
|
Business Opportunities Expo
(Cal Brinks, Purchasing)
The West Michigan Public Purchasing Alliance upcoming Business Expo, hosted by Kent County, is rapidly approaching. This is a great opportunity for the West Michigan business community.
October 12, 2022 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Kent County/MSU Cooperative Extension
775 Ball Ave. NE.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Learn about upcoming business opportunities and visit the educational gardens. Click here to learn more.
Hispanic Heritage Month
(Teresa Branson, DEI)
National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually observed from September 15 to October 15 recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Each week, we will highlight notable individuals and organizations that have worked to create opportunities and advancements for our Hispanic community in Kent County on our Facebook page.
Community Food Distributions
Dates and times of food distributions for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) can be found by clicking the links.
Kent County by the Numbers
Kent County Community Action (KCCA) works to eliminate the causes and circumstances of poverty by investing in individuals and families with low incomes. Through dedicated staff and community partnerships, KCCA provides services, resources, education and advocacy to improve the quality of life for all residents of Kent County.
The Community Action Division focuses on meeting emergency needs such as food, utility assistance, housing, transportation and socialization for residents of Kent County. Additionally, this division assists with areas of self-sufficiency, medical insurance enrollment, tax preparation and information and referral services.
|
