Kent County Partners with Vicinity Energy to Operate Waste to Energy Facility
(Stephen Faber, Department of Public Works)
Vicinity Energy is partnering with Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) to operate the Waste-to-Energy facility in Grand Rapids. Vicinity and DPW have entered into a long-term service agreement that ensures the facility will operate safely and efficiently. The partnership will save Kent County in operating costs annually while reinforcing its commitment to quality service, the environment, and the local workforce.
Vicinity has welcomed the existing plant employees to its team and will hire more team members to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable services are delivered to the residents and businesses served by the facility.
Walk for Warmth is Back in 2023!
Did you know that many people right here in Kent County struggle to pay their heating bills and that Kent County Community Action has programs to help?
That’s why Kent County Community Action is welcoming back Walk for Warmth this March after a 2-year hiatus! Walk for Warmth is an annual event, hosted by Community Action Agencies across the country, to raise awareness and funds for heating fuel assistance programs. Here in Kent County, all proceeds from the event go directly to heating assistance for families in need.
So, put on your walking shoes (or boots!) and join us. You can participate in the event by sponsoring, walking, or donating!
What: Walk for Warmth
When: Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 8:30 a.m.
Where: 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Street, Suite 110 Grand Rapids, MI 49507
For more information or to register click here.
Experience Grand Rapids Resident Tourism Survey
Experience Grand Rapids, our regional destination marketing agency, wants to hear from you. They are conducting a brief survey to gather Kent County residents’ opinions on tourism in Grand Rapids and across Kent County. Your response is important and will help them communicate and engage with area residents more effectively about tourism development projects that may have an impact on you and your community.
The anonymous survey will take about 15 minutes to complete and is available in English and Spanish. And, because your response is important to them and our community, three (3) randomly selected respondents will receive $100 Visa gift cards! To be entered in the drawing, you must provide an email address, but email addresses will be collected by Experience Grand Rapids’ survey partner, Longwoods International, and will not be attached to your survey responses. Entering the drawing is optional—you may still complete the survey without providing an email address.
Thanks, in advance, for your participation and for helping to make Grand Rapids and Kent County a great place to live and visit! Responses will be collected through February 19.
Kent County Community Needs Assessment
Kent County Community Action (KCCA) is gathering community input as part of a process called a community needs assessment. This assessment is an opportunity for residents to give leaders information that will help them make decisions about KCCA’s services in the future.
Everyone who completes the survey will be invited to enter a weekly drawing for a $50 utility credit. Please take the survey by March 17 to qualify for this credit!
Kent/Ottawa Severe Weather Spotter Training 2023
The Ottawa and Kent County SKYWARN groups are offering Severe Weather Spotter Training to the residents of the counties surrounding the National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids. Storm spotters provide valuable information on all types of weather hazards to meteorologists in their local National Weather Service forecast offices. Meteorologists use this information, especially when it comes to severe storms, to create a complete picture of area weather conditions. Learn more here.
The SKYWARN training will be held at the Grandville Middle School located at 3535 Wilson in Grandville on March 21, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Employee Recognition Program
One of our core values is to provide high-quality service to internal and external customers. Board Chair Stan Stek and our County Administrator had the recent pleasure to acknowledge two of our employees who are living out this value - Kory Drake and Katelind (Kate) Dubridge.
Kory Drake is a Surveillance Officer with the 17th Judicial Circuit Court - Family Division and was recognized for high-quality service within her department and the community.
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Kate Dubridge is an Office Administrator with the County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office and was recognized for meaningful impact on the external customers of the County.
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Read more about Kory and Kate's nominations here. Congratulations Kory and Kate!
If you know a County employee who deserves to be recognized for providing high-quality service, please take a moment to share your story by completing a nomination form here.
Join Our Team!
Click here to see current career opportunities.
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