A Note From The Administrator
I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July holiday! I will be off on vacation with my wife in Alaska this week, but (as always) I was grateful for the opportunity to celebrate our nation's independence.
Please join me in congratulating our Animal Shelter team and Director Angela Hollinshead on receiving a 2025 NACo Achievement Award, which recognizes innovative county government programs, for their 24-Hour Pet Chip Scanning Stations! Located at our Fuller Campus and North Kent facility in Cedar Springs, these stations help residents more conveniently reunite lost pets with their owners - reducing shelter intake and calls to Animal Control. It's a win for pets, their people, and the community.
As always, please let us know if you have articles, topics, or ideas that you would like to include in future newsletters.
- Al Vanderberg
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Second Measles Case Confirmed In Kent County
Our Health Department team has confirmed a second case of measles in the county, involving a young child with recent international travel. This is part of a concerning rise in vaccine-preventable diseases across the state and beyond. Health officials are reminding residents that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles, a highly contagious virus that can linger in the air for up to two hours.
One public exposure site has been identified: Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Emergency Room between 11:38 p.m. on Friday, June 27, and 12:06 a.m. on Saturday, June 28. Anyone present during that time should monitor for symptoms through July 19.
Measles can cause serious illness, especially in young children and people with weakened immune systems. If you believe you’ve been exposed or develop symptoms, contact your healthcare provider before seeking care in person. For more information, visit our website or call 616-632-7228.
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New Housing Report Highlights Progress in Kent County
A new 2025–2030 Housing Needs Assessment prepared by Housing Next shows encouraging progress in addressing the County’s housing shortage. The report indicates the overall housing gap has narrowed slightly and points to strong opportunities for expanding access - particularly for middle-income households.
From 2022 through 2024, Kent County added more than 6,000 new housing units. Some of these developments were supported by the County's Affordable Housing Revolving Loan Fund, with more units expected as additional projects move forward.
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Employee Spotlight: Roman Hendrixson
We are so grateful for Roman's work as a Customer Service Technician in our IT Department. In his role, he helps ensure that technology runs smoothly across our organization by supporting staff, resolving issues, and making systems work effectively with available resources.
"The most rewarding part of the job is figuring out how to fix a problem that has been causing issues for others. It's a very satisfying process and feeling."
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Community Comes Together To Support Farmland Preservation
Thank You, Kent County! We’re so grateful to everyone who braved the heat to support local farms during our Culver’s Share Night events, at all 10 Kent County locations.
A big thank you to Culver’s and their amazing staff for donating 10% of sales to support our Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program! Thanks to their generosity, we raised over $3,500 to help preserve local farmland. These funds will support the County’s PDR program by helping cover closing costs incurred during the process and by expanding access to vital resources like farm succession planning for our agricultural community.
We also want to thank our dedicated volunteers, County Commissioners, Agriculture Preservation Board members, and partners who brought John Deere tractors to each site - what a hit! With over 13,000 acres of farmland lost in just five years, your support helps preserve the land that feeds all of us.
Adoptable Pets Get The Rockstar Treatment At GLC Live
Our Animal Shelter is excited to partner with GLC Live at 20 Monroe, where touring artists can meet adoptable pets before their shows. It’s a fun way to give our animals extra love and to raise awareness about the adoptable pets available at our shelter.
A few weeks ago, our pup Wilder met Band of Horses, and today he got more snuggles from the crew and band members of The Fray. He loved the attention - and the snacks!
Wilder is 8 months old, sweet, smart, and ready for a forever home. If you're looking for a rockstar of a dog, come meet him! To view all of our adoptable pets, visit here.
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Kent County Infant Mortality Rate Hits New Low
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has recently shared promising news about a decline in infant deaths across the state. Michigan's infant mortality rate has reached its lowest point in recorded history - 6.1 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Kent County is doing even better. In 2023, the most recent year with available data, the county reported an infant mortality rate of 4.5 deaths per 1,000 live births, significantly lower than the state average.
Infant mortality is a key indicator of community health, and our Health Department continues to lead efforts to support healthy pregnancies and safe infant care. Programs like Maternal Infant Health Program, Nurse-Family Partnership, Strong Beginnings, WIC, immunizations, and Safe Sleep are helping more babies thrive.
While challenges remain, we're encouraged by the progress and the growing number of babies reaching their first birthday.
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MSU Extension Announces New Director for District 7
Please join us in welcoming Kai Gritter as the new District 7 Director for MSU Extension.
Kai brings a strong background in program leadership, outreach, and partnership-building, most recently serving as Interim Director for District 13 in southwest Michigan. Since joining MSU Extension in 2019, she has led efforts in SNAP Outreach for Veterans and facilitated impactful programs in mental health, stress management, and healthy aging.
She looks forward to connecting with colleagues, partners, and community members across the district in the weeks ahead. We’re excited to welcome Kai into this new role beginning Monday, July 14.
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"A to Z: Discovering Kent County" Series Highlights Independence Day Celebrations
As part of our "A to Z: Discovering Kent County" series, it only seemed appropriate to highlight Independence Day celebrations for the letter I!
From 19th-century cannon fire and satirical parades to neighborhood bike brigades and riverfront fireworks, Independence Day in Kent County has always been more than a party - it has reflected both national pride and the region’s distinctive spirit. Grand Rapids has long been at the heart of these festivities, hosting parades, cannon blasts, concerts, and public readings of the Declaration of Independence as early as the 1850s. On the nation’s centennial in 1876, downtown Grand Rapids erected enormous arches, hosted three days of celebrations, and drew crowds from across West Michigan...
For the full article, visit our Facebook page here.
Parks Volunteers Tackle Trails, Trees, And Invasive Species
A huge thank you to our amazing Parks Department volunteers who braved the heat to help care for parks and natural areas!
This week, a dedicated science teacher led a large group of youth from the Church of Latter-day Saints in removing invasive autumn olive along the trails. Our interns continued mapping native and invasive trees using the 123 Tree Survey App, while our Eco-Stewardship crews tackled buckthorn at Provin Trails and autumn olive at Wabasis Lake Park—where they even spotted frogs and a swift nest.
Want to make a difference? Visit us at kentcountymi.gov/volunteer
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Summer at Kent School Services Network
Kent School Services Network (KSSN) doesn’t take a summer break! KSSN community school coordinators use the summer months for professional development, working with school administrators to plan for the next school year and engaging with students.
Student engagement includes incorporating fun activities for students in the summer school program and hosting learning programs for kids on summer break in partnership with Kent District Library and Michigan State University Extension. KSSN was also thrilled to learn this summer of a 3-year $750,000 Wege Foundation grant award to support student and family success in Kent County.
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Free Food Vendor Workshops
Explore Rewarding Careers At Kent County Today
Working for the County, you will have the opportunity to serve the public and your community. We have employment opportunities in general government, health, public safety, judicial, recreational, and much more. To view our open positions and apply, visit kentcountymi.gov/jobs. To learn more about our employee value proposition, visit here.
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