Community Updates: Friday, July 28

City of Grand Rapids Seeks Proposals for Third Set of PBGR Community Improvement Projects

On Thursday, July 27, the City of Grand Rapids sent out a press release to announce that it has put out a request for proposals (RFPs) for the third set of Participatory Budgeting Grand Rapids (PBGR) community improvement projects. These projects were selected by Grand Rapidians in a community-wide vote that took place in Fall 2022. 

$2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding has been set aside to facilitate and support 12 resident-selected programs and projects. These programs and projects are aimed at improving health, safety, and quality of life for residents living within the City's three wards. According to the City of Grand Rapids, $600,000 has been allocated to the First Ward, $400,000 has been allocated to the Second Ward, and $1 million has been allocated to the Third Ward.

Earlier this year, the City of Grand Rapids put out a call for RFPs for the first two sets of PBGR projects (the first in March, the second in June). Now, in July, the City is searching for individuals/organizations/agencies to facilitate the third set of PBGR projects:

• Affordable Quality Child Care (First, Third Wards)
• Mental Health Community First Responder (Second Ward)
• Community Based Violence Reduction Initiative (Third Ward)   

Proposals for the third round of PBGR projects must be submitted to the City by 11:59pm on Tuesday, October 3. 

More information about the RFP process and/or the next three PBGR projects can be found on PBGR's website. 

City Leaders Recognize Local Winners of Michigan Water Environment Association Awards

On Tuesday, the City of Grand Rapids announced that the Michigan Water Environment Association (MWEA) had recognized five City staff members and the Grand Rapids Water Resource Recovery Facility "for exceptional and significant contributions to the industry." At the Committee of the Whole meeting that took place on Tuesday, July 25, the Grand Rapids City Commission and other City officials (including Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and City Manager Mark Washington) honored the award winners. According to Mayor Bliss:

"We were thrilled to celebrate the exceptional achievements of these remarkable professionals along with the City of Grand Rapids Water Resource Recovery Facility. Their work exemplifies the City's commitment to sustainability, honors outstanding contributions to water resource management and the innovation that drives the industry forward." 

The awards and recipients are listed below:

These awards were announced at the MWEA's 98th Annual Conference that took place in Grand Rapids from Sunday, June 18 to Wednesday, June 21.  

For more information, visit the City's website. 

Also in the News:

• The Grand Rapids City Commission adopted two very controversial amendments to Chapters 151 ("Nuisances") and 152 ("Disorderly Conduct") of the Grand Rapids City Code. For more information, visit the City's website. To watch the full meeting, visit the City's YouTube channel. To see a detailed account of the meeting, visit The Rapidian's brand new Documenters network.

• The City of Grand Rapids has announced that it will be celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1. For more information, visit the City's website. 

Sharing Your Stories

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