Municipal Government
Appears in 14 stories
Approving body
A Grand Rapids committee approved a ten-year property tax exemption for a building at 1024 Martin Luther King Jr. Street SE, advancing a plan to turn the 5,335-square-foot structure into a childcare center. Owner 1024 MLK LLC plans a $1 million renovation.
Updated 1 hour ago
Approved the license locally
Grand Rapids' new soccer stadium cleared a key hurdle this week. The city's Committee of the Whole approved a liquor license for Amway Stadium, letting the 8,500-seat venue sell beer, wine, and spirits. The license now goes to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for final review.
Owner and operator of the Water Resource Recovery Facility
Grand Rapids' wastewater plant treats 40 million gallons a day. Its main electrical substation is aging, and the city just approved a $2.15 million contract to replace it.
Project owner and funder
A storm sewer outlet on Portman Lane SE failed during heavy spring rain, and the city is moving the pipe to a safer spot. The Committee approved a $138,115 contract with Kentwood Excavating Inc. on October 6.
Owner of Sullivan Field, retains final authority
Grand Rapids' Sullivan Field, a city-owned ballpark built in 1937, is getting a new operator. The city's Community Development Committee approved a three-year user agreement with Fans of Valley Field, the nonprofit that helped fund the ballpark's renovation, to manage daily operations.
Updated 2 hours ago
Administering the campaign and donation
Grand Rapids is running an 11-month campaign to raise college-going aspirations among first-generation and underserved students, funded by a $70,000 donation from East Grand Rapids resident Matt Richenthal. The city's Fiscal Committee approved the donation and an agreement with SeyferthPR to run the campaign on October 6.
Overseeing a record construction boom
Fido & Stitch opened on Monroe Avenue NW in 2015, when the street felt "kind of booming with more eclectic businesses." Owner Alli McDonough is closing that Grand Rapids location this month, with the last day set for Oct. 28.
Updated Yesterday
Coordinates local roadwork and provides construction information
Two left lanes on southbound US-131 in Grand Rapids stay closed through at least October 12 for the $1 million bridge repair at the I-196 interchange. The lanes sit between Ann and Bridge streets; MDOT says the bridge work lasts at least another month.
Updated 6 days ago
Project owner and construction contract holder
Heavy machinery entered the Grand River on July 1, 2026, starting a two-year project to remove four low-head dams and restore the rapids that gave Grand Rapids its name. The work follows 18 years of planning, permitting, and fundraising by the city and Grand Rapids Whitewater.
Updated Sep 30
Hosts detour traffic on city streets
Drivers heading north on US-131 through downtown Grand Rapids lost the Pearl Street entrance ramp on Sept 8. MDOT closed it for seven weeks, routing traffic off the highway and onto College Avenue.
Updated Sep 22
Operating the pilot
Grand Rapids' Homeless Outreach Team normally works weekdays during the day. For ArtPrize, the city is adding evening and weekend shifts—a 16-day test that runs as an estimated million visitors crowd downtown.
Updated Sep 17
Cutting precincts from 74 to 59
Greenville, Michigan, will cut its four voting precincts to two, starting in 2027. The city joins a statewide wave of consolidation made possible by a law that raised the maximum precinct size from 2,999 voters to 4,999.
Updated Sep 6
Coordinating road closures and detours
Construction crews started September 1 on Cherry Street in Grand Rapids, replacing underground duct banks that carry power to Trinity Health hospital and nearby businesses. The three-phase project closes busy intersections and reroutes traffic into early November.
Updated Sep 4
Approved the Development District Liquor License
A new cocktail bar is cleared to open in downtown Grand Rapids. The 1850 Room, at 53 Monroe Center St NW, now holds both the city liquor license and the county food establishment license it needs to serve customers. The approvals came between May and August 2026, and no opening date has been announced.
Updated Aug 27
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