Located on the shores of little Lake Macatawa, just off the coast of expansive Lake Michigan, Holland is the epicenter of West Michigan's Dutch history and culture. Not surprisingly, then, the city is perhaps best known for its annual Tulip Time Festival in May. But there's much more to the Tulip City than, well, tulips. The city's downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts as much retail activity as any urban core in the region. The community is flush with wildly popular waterfront beaches like Tunnel Park and Holland State Park. And Hope College lends the clean, conservative town a bit of youthful spirit. Holland is the quintessential family town that's a choice destination to work, live, and recreate.
The Kollen Park Housing Development, created through a collaboration involving a former food pantry, church land, and tribal partnership, is a unique example of how communities can collaboratively address housing challenges.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum's main floor will again transform into a catwalk for emerging designers from the Pamella Roland DeVos School of Fashion at KCAD. This year’s student-led show, “Couture Code,” features original creations and innovative ideas, with each garment telling a story of sustainability, inclusion, and resilience.
“A Holiday I Do” is a Michigan-made holiday movie showcasing familiar destinations and small businesses in Grand Rapids, Saugatuck, and Metro Detroit. The movie puts a unique, inclusive LGBTQ+ spin on the traditional Hallmark-style holiday love story.
Since the pandemic, diaper prices have surged by 48%, costing families up to $1,000 a year per child. A diaper drive in September hopes to collect 15,000 diapers to distribute to families in need.
What began as a four-day pilot project with less than two months of preparation has transformed into Tech Week Grand Rapids, a major event driving the region’s tech growth. The third iteration begins next month.
Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids is partnering with another nonprofit, a church, the city of Holland, and a Native American tribe to create 52 affordable housing units in Holland. The state is supporting the project with access to low-income tax credits.
West Michigan events have shifted to fall themes with many taking place over the next couple of weeks. There is something for everybody!
Skot Welch, Julia Swenson and Carl Dunker are three designers who live and work in West Michigan. They share the ways they work to create a community where people belong.
“The complexity of health care needs within the schools is increasing,” HealthBar CEO Nathan Baar says. HealthBar is that new front door to health care for students in districts that had previously gone without school nurses — a critical connection to health care for students.
Sarah Crookston, Mimi Ray and David Allan are all leaders in design. While they could work anywhere in the world, they discuss why they choose to live and work in West Michigan.
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