Stories

Longform Palmer-Park

Making parks and green spaces easier to access for Detroiters

If you have a park that doesn't look great and hasn't been renovated in many decades, that can be the thing that drags down the entire feeling of the neighborhood. Here's how the city is fighting against time to maintain the city's parks.

Development News B corp

Bills will help B-corps do more good

A comprehensive four-bill package introduced on October 14 will allow legal recognition of certified benefit corporations (B-corps) in Michigan. B-corps balance purpose and profit by considering their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment as well as financial success.

Feature Story MSU Extension

MSU Extension Center Uses Digital Resources to Ensure Community Health

Reaching out to local Kent County residents is at the heart of Michigan State University’s Extension Center (MSUE). District 7 Director Erin Moore says that help is not only available, but resources are more accessible than ever to residents in Kent, Ottawa, Allegan, and Barry counties.

Feature Story K Connect

Addressing housing stability in Kent County means redefining the issue

Redefining the Path Home: System Building for Housing Stability in Kent County,” was released in summer 2020 by the Housing Stability Alliance, in partnership with KConnect.The plan to address housing stability is the result of nearly 2 years of discussions and research by cross sector stakeholders in the community.

Innovation News terrapin

Grand Rapids’ Terrapin expands to recreational marijuana production

Terrapin’s production facility in Grand Rapids is expanding beyond medical marijuana to include recreational marijuana production, bringing additional jobs and products. 

Longform Marsh-View-Park-

Parks for all: How Michigan communities are making their outdoor spaces safe and accessible

Wheelchair-accessible paths and boardwalks, ADA-compliant restroom facilities, and universally accessible kayak launches are just a few development projects that can bring new visitors to parks.

Longform pumphouse

The big view: Saving Holland's Mt. Pisgah for future visitors

Hollan's Mt. Pisgah sand dune was loved a little too well -- its visitors were causing severe erosion. Then the local community and state partnered to help preserve it for future generations.

Longform Eastern Market staff load food boxes that were ordered online.

COVID-19 prompts many Michigan farmers and farmers markets to offer online sales for the first time

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many health challenges, but it's also made it easier than ever for Michiganders to get healthy, local food, as many farmers and farmers markets have started reaching customers online.

Feature Story Alita Kelly

Fueling the future she wants to see: A Q&A with South East Market co-founder Alita Kelly

Alita Kelly is passionate about food justice, education, and empowerment. Through her recently launched business, the South East Market, she is working to serve her community and improve people’s quality of life, as well as foster new dialogues about the food system.

Partner Content Students toss a healthy kale salad.

Healthy Habits Start Now through collaboration between Livingston and Washtenaw counties

Livingston Educational Service Agency's Healthy Habits Start Now (HHSN) program helps families understand the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables every day and the benefits of being more physically active. 

Longform Bete-Grise-Beach

Way up north: Preserving the majesty of Michigan’s Tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula

Keweenaw County is Michigan's least populous county and is defined by sprawling, diverse wilderness.

Feature Story Six 2020 Discover Manufacturing Week scholarships, valued at $500 each, are available to high school seniors pursuing a manufacturing-related career in Michigan.

Career awareness event to highlight creativity, innovation in manufacturing

Discover Manufacturing Week, which celebrates the manufacturing industry, will feature West Michigan manufacturers taking part in interactive virtual experiences for high school students. These virtual block parties will highlight the creativity, technology, and innovation of modern manufacturing.

Longform Grand Rapids resident Yvonne Woodard has had several low birth weight children and grandchildren.

As awareness of racism's role in infant mortality grows, Michigan takes action

For Black infants, racism's impacts begin at birth – and may be deadly. But practitioners across Michigan are coming together to address it through a proposed expansion of the state's Healthy Moms Healthy Babies program.

Feature Story Lucia Rios with her mail-in ballot.

How COVID-19 changed voting for people with disabilities

Lucia Rios shares how people with disabilities have struggled for years to participate in voting -- and how accessibility changed for the better this year. 

Feature Story Aleprize

Local artists collaborate in Day of the Dead installation

Amidst the uncertainty of COVID-19 and a presidential election year, Grand Rapids artists Alynn Guerra and Carlos Aceves collaborated on a piece that celebrates their Mexican heritage and allows them to display their art to the world. Together they created a fabric art installation for Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, as part of October's Aleprize.

Feature Story Hawthorn Pond Natural Area is located in Holland Township. (Photo by Mike Lozon)

What to do in November? 7 activities to enjoy along the Lakeshore

Even as the weather turns chilly, there are still plenty of fun things to do along the Lakeshore. Whether you want to get outside or stay home, there are enjoyable ways to explore Ottawa and Allegan counties. This list includes options for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or interest.   

Feature Story A 133- unit condominium and apartment development is being proposed for downtown Grand Haven.

New residential development proposed for downtown Grand Haven

The Grand Haven City Council is seeking public input during its Nov. 2 meeting as it considers the future of the proposed Peerless Flats development. The developer is seeking approval for an update to a zoning ordinance, adoption of a Brownfield plan and the merger of two city blocks into one parcel.

Feature Story Herman Miller employees take part in the Grand Rapids Climate Strike in 2019.

Herman Miller’s ‘Day of Purpose’ provides paid time off on Election Day

In its longstanding tradition of engaging employees as active citizens in their communities, Herman Miller is inaugurating a “Day of Purpose,” giving all employees worldwide a paid day off on Nov. 3. The global manufacturer is one of hundreds of U.S. companies taking part in the nonpartisan “Time to Vote” initiative, which aims to increase voter participation.  

Feature Story Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland Teen Center Director, Sara Delbene, helps a teen with her homework on a Wi-Fi enabled device.

Boys & Girls Club steps up to support youth during the pandemic

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland has used a $10,000 grant from Comcast to purchase up-to-date technology. The investment gives the organization a way to offer youth the means to more efficiently do their schoolwork and improve their digital literacy.

Longform tremaine-redcliff

Building partnerships to redevelop riverfronts in Flint and Detroit

Putting together accessible and popular open-spaces can be difficult for cities that have experienced financial setbacks, particularly when dealing with the expensive and complicated tasks of redeveloping once industrial waterfronts.