County Profile & Overview
Located in Western Michigan, Kent County is the fourth largest population
center in Michigan. Covering 856 square miles, the County is home to 596,666
people. The County is composed of twenty-one townships, five villages and
nine cities.
The County seat, Grand Rapids, has a population of 201,835 and is 150 miles west of Detroit; 180 miles northeast of Chicago; and 30 miles from Lake Michigan. The greater Grand Rapids area forms the urban center of the County. Grand Rapids is known for being the home of the 38th President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford. The Gerald R. Ford Museum is located in the City of Grand Rapids and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is located within the County.
The Grand River, the largest in Michigan, runs through the County. On its west bank are burial mounds, remnants of the Hopewell Indians who once lived there. The valley of the river served as an important center for the fur trade in the early 1800s. By the end of the century, stimulated by the construction of several sawmills, the area was a significant center for agriculture, logging, and manufacturing furniture.
The County was organized as a county by the territorial legislature on March 24, 1836. The County is governed by a Board of Commissioners (Board) whose numbers ranged from three in 1836 up to 77 as recently as 1968. As a result of a United States Supreme Court decision in 1969, the number of commissioners was reduced to 21. The Board took action in 1992 to reduce further the number of members to 19 effective January 1993.
The
County provides a range of services including sheriff, correctional facility,
three court systems, airport, fire, social services both State and County
funded, public health, mental health, park system and zoo. The Department
of Public Works manages a waste-to-energy incinerator and landfill, maintains
some local unit water and sanitary sewer systems, and provides for the construction
of these local systems. The Kent County Drain Commission is responsible for
the construction and maintenance of County drains and the control of lake
levels.
High Quality of Life
With a healthy economy, low taxes, affordable housing, and Midwestern hospitality, Kent County offers the best in both business and family location. Kent County is the economic and manufacturing center of West Michigan. Major employers include Spectrum Health, Meijer Incorporated, Steelcase Incorporated, Alticor Incorporated and Spartan Stores. It is also the home of the Frederik Meijer Gardens, a significant cultural landmark of the Midwest.
Kent County offers a thriving arts community and a diverse range of entertainment options for every season. The County has over 50 parks, offering activities such as golfing, swimming, biking, roller blading, walking, cross country skiing, fishing, boating, camping, and a variety of playing fields. The award-winning 12,000 seat Van Andel Arena, located in Grand Rapids, is home to the Griffins hockey team and the Rampage arena football team, as well as major concerts and sporting events.
Local Economy
Major
industries located within the boundaries of Kent County or in close proximity
include manufacturers of office equipment and furniture, heating controls,
and automotive parts as well as several financial institutions, health care,
retail food and merchandise, and insurance companies. The Grand Rapids metropolitan
area, which is the hub of the County, is one of the fastest growing regions
of the United States. The area has begun to experience significant employment
increases in the educational and health services industry. Several projects
that will provide additional employment opportunities in this industry are
either recently completed, nearing completion or about to break ground. These
projects and a brief description of each include:
- Spectrum Health - Lemmen Holton Cancer Pavilion – The hospital recently broke ground on this new facility. The projected cost of the project is $78 million and is scheduled to open in late 2007. The new facility will provide a comprehensive cancer treatment program.
- Spectrum Hospital – DeVos Children’s Hospital - The hospital began construction of a new 415,000 square foot facility in the fall of 2006. This new $190 million facility is scheduled to open in 2010.
- Metro Hospital – A new 208-bed facility located in southwest Kent County. This $190 million facility opened in the fall of 2007.
- VanAndel Institute – This medical research facility recently announced plans to break ground, in 2006, for construction of a 280,000 square foot addition to its existing research complex. This $120 million project is scheduled for opening in the fall of 2008.
- Michigan State University Medical School – The University continues to work with local hospitals, research institutes and philanthropic partners to establish a relocated medical school in the community. The school is scheduled to begin its local program by 2008, in temporary facilities, transitioning to full operations by 2010. The parties continue to look at funding for (estimated $60 million) and location of a new facility to house the program.
- St. Mary’s Hospital – The hospital recently broke ground on the construction of a new 150,000 square foot neurology services facility. This $60 million facility is scheduled to open in 2008.
Factors that have encouraged major projects and have attracted numerous firms from outside the area are: a strong but highly diversified base of industries, an excellent work force, educational opportunities, excellent employer/employee relations, good location and transportation facilities, utilities and possibly the most important, quality of life.
The County has experienced a favorable local economic environment for a number of years. The area has a diversified employment base, which adds to the strength of the local economy. During the past ten years, the unemployment rate has fluctuated from a decade low of 2.9% (1998) to a decade high of 7.9% (2003), only to descend once more to the current rate of 5.8%. Unemployment is expected to remain stable or decrease still further due to the expanding economy discussed above.
