Municipal government
Appears in 19 stories · Last updated Nov 11, 2026
Hosts detour traffic on city streets
The Pearl Street entrance ramp to northbound US-131 in downtown Grand Rapids has been closed since Sept. 8, when the Michigan Department of Transportation shut it for seven weeks. The agency listed Oct. 30 for reopening and, as of Nov. 10, had not said whether it is back open.
Updated Yesterday
Moved comptroller duties to city manager in 2025
Max Frantz lost his reelection bid for Grand Rapids city comptroller to David Bulkowski, WOODTV reported on Nov. 4, 2026. Frantz had sued the city after it moved 13 accounting and auditing staff and later transferred comptroller duties to the city manager.
Updated 4 days ago
Owner and operator of the Water Resource Recovery Facility
Grand Rapids' wastewater plant treats 40 million gallons a day. A city commission committee approved a $1.75 million contract with Bazen Electric in October to replace the plant's aging North Primary Substation, capped at $2.15 million.
Updated Nov 3
Overseeing a record construction boom
Fido & Stitch opened on Monroe Avenue NW in 2015. Owner Alli McDonough announced in early October that the Grand Rapids store would close, with its last day set for Oct. 28.
Updated Nov 1
Coordinates local roadwork and provides construction information
Southbound US-131 is moving again through downtown Grand Rapids after the two left lanes between Ann and Bridge streets reopened October 12. MDOT's $1 million bridge repair at the I-196 interchange reached its listed October 30 end date without a public announcement that the remaining ramps had reopened.
Updated Oct 31
Managing the pedestrian crossing upgrade program
Construction has started on a $75,000 safety project on Michigan Street, which adds flashing pedestrian beacons at Houseman and Grand avenues plus curb extensions that shorten the crossings. The city announced the start of work on Oct. 19 and expects the project to finish in November, around Thanksgiving.
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.
Established and oversees the United Response Fund
Grand Rapids residents whose homes burn, flood, or lose power for days now have a new source of fast cash. The City Commission's Fiscal Committee approved an agreement on Oct. 27 for Heart of West Michigan United Way to run the Grand Rapids United Response Fund, seeded with $100,000 for fiscal year 2027.
Updated Oct 30
Contracting entity; must comply with federal web accessibility rules
Every page the City of Grand Rapids publishes online now carries a federal compliance requirement. On October 27, the city's Fiscal Committee approved a three-year, $140,000 expansion of its GovStack website contract to add automated accessibility tools.
Requires additional business licensing for food vendors
Rad.ish Street Food is already selling vegan food in Grand Rapids. A Rad.ish page says its website began taking orders September 1, 2026, with pickup set for September 5.
Updated Oct 26
Pilot ended Oct. 3; has not announced whether the expanded Homeless Outreach Team hours will continue
Grand Rapids added evening and weekend shifts to its Homeless Outreach Team for ArtPrize, a 16-day test that ran Sept. 18 to Oct. 3 while an estimated million visitors crowded downtown. The festival is over, and the city has not said whether the extra hours will continue.
Updated Oct 23
Approved the license locally
Grand Rapids' new soccer stadium moved a step closer to serving alcohol. On Oct. 6 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.
Updated Oct 13
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 led the ballpark's $5.75 million renovation, to manage daily operations.
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 Matt Richenthal. The city's Fiscal Committee approved the donation and an agreement with SeyferthPR to run the campaign on October 6.
As of September 2026: 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
As of September 2026: 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
As of September 2026: 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
As of August 2026: 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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