What’s the plan for future housing and community needs throughout Kent County? Local residents are being asked for their input. The deadline is fast approaching for a joint survey to benefit Grand Rapids, Wyoming and Kent County’s community development departments.
“We are looking for the first time to do a survey that is regional so that we’re looking at the housing needs of our entire community and not just in a silo in Wyoming, Grand Rapids and Kent County.”
That’s Linda Likely, Kent County’s Director of Housing and Development. She says a joint effort is underway to determine priorities for future federal grant dollars anticipated by local governments in Grand Rapids, Wyoming and Kent County. In the past, each entity did its own evaluations. They’re joining forces now to look at Kent County as a whole and they’re asking for community input.
“What we need is their input as to what they see as needs in their respective communities. We have questions that range from how safe do you feel in your neighborhood, do you feel sidewalks need improvements, do we need public service, so there’s a plethora of questions designed to pull together what the community feels are their needs.”
Likely says while funding will remain distinct for each community, sharing the costs of the survey saves each entity money .
“If we did it independently, we’d each pay a significant amount of money to get it done; so, we’ve done it jointly and I believe we’re the first in the nation to do it as a consortium to have a regional plan that we’re submitting to HUD.”
The deadline is September 4th. Results should be compiled by December and Likely says then they’ll determine what will be funded. You can call Kent County offices at 616-632-7400 for more information.
