Grand Rapids

Growing child care program splits costs between parents, employers, and the state

Growing child care program splits costs

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Growing child care program splits costs between parents, employers, and the state

Grand Rapids Business Journal | By Rachel Watson | Crain’s Detroit Business | October 19, 2022

GRAND RAPIDS — Michigan is expanding a program to help cover the cost of child care thanks to $2.5 million in the 2023 budget.

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) and the Michigan Women’s Commission on Wednesday announced the expansion of the MI Tri-Share pilot, which divides child care costs evenly between employees, employers and the state, with coordination by regional “facilitator hubs.”

First piloted in March 2021, the program expanded to 59 Michigan counties earlier this month. That’s up from just three counties when it launched as a public-private partnership between the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and Representative Greg VanWoerkom (R-Norton Shores) with $1 million from the state. Lawmakers allocated another $2.5 million to the program in November 2021. By February 2022, seven hubs were added covering 52 counties and the city of Detroit.

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Best Place to Raise a Family - Shield Insurance Agency Blog

Best Places To Raise A Family

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Rocket Homes | 9 MINUTE READ | FEBRUARY 05, 2022

Raising a family is as incredibly rewarding as it is challenging. There’s no doubt that heads of households want to ensure they’re giving their children every chance to thrive academically, mentally and physically, while also providing a safe space for the family unit to strengthen.

The burden doesn’t solely rest on a parent or caregiver’s shoulders. The place they choose to put down roots should also provide support and opportunity. The best cities for families to live will excel in providing safety, affordable care, open spaces to roam and quality learning, whether kids are starting kindergarten or wrapping up their high school years.

Taking those factors into consideration, Rocket HomesSM teamed up with BestPlaces.net to find some of the best locations to raise a family. This diverse list includes college towns, suburban spots, urban locales and several areas of the Midwest, meeting the needs of the country’s many different kinds of families – from those who wish to watch their kids grow up in the hustle and bustle of a big city to those who dream of the white-picket fences and treelined streets of the suburbs.

Finding The Best Places For Families

The researchers at BestPlaces.net used the following metrics to determine the rankings for the best places for families to live in the U.S.:

  • School ratings
  • Crime rate
  • Average cost of child care
  • Amenities for kids
  • Percent of households with children
  • Parks, playgrounds and greenspaces
  • Increase in households with children

1. Grand Rapids, Michigan

Population: 1,074,223

Percent of households with children: 47.9%

Average cost of child care: $9,420

Located just 30 miles from the beaches of Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids has an abundance of opportunities for kids to engage in culture, history, art and nature at more than 20 museums and the world-renown Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Residents can also be sure their children will receive a good education. Grand Rapids ranks in the top 5% in the country for school system ratings, which can be attributed, in part, to the quality of life of its educators, as the city also ranks as one of the best places to be a teacher.

2. Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Maggie’s Be Café serves up purpose, inclusivity in Hudsonville, MI

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Shield Insurance came across this story and wanted to share.
We hope you enjoy and visit this wonderful café!
Maggie’s Be Café 
Opened June 14, located at 6490 28th Ave Hudsonville, MI 49426

by: Brittany Flowers Posted: Jun 14, 2021 / 10:00 AM EDT / Updated: Jun 14, 2021 / 10:00 AM EDT

GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — There’s a new cafe in the Hudsonville area that’s serving “coffee with a purpose.”

Maggie’s Be Café  is much more than your typical coffee shop. For employees like Maggie Fischer, it’s a sense of purpose and a place of inclusivity.

“The main goal is for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to find meaningful work and have a job and love to come to work and love what they’re doing,” said Virginia Fischer, Maggie’s mom and one of the founding members of Maggie’s Be Café . 

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https://www.woodtv.com/news/ottawa-county/hudsonville-area-cafe-serves-up-purpose-inclusivity

#grandopening #coffeeshop #coffeewithapurpose #maggiesbecafe #comingsoon #westmichigan #grandrapids #bekind #acceptance #inclusivity #puremichigan #michigan #specialneeds #empowerment #youareloved #ripple #theripplemaker #brodysbecafe #adamichigan

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Free Spring Walking Tours in Grand Rapids

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MARCH 29, 2021 | Walking Tours | Shield Insurance Bog

Downtown GR Now Offering Free Spring Walking Tours

Topics include public art, history and notable landmarks

Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. partnered with Grand Rapids Running Tours to offer visitors free walking tours around Downtown Grand Rapids throughout this spring season.

These walking tours explore topics ranging from public art, history and iconic Downtown landmarks.

All tours meet at Rosa Parks Circle and no registration is necessary. First come, first serve. Please bring your masks.

See the full schedule below.

Rad Women Walking Tours

March 30, 9:00 – 11:30 AM

This #WomensHistoryMonth, celebrate the #RadAmericanWomen throughout history via public art and FREE walking tours around #DowntownGR! The artwork and tours are based on the New York Times bestselling book “Rad American Women A-Z” by Kate Schatz. With a total of 27 works of public art on electrical boxes featuring portraits of #RadWomen from Angela Davis to Zora Neale Hurston, the tour will give you a background on each public figure and the Rad Local Artist behind each artwork.

Miles of Murals Walking Tours

April 7, 6:00 PM., Miles of Murals Part One Walking Tour
April 14, 10:00 AM, Miles of Murals Part One Walking Tour
April 21, 6:00 PM, Miles of Murals Part Two Walking Tour
April 28, 10:00 AM, Miles of Murals Part Two Walking Tour

Who says art museums must be inside, enclosed with 4 walls, a ceiling, and a floor? Swirling all about us in Grand Rapids are intriguing artworks on sides of buildings, underneath highway overpasses, on retaining walls, street surfaces, and utility boxes. These are murals – street and wall artworks – painted by artists that celebrate beauty, calls to action, or tributes to heroes. The murals transform otherwise unnoticeable – or worse – blighted spaces into a must-see, energizing attraction. Viewing these murals is a study in local history, community activism, and sheer expressions of creativity… art all the time! So many murals, so little time – so the walk is divided into two parts… we pick up where we left off when we meet for Part Two.

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Prismatica on Monroe

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If you are looking for something to do, outside, even if it is cold, there are some great things going on in downtown Grand Rapids MI.
Check It Out Here!

Prismatica on Monroe
Fri, Jan 17, 202012:00 PM Sun, Feb 16, 202011:00 PM
Monroe North Lot (map)
“An infinite interplay of lights and colorful reflection…”

We are thrilled to bring a new interactive light installation called “Prismatica” to the World of Winter Festival this year. Prismatica is a collection of light prisms that have toured the world, adding energy and creativity to urban business districts. The interactive installation includes 25 pivoting prisms, creating a modern ice palace that transmits and reflects color and light. As the prisms rotate, a soundtrack of bells plays in the background. Downtown Grand Rapids will host Prismatica at 555 Monroe Ave. NW from January 17 to February 16, 2020.

Conception and execution: RAW Design in collaboration with ATOMIC3

Production: Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, Montreal, Canada

Snowshoe at the Park

  • Tuesday, January 28, 2020
  • 6:00 PM  7:00 PM
  • Ah-Nab-Awen Park (map)

Feel the crunch of the snow under your feet and enjoy nature at this FREE spectacular snowshoeing event led by Friends of Grand Rapids Parks. Snowshoes will be provided. Don’t forget to dress warm!

Movies on the Piazza

  • Saturday, February 1, 2020
  • 11:00 AM  7:00 PM
  • Studio Park (map)

It’s summertime in February! Join us as we show summer-themed movies at the new Studio Park piazza. Enjoy hot-toddies, cocktails, popcorn, food trucks, s’mores, movie-themed programming and fun activities between each movie. Don’t forget to get photos taken with Disney’s Moana!

There will be fire pits – but dress warm anyway!
Camping chairs are available on-site for free rental.
All movies will be played in English with Spanish subtitles

Black History Walking Tour

  • Saturday, February 1, 2020
  • 12:00 PM  1:00 PM
  • Rosa Parks Circle (map)

Join your tour guide for a FREE walk through Grand Rapids’ Black history.

The tour starts at Rosa Parks Circle. To register, visit: http://grandrapidsrunningtours.com/registration/

Registration is not required but is strongly encouraged.

Dance in the Annex at Prismatica

  • Sunday, February 2, 2020
  • 2:00 PM  3:00 PM
  • Monroe North Lot (map)

Experience the Prismatica light installation alongside a performance by Dance in the Annex (DITA)!

“With bated breath: we move like colors” is an original concept structured improvisation that will activate the spaces in and around Prismatica for the World of Winter Festival. With the colorful lights and sounds of the Prismatica sculptures as inspiration, DITA will present this site-specific contemporary dance piece in collaboration with percussionist Josh Dunigan.

Dancers: Kara Brems, Jessica Ferguson, Hannah Sullivan, Nicole Reehorst, Amy Wilson

Live musical accompaniment: Josh Dunigan

Photo credit: Art Peers

Snowga

  • Thursday, February 6, 2020
  • 6:00 PM  7:00 PM
  • Monroe North Lot (map)

Get your downward dog on at this FREE outdoor run and yoga event! Attendees will meet at 555 Monroe Ave. NW at 6:00 PM before heading out for a 20-minute warm-up run. Then, we will regroup at 555 Monroe for a 25-minute yoga session. No mat needed. Don’t forget to wear warm workout clothing! ??‍♀️

Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/…

Don’t forget to check out Prismatica, the rainbow light installation, while you’re there!

Downtown Market Ice Bar

  • Friday, February 7, 2020
  • 4:00 PM  8:00 PM
  • Downtown Market Grand Rapids (map)

Grab a drink from a bar made of ice and embrace the cold with some frozen tundra yard games!

Human Hungry Hungry Hippo Tournament

  • Sunday, February 9, 2020
  • 12:30 PM  7:00 PM
  • Rosa Parks Circle (map)

Your favorite board game comes to life in this human version of Hungry Hungry Hippos! Adult and family divisions are available at this awesome Downtown extravaganza.

Registration is required and now open!

Note that each team consists of six players. Registration is $60 per team. The winners get awesome prize packages!

Adult Division = All players 18+
Family Division = Minimum of (2) adults 18+ as well as minimum (2) kids under 18 years of age

Learn how the game works here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1972521926114953

Food trucks will serve on-site.

Valent-ICE

  • Fri, Feb 14, 202012:00 PM  Fri, Feb 21, 20209:00 PM
  • Downtown Grand Rapids (map)

Celebrate winter with a gallery of ice in Downtown Grand Rapids! This annual World of Winter attraction showcases over 50 ice sculptures all throughout Downtown. You can do a self-guided tour of these amazing works of art… or join one of our ice sculpture walking tours so you don’t miss any of them!

Ice Sculpture Walking Tour

  • Friday, February 14, 2020
  • 6:00 PM  7:00 PM
  • Rosa Parks Circle (map)

Downtown Grand Rapids transforms into a gallery of ice with over 50 beautiful ice sculptures all over our amazing city. Make sure not to miss a single ice sculpture by joining our FREE guided tours led by Grand Rapids Running Tours!

Bundle up and walk with your tour guide to learn more about sub-zero art and their interesting backstories.

All tours start at Rosa Parks Circle.

To register for a walking tour, visit:
http://grandrapidsrunningtours.com/registration/

Registration is not required but is strongly encouraged.

Love on Ice

  • Friday, February 14, 2020
  • 6:00 PM  10:00 PM
  • Rosa Parks Circle (map)

Why spend Valentine’s Day inside when you can enjoy a unique Downtown experience with 2 for 1 ice skating and FREE professional photographs in front of our interactive ice installation?

Don’t miss out on a V-Day to remember!

This event is dog-friendly.

Love on Ice is sponsored by Camp Bow Wow.

Paint the Park

  • Saturday, February 15, 2020
  • 11:00 AM  6:00 PM
  • Rosa Parks Circle (map)

Ain’t no party like a community ice painting party! Grab a brush and help us paint the ice at the Rosa Parks Circle Ice Rink. Make your mark Downtown and beautify our city as a community. Please note that painting stops at 4 PM or when the ice rink runs out of painting space.

We’re also closing down Monroe Center in front of Rosa Parks Circle for a street party!

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

  • Food trucks serving on-site
  • Get your pictures taken with Queen Elsa & Princess Anna from Disney’s Frozen!
  • “Ice Breaker” – live ice carving of the 5000-pound community sculpture
  • Ice rink open for skating from 6:00 PM
  • Check out our partner booths featuring games and other activities

Be sure to visit the web site for additional dates and times!

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Escape to Best-Kept Secrets: Uncover Unique Michigan Vacation Spots!

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Shield Insurance Blog | Michigan Vacation Spots | Start a Quote Today!

About 2 hours north of Holland, Silver Lake has not only a picturesque lake for swimming, boating, and sunset watching but also dunes for buggies, trucks, quads, or jeeps; if you’re part of that club. With many cabins for rent and a few campgrounds, there is bound to be something for everyone.

A must on any unique Michigan vacation spot list has to be Mackinac Island. Accessible by ferry this island boasts many delicious fudge shops and quaint bed and breakfasts but NO CARS. That’s right, with no vehicles on the island (outside of public safety vehicles) you can ride around the island on bicycles or horse-drawn carriages without city traffic to slow you down.

And we can’t forget about the great city of Grand Rapids! Close to beaches and baseball, art and amazing food, Grand Rapids has the big city feel without having to leave West Michigan.

With only a few weeks left of Summer, there is no time to waste! Get out and enjoy our great state!

posted by Autumn

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ArtPrize

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Did you know that right here in Grand Rapids is an event going on that is very amazing to go see! This event is Artprize!!

What is ArtPrize?

ArtPrize began nearly seven years ago as an experiment – a totally new event, unlike anything the world had ever seen, filled with the experiments of artists and the opinions of everyone. Anything from paper-made items to huge metal sculptures and everything in between!

The event runs from Sept 23 – Oct 11th. For 19 days, three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, become an open playing field where anyone can find a voice in the conversation about what is art and why it matters. Art from around the world pops up in every inch of downtown, and it’s all free and open to the public. With $500K in prizes.

I have gone every year so far and am totally amazed at what each and every person submits for entry into this event.

Here are some websites that you can go to, to find out more about this event and to see things from the years past events. Hope you go!

http://www.artprize.org/

https://www.artprize.org/about

Submitted by Dawn

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