Grand Rapids named most sustainable city in nation

By Candace Beeke | Business Review

May 13, 2010, 9:47PM

Grand Rapids has been named the most sustainable midsize city in the U.S. by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Civic Leadership Center and Siemens Corp.

Chosen over finalist cities Davenport, Ia., and Hoover, Ala., Grand Rapids received the 2010 Siemens Sustainable Community Award tonight in Houston. Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce President Jeanne Englehart and Amway Corp. Sustainability Program Manager Eric Van Dellen were on hand to receive the award, which also was set to be announced on the big screen in Times Square in New York City, Englehart said. 

"That puts us front and center as a leader in sustainability," Englehart said.

"It is a strong affirmation of the work that we’ve been doing in Grand Rapids for the past six years," Heartwell added, "which means we’re organizing the work of local government around the triple bottom line of economic strength, environmental stewardship and social equity."