COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Achieving our objectives goes beyond providing low-cost, dependable utility service. The Holland BPW is also dedicated to improving the environmental and economic quality of the Holland community. With a long history of being involved in the communities where we work and live, our commitment is demonstrated in a number of activities. Listed are a few of those efforts:

· Annually, the HBPW provides and installs more than 30,000 holiday lights as a gift to the Holland community. We sponsor and coordinate an official tree lighting ceremony, “Lighting Up the Holidays,” and lantern parade, which is held in Centennial Park.

· The HBPW is one of the sponsors of Walk for Warmth, a community-wide effort to raise money for community residents in need of utility financial assistance during the winter months.

· Holland Board of Public Works employees continue to have an active role with the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway program. Twice a year, employees undertake a major clean up of a two-mile long strip along US 31 between 32^nd Street and the Washington Avenue interchange.

· The Holland BPW was a major sponsor of Tulip Time, a festival held in Holland and ranked as one of the top ten events in North America.

· A number of our utility workers demonstrate their community citizenship by serving as volunteer firefighters in their communities. When appropriate, these workers are released from their work responsibilities to respond to an emergency situation.