EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—   The new Ambulance Consortium in Kent County is growing.

Grand Rapids, Grandville, East Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming and Rockford have already voted to form the consortium.  Plainfield Township is also considering joining.

The Ambulance Consortium would establish across-the-board ambulance service standards for all communities involved, through contracts. East Grand Rapids City Manager Brian Donovan says communities that are part of the consortium will create an oversight group which will make sure all ambulance companies are abiding by contractual standards. By consolidating regulation, each community will save staff time and money.

Kent County communities have been working on the partnership since 2010.  

EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—The standards for ambulances running in East Grand Rapids may soon change.

During its regular meeting Monday night, the city commission approved joining an ambulance consortium with other Kent County communities.  The consortium would establish across-the-board ambulance service standards for all communities involved, through contracts. East Grand Rapids currently works with AMR Ambulance, but the city does not have a contract with the company. 

City Manager Brian Donovan says communities that are part of the consortium will create an oversight group which will make sure all ambulance companies are abiding by contractual standards. By consolidating regulation, each community will save staff time and money.

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich.—A Plainfield Township based auto parts supplier is looking to hire dozens of new employees.

Gill Industries plans to add 50 more workers to its local operations within the next 90 days to help build parts for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler and GMC Acadia.

"The automotive industry is humming now, and our approach to developing innovative products has enabled Gill to win new business," says Frank Jesensek, Director of Operations. "These positions will extend from skilled maintenance and robotic technicians to quality control to entry level assembly positions."

Gill Industries recently invested $2 million into new state-of-the-art equipment for the work.  The company is based at 5271 Plainfield Ave. NE but also has locations in Mexico, Europe and Asia.