🌱 $130K Urban Agriculture Grant + GR Man Hospitalized In Crash

Hey, neighbors! It's me again, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Grand Rapids Daily.

First, today's weather:

Clouds and sun. High: 28 Low: 20.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Grand Rapids:

1. South East Market and the West Michigan Environmental Action Council have received a two-year planning grant, valued at just under $130,000, to promote urban agriculture in Grand Rapids. The grant will be used to develop a business plan for an urban farm that would serve as an incubator for residents, particularly people of color, who are already farmers or want to learn the profession. (MLive.com)
2. A Grand Rapids man has been hospitalized after a crash on I-196 Friday afternoon. The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office says the 40-year-old man was driving west on I-196 when his sedan left the road near mile marker 63, hitting several trees and signs before stopping near a ditch. Deputies speculate the man encountered a medical episode before the crash. The man was subsequently taken to St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment; the extent of his injuries is not currently known. (Fox17)
3. An art gallery on the campus of Grand Rapids Community College will display the work of a student who was inspired by a recent fellowship opportunity. The works of student Kristina Katerberg will be on display at the Paul Collins Art Gallery, which will reopen on Jan. 10. Over the summer, Katerberg spent two months studying various aspects of nature at the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings through the Gordon Art Fellowship. (HollandSentinel.com)

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Today in Grand Rapids:

• City Commission Meeting - East Grand Rapids Community Center (12:00 AM)
• Attorney Consultation - Plainfield Senior Center - Northview Senior Citizens (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• In celebration of the new year, check out “Grand Rapids’ firsts” — including medical advancements, innovative entertainment, and more — curated by the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Facebook)
• As Grand Rapids Public Schools resumed 100% in-person today, the district shared a video with important health reminders for staff and students. (Facebook)
• Art lovers, mark your calendars: the Grand Rapids Art Museum has four new major exhibitions slated for 2022. (Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and as an assistant producer for a live-lit storytelling show in Chicago. She holds a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies from The University of Rhode Island. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.