Press Release | Office of the Mayor | City of Westland Tops off Its Award Winning Year

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

City of Westland Tops off its Award Winning Year

Westland, MI -- The City of Westland has accomplished an incredible feat, by winning the trifecta of APWA awards.

Earlier last month Mayor William R. Wild, joined by Dan Fredendall, the President of OHM Advisors, accepted the award for the American Public Works Association's "National Public Works Project of the Year for the city's transformation of a vacant big box into a modern, energy efficient City Hall." Earlier in the year, the project also received the local and state award from the APWA.

The APWA Public Works Project of the Year Award was established to promote excellence in the management and administration of public works projects by recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the consultant/architect/ engineer, and the contractor who, working together, complete public works projects. Public works is defined as the physical structures and facilities that are developed, owned, and maintained by public agencies to house governmental functions and provide water, power, waste disposal, transportation, and similar public services in accordance with established public policy.

The green mindedness along with features incorporated into the design by OHM Advisors which included installing window walls along the length of the southern wall, along with sky lights and self-extinguishing lights gained high marks from the judging panel. The new, larger City Hall replaced the former undersized 13,500 square foot building which served the City of Westland since 1966. This allowed many of the city's departments to be joined at one location, providing the convenience to residents of a "one-stop shop". The City evaluated several alternative locations, but none were as cost effective and able to take a defunct vacant commercial building and turn it into a leading green infrastructure functional facility.

"Westland's City Hall project has received acclaim and awards from multiple organizations," commented Mayor Wild. "The AWPA has awarded the Westland City Hall project with this award at the local, state and now national level. It has strengthened the city's profile as one of Southeast Michigan's leading innovative and environmentally conscientious cities."

It has been a remarkable year for the City of Westland, which has racked up a number of awards in the past year. The City Hall project was also chosen as Michigan Municipal League's Community Excellence Award Winner. The newly renovated Jefferson Barns Community Vitality Center also received the National Community Development Association, Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, National Agency Award of Excellence.

"I am extremely proud of the positive recognition that the city has received for these recent investments and equally proud of the pride that our residents have shown with these awards," concluded Mayor Wild.

For more information, contact Aubrey Berman, Administrative Secretary, at (734) 467-3200.

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Western Wayne Fire Association firefighters collaboratively serving the Cities of Wayne and Westland are licensed paramedics who responded to over 13,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, on of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

Westland's philosophy is that government should embrace good business principles. Providing oversight over the City's operating budget of $60 million dollars, Westland is the only community in Wayne County with a 3-year balanced budget and an approximately 10 percent budget surplus.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.