• Holland was second in the country, out of the 30 most beautiful towns in America, as ranked on Expedia.com’s Viewfinder travel blog on Friday, April 8. Holland placed second to Florence, Oregon, but ahead of communities including Beaufort, South Carolina; Galena, Illinois; Yountville, California; and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. 

• Holland’s Tulip Time Festival (May 7-14 this year) was named the nation’s top flower festival, chosen by readers of USA TODAY and 10Best, beating out competition that included the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival, Rose Parade, and Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. 

• Hope’s home county of Ottawa was named Michigan’s healthiest in the 2016 County Health Rankings, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The county was tops in the state, out of 83 counties, for health outcomes based on length of life and quality of life; and second overall for health factors such as health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors and physical environment. 

In addition to the springtime honors, Holland again won national recognition in the America in Bloom competition in September.  The city won its population category for the fifth consecutive year, honored in the Champions Category for mid-sized cities as a previous award winner based on the six criteria of overall impression, environmental awareness, heritage preservation, urban forestry, landscape and floral displays.  Holland also won the Outstanding Achievement Award for exceling in floral displays in particular.  America in Bloom is dedicated to promoting nationwide beautification programs and personal and community involvement through the use of flowers, plants, trees, and other environmental and lifestyle enhancement. 

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