ZEELAND — Applications close today for this year's City of Zeelands Citizens Academy. 

The free program, offered for residents 18 and older and are a utility customer of the city’s Board of Public Works or work at an employer within the city limits, allows for participants to learn more about the way their local government works. 

“It offers the opportunity for participants to learn about the structures and functions of local city government” said Andrew Boatright, Zeeland Board of Public Works general manager. 

The program, now in its second year, features six three-hour sessions, an expansion on last year’s five sessions shorter sessions. 

“We came to the realization that more of the departments needed more time,” Boatright said. “There were also so many questions, our last group was really responsive.” 

Each night is dedicated to a different section of the local government and features city staff presentations and tours throughout the city. Each meeting has a different location depending on the topic of the night. To find the itinerary for each night, visit this link. 

The sessions are 5:45-9 p.m. beginning Wednesday, April 16. Dinner is provided for each of the sessions and graduation for the event is planned for 6:30 p.m. June 2. 

The program is designed for community leaders, or current/potential future appointed/elected officials. This year, the program has space for 15 participants and Boatright said organizers hope to do another event next year depending on the community’s response.

To apply to this year's Citizens Academy program, visit this link or visit City Hall during business hours and request an application. 

Holland has done a similar event in previous years and this year is hosting their own Citizens Academy from Sept. 8 through Oct. 27. For more information on Hollands Citizens Academy, visit this link. 

Other academies offered in Ottawa County:

• The sheriff’s department offers a Citizen Policy Academy, a nine-session program that provides participants an inside look at law enforcement to 25 citizens. Sessions are 6-9 p.m. every Thursday throughout May and June. The application process opens on March 3. Apply here.
• Holland Police offers a Junior Police Academy, where each summer seventh- and eighth-graders (for students who have just completed sixth or seventh grade) listen to speakers from various agencies or go on a field trip. The academy, which will run for three weeks July 14-31 this year, will be 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Learn more here.

— Mallory Burt covers local government for Ottawa News Network. Contact her at mburt@ottawanewsnetwork.org.