What Plainfield Charter Township does

Plainfield Charter Township is a municipal government entity established in 1838 and operating under Michigan charter township status in northeast Kent County, Michigan. It provides a comprehensive suite of public services to residents and businesses within its jurisdictional boundaries, including water treatment and distribution, sewer/wastewater services, fire protection and emergency medical response through a Fire Department operating two stations (Station 1 and Station 3), community policing through the Kent County Sheriff's Office, parks and recreation across multiple parks and trail networks, property tax administration, building and zoning services, elections administration, cemetery services, and economic development through the Comstock Park Downtown Development Authority.

The township's underlying technology is a CivicPlus-powered government website with the MyPlainfield online payment portal launched in 2025, replacing the prior InvoiceCloud system. Digital services include autopay, paperless billing, and online payments for water/sewer and property taxes. Service delivery spans in-person at the Township Hall on Belmont Avenue NE in Belmont, Michigan, the MyPlainfield portal, phone, secure drop box, and mail. Building permits and inspections are handled through an interlocal agreement with Cascade Township. Communication channels include the official website, Notify Me email/text alerts, a Mailchimp-powered e-newsletter, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), RSS feeds, and in-person community programs such as weekly Coffee with a Cop sessions.

The township's revenue model is government-driven rather than commercial. Primary streams are recurring monthly water/sewer utility billing, semi-annual property tax collection (summer bills sent July 1, due September 14; winter bills sent December 1, due February 14), and transaction-based fees for building permits, cemetery services, parks and recreation, and FOIA requests. Payments via credit/debit card incur a 2.75% fee (minimum $2), while ACH/eCheck payments are free. A $1 monthly paper-billing fee is scheduled to take effect July 19, 2026 to incentivize paperless adoption. As a charter township, Plainfield has enhanced authority over taxation, service provision, and land-use regulation compared with general-law townships, and it is governed by an elected Board of Trustees with no private equity or corporate ownership structure.

Name

Plainfield Charter Township

Legal name

Plainfield Charter Township, MI

Website

https://plainfieldmi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1838

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Plainfield Charter Township is a Michigan municipal government serving residents and businesses in northeast Kent County. It provides water/sewer utilities, fire protection, community policing, parks, property tax administration, and building services, delivered via a CivicPlus website and the MyPlainfield online payment portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Detention, Retention & Storage Systems (Ponds, Tanks, Vaults) (EUANAEAD), Rural / Remote Community MSW Collection (EUAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Municipal water services
• Fire protection services
• Community policing programs
• Parks and recreation
• Property tax administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Belmont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: The township collects summer tax bills (due September 14) and winter tax bills (due February 14) from property owners within the township. Property taxes fund general operations, public safety, parks, and infrastructure.
2. Water and Sewer Utility Billing: Residential and commercial customers pay for water and sewer services. Billing is managed through MyPlainfield portal with multiple payment options including autopay, online, phone, in-person, drop box, and mail.
3. Building Permits and Development Fees: The township collects fees for building permits, land divisions, zoning approvals, and other development-related services through Cascade Township's building department.
4. Cemetery Services: The township operates Plainfield Cemetery with services including grave sales and maintenance fees.
5. Parks and Recreation Programs: Recreation programs and facility rentals at township parks including Grand Rogue Park, Grand Isle Park, Versluis Park, Premier Park, and D.W. Richardson Park.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Plainfield Charter Township delivers core municipal services to residents and businesses in northeast Kent County, Michigan, including water treatment and distribution, sewer/wastewater management, fire suppression and emergency medical response from two stations, community policing through Kent County Sheriff's deputies, parks and trail operations, property tax billing and collection, building/zoning permits via Cascade Township, elections administration, and cemetery operations. Digital service delivery is anchored by the CivicPlus-built website and the MyPlainfield online payment portal.

Product overview

Plainfield Charter Township operates as a Michigan municipal government providing a comprehensive suite of public services to residents. The township's offerings are organized around core infrastructure and community services rather than a unified software product. Key services include water treatment and distribution, sewer services, fire protection through the Fire Department with two stations, community policing via the Kent County Sheriff's Office, and parks and recreation facilities. Digital services are delivered primarily through the township's CivicPlus-powered website, with MyPlainfield serving as the online payment portal for utility bills and property taxes. Additional services encompass building/development permits, election administration, cemetery management, and economic development through the Comstock Park Downtown Development Authority. The township also provides a Notify Me notification system and maintains a business directory for local commerce. Services are largely free public services funded by tax revenue and user fees, not commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MyPlainfield: Online payment platform for utility bills and property taxes
• Coffee with a Cop
• Reimagine Plainfield
• Notify Me

Products and services

• Water and Sewer Services Municipal drinking water treatment and distribution along with sewer/wastewater collection for residential and commercial customers in the township. Includes water quality testing, GAC filtration for PFAS contamination, wellhead protection, and source water studies. Bills are managed through the MyPlainfield portal with multiple payment options.
• Plainfield Township Fire Department Full-service fire department operating Station 1 and Station 3, providing fire suppression, fire inspections, burn permits, and emergency medical response including AED deployment (LifePak CR2). Fire Engine 3 went into service on March 3, 2023, and had already responded to more than 30 calls.
• Community Policing Program Community policing services delivered through the Kent County Sheriff's Office, including dedicated deputies, weekly Coffee with a Cop meetups, School Resource Officers, and code enforcement within Plainfield Township.
• Parks and Recreation Management of township parks (D.W. Richardson, Grand Isle, Grand Rogue, Premier, Versluis, and Charles Weldon Veterans Memorial), trails and pathways including the South Rogue River Trail with its 175-foot pedestrian bridge, disc golf, recreational facilities, and programming.
• Property Tax Administration Collection of summer (due September 14) and winter (due February 14) property tax bills, millage information, and property assessment services. Bills can be paid online through MyPlainfield, by phone, drop box, in person, or by mail; postmark dates are not accepted as payment dates.
• Building and Development Services Building permits, inspections (delivered through Cascade Township under an interlocal agreement), planning and zoning services, site plan review, land division, floodplain mitigation, and the Reimagine Plainfield Plan for commercial and residential development.
• Elections and Voting Election administration including voter registration, polling locations, election results, and election inspector training for Plainfield Township residents, including coordination of school district millage proposals.
• Cemetery Services Management of Plainfield Cemetery and Oakwood Cemetery including grave sites, burial plot sales, maintenance fees, and Memorial Day preparations with American Legion volunteer flag planting.
• MyPlainfield Online Payment Platform Online payment portal for township residents and businesses to pay water/sewer bills and property taxes, with autopay enrollment, paperless billing, and multiple payment methods including credit/debit cards (2.75% fee, minimum $2) and ACH/eCheck (free). Paperless billing became available on February 10, 2026, with a $1 monthly paper billing fee scheduled for July 19, 2026.
• Community Development Services Economic development initiatives including the Reimagine Plainfield Avenue project, the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, and the Plainfield Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority.
• Notify Me Alert Subscription Email and SMS notification subscription service allowing residents to receive updates about township alerts, calendar events, news flash, meetings, and specific topics such as Coffee with a Cop, Comstock Park news, Parks and Trails news, and Meeting notifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water quality meets and exceeds state and federal water quality standards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alpine TownshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlainfield Township and Alpine Township teamed up to add another siren to their outdoor warning systems, enhancing emergency alerts to community members in both townships. This cooperative effort between the two adjacent townships improves public safety through shared infrastructure.
• Kent CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlainfield Township works extensively with Kent County on multiple services including emergency management (Sheriff's Office with community policing deputies), road maintenance through Kent County Road Commission, public works for waste management, and water quality programs. The township participates in county-wide initiatives on PFAS contamination response.
• Kent County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity policing services provided through Kent County Sheriff's Office with dedicated deputies Jake Conner and Nick Mills serving Plainfield Township. Deputies host weekly Coffee with a Cop sessions and engage in various community safety programs including School Resource Officers.
• Cascade TownshipcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBuilding permits and inspections are processed through Cascade Township under an interlocal agreement. Residents apply for permits and schedule inspections through Cascade Township's building department.
• U.S. Representative Hillary ScholtenminorOthersU.S. Representative Hillary Scholten visited the Plainfield Charter Township Water Treatment Plant to learn about water quality and treatment operations, representing federal government engagement with local municipal infrastructure.
• Northview Public SchoolsminorOthersThe township overlaps with or is adjacent to Northview Public Schools district. Special elections are held for school district millage proposals, and career expo events engage students with township career opportunities.
• Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)minorOthersMDOT conducts road construction on Plainfield Avenue (M-44) including lane closures for infrastructure improvements. Township coordinates with state transportation department for local road projects.
• West Michigan Sports CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Michigan Sports Commission joined supporters in ribbon-cutting for Meijer Sports Complex $13.5 million expansion, supporting athletic events like the Meijer LPGA Classic at Blythefield Country Club.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• CivicPlus: Vendor that powers Plainfield's official website and the MyPlainfield-style civic engagement platform. Adjacent/ecosystem participant rather than competitor; relevant for understanding the township's digital-service stack and modernization roadmap.

Broad incumbents

• City of Grand Rapids, Michigan: Central Kent County municipality that the township partners with via the Kent County Sheriff's Office and is the urban center of the region. Broader incumbent that overlaps in water and community services but operates at city rather than township scale.
• Kent County, Michigan: County-level government that provides policing (Sheriff's Office), road maintenance (Road Commission), and emergency management to Plainfield. Acts as a regional incumbent whose services overlap with township functions at a larger geographic scale.

Direct peers

• Byron Township, Michigan: Kent County township of comparable size offering similar municipal services including water, sewer, fire, and parks. Useful peer for benchmarking mid-sized Michigan township service delivery and capital planning.
• Grand Rapids Charter Township: Adjacent Kent County charter township serving a similar suburban/exurban population around Grand Rapids. Directly comparable governance model, service portfolio (fire, water, parks, assessing), and economic-development posture.
• Alpine Township, Michigan: Adjacent Kent County charter township that partnered with Plainfield on an outdoor-warning siren. Comparable Michigan charter township providing municipal services to a similar suburban/residential population with overlapping governance structure.
• Gaines Township, Michigan: Kent County township providing a comparable slate of municipal services. Directly comparable as a neighboring suburban township with similar population density and service-area profile.
• Cascade Township, Michigan: Nearby charter township that processes Plainfield's building permits under an interlocal agreement. Comparable scale and service mix, including water utilities, fire department, and parks, making it a directly comparable Michigan charter township peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CharterRace
• YouTubeplainfieldmi.org/youtube
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlainfieldTownship
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plainfield-charter-township
• Instagraminstagram.com/plainfieldchartertownship

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plainfield Charter Township