Summary

Forty-five volunteer-led community events and projects will be supported in unincorporated King County communities with Community Engagement Grants of up to $4,000.

Story

King County is awarding more than $100,000 in grants to dozens of volunteer-led community events and projects in its unincorporated areas through the Alan M. Painter Grant Program.

Community groups in unincorporated King County competed for the grants, which range between $500 and $5,000 each. Applicants had to match at least one quarter of the total cost of their projects, and the projects had to be accessible to all unincorporated residents, regardless of race, income, or language.

This year’s successful applicants include:

• Alajawan Brown Foundation — backpacks and school supplies giveaway, community family reunion, food insecurities and Thanksgiving Day events
• Fall City Community Association – signage for community engagement events
• Sammamish Valley Alliance – valley farm celebration/education events

Community Engagement Grants support projects that advance the King County Strategic Plan and achieve at least one of the following goals:

• Promote the engagement of unincorporated area residents in community or civic activities
• Educate local residents about issues that affect them
• Implement a community enhancement project
• Identify and gather community needs and priorities
• Meet King County’s equity and social justice goals of increasing fairness and opportunity for all people, particularly people of color and those with low incomes and/or limited English proficiency

The competitive grants will help community organizations in each of King County’s Community Service Areas:

Southeast King County, Snoqualmie Valley/Northeast King County, Vashon-Maury Island, Bear Creek/Sammamish, Four Creeks/Tiger Mountain, Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River, and West King County (including Skyway, North Highline, East Renton, East Federal Way, and Fairwood).

QUOTES 

• King County Executive Dow Constantine: “As King County emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, grassroots organizations will continue to play a vital role in recovery and growth. During even the bleakest of times over the past two years, community groups have brought people together, both virtually and in-person, to make positive changes in their neighborhoods. Providing this grant assistance will help move the county toward being a place where everyone can thrive.”

   

• Local Services Director John Taylor: “We know that community organizations contribute enormously to the welfare and cohesion of communities in unincorporated King County. Engaging community members, particularly as we emerge from the pandemic, will be important as we move forward. I’m happy that King County Local Services can help these organizations implement creative and engaging community activities that bring our neighbors together.”

LINKS 

• Community Engagement Grants

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: 
Brent Champaco, Local Services, 206-477-9094, brent.champaco@kingcounty.gov