Summary

Ordinance would give priority to job creation, lifeboat programs

Story

King County residents would be better prepared to benefit from federal economic stimulus funding under legislation introduced today by Metropolitan King County Council Chair Dow Constantine.

“The size and scope of the federal funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act constitutes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local jurisdictions,” said Constantine. “It is estimated that stimulus funding will create or preserve 75,000 jobs in Washington state—by population, King County’s share would be about 23,000 jobs.”

The proposed ordinance calls for the immediate designation of a Recovery Act Coordinator in the King County Executive’s office, with that person serving as a liaison between County departments and the County’s federal government consultant. This coordinator would identify competitive grant opportunities and communicate timelines and rules to departments and separately elected officials so they could have time to submit applications.

The legislation also calls for establishment of a team of County and city government representatives led by the Deputy County Executive to help obtain permits for qualifying projects and to educate project proponents about the application process. Priority will be given to stimulus funding applications that:

• create or preserve jobs in King County;
• address funding shortfalls for so-called “lifeboat” programs that received only partial funding in the 2009 King County budget;
• benefit the county’s state-mandated public safety and public health functions, and
• support essential human services, emergency management programs, and public transit.

The Executive would report back to the Council in 20 days on this program and establish a Web site to keep the public apprised of King County’s progress in applying for and accepting stimulus fund grants.