King County is awarding $90,000 in grants to 42 volunteer-led community events and projects in unincorporated areas – including the White Center Heights Elementary PTA – through the Alan M. Painter Grant Program.

The grants to community organizations range from $500 to $4,000. Applicants were required to match at least one quarter of the total cost of the projects, and the projects had to be accessible to all unincorporated residents, regardless of race, income, or language.

“These organizations are supporting their local communities, and King County is pleased to partner with them in that work,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said. “This funding will help support projects that bring people together and ensure everyone has an opportunity to thrive.”

This year’s grants will support:

  • White Center Heights Elementary PTA: Support for the Family Resource Center – a place where families can access free diapers, clothes, canned food, fresh produce and household goods. The donation- and volunteer-based center is open to all Highline School District students and their families.
  • Skyway Peace Center Nia Fest: The Nia Fest is a festival celebrating positive black culture in Skyway. The vision for this project is to have a fun, safe and culturally responsible place for children and the Skyway community to meet and engage with neighbors.
  • Skykomish Volunteer Fire Firefighters upgrades to the kitchen area of the Baring Fire Station.: In partnership with the residents and Skykomish Food Harvest, it will be used for emergency sheltering and food storage. The building has been used many times in the past as an emergency center during extreme weather events.
  • United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance: The Malama i ka ‘Aina Climate and Environmental Program is a year-round program that provides educational and engagement opportunities for communities through engagement with environmental conservation and land sovereignty work. The work plan includes: Adopt-A-Street Environmental Justice Clean-Up Program, Tautua Climate Leadership Cohort, Climate Resilience Participatory Survey for Community and Queer & Transgender Pacific Islander and Black, Indigenous, People of Color Climate Resilience Summit.
  • Sammamish Valley Alliance: The organization will serve and promote local farmers and farm businesses through three annual seasonal celebrations. These events connect community organizations and partners to build awareness and engagement with the public – spreading the word and work about local food sources, environmental sustainability and regenerative agriculture practices. The group spearheads the work on behalf of Valley farms that otherwise are not able to, or have the capacity, to promote themselves.
  • Vashon Maury Island Heritage Association interpretive outdoor educational signs for the Ellisport Hidden History Trail: The trail will be open 24/7 to all residents and visitors. It honors the history of Vashon’s indigenous population (members of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians has reviewed the signs and contributed content). Each sign will have a QR code linked to the museum’s website with Spanish and other desired translations to increase access to a diverse audience.
  • Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council National Night Out event: The event focuses on community safety and involvement, and building relationships with local law enforcement, fire departments, utility providers, King County and community groups. The target locations are neighborhoods within Four Creeks/Tiger Mountain Community Service Area or East Renton Plateau (West King County Community Service Area).
  • Fairwood Community Group – Funding will support the infrastructure, communications and rental costs for Fairwood Market Night and a pop-up community event market night held in Fairwood.

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).