South King County Fund

Environmental Grants Program

Background

• South King County Fund (SKCF) established in November 2018

to address:

– Airport Noise

– Environmental Health

– Sustainability

• Eight Guiding Principals prioritize:

1. Fund projects in the South King County area.

2. Prioritize community input to inform Port decision

making.

3. Support Port equity policies and practices.

4. Provide added benefit by adding to current Port

programs to address airport noise, increased

environmental health, and sustainability.

5. Prioritize projects that are ready to proceed.

6. Build on established programs and commitments

to fulfill current obligations.

7. Promote innovation.

8. Encourage matching funds where possible.

Environmental Grants Program

• Proposal: new Environmental Grants Program, based upon the

successful ACE model.

• Alignment with Fund Principals including:

– Ready to proceed and adds benefit to a current program designed to increase

environmental health and sustainability.

– Fund projects exclusively in near-airport communities, with other locations

considered on a case-by-case basis.

– Prioritize community input and support Port equity policies and practices.

Next Steps and Timeline

• Staff has developed base program and are ready to proceed.

• Work with community partners to co-design an application

process

• Network with community organizations, cities and non-profits

to gather program feedback and to build awareness of the

program

• Applications available in Summer of 2020.

• First round of grant recipients will be announced in early Fall

Appendix

Need for Environmental Investments

• COVID-19 and the ensuing economic crisis have hit community

groups and environmental non-profits hard.

• Fundraising and community events have been canceled,

budgets have been slashed, and organizations are struggling to

meet their goals

• With residents sheltered at home, and with the increased

stress of job loss and economic uncertainty, communities need

safe and accessible green spaces now more than ever.

Airport Community Ecology Fund

• Since 2017, the Airport Community Ecology Fund (ACE) has

funded 22 organizations to conduct 33 environmental

improvement projects in Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac.

• Projects have had widespread and lasting community impacts

including:

– Healthy food access

– Habitat restoration

– Environmental education

– Capacity building for community based organizations

ACE Program Continued

• The Port has distributed $280,000 in small matching grants so

far.

• Community groups have matched this with over $2.6 million

project value through volunteer time, public engagement, tree

value, carbon reductions and other in-kind, cash and partner

contributions.

• Spring 2020 funding round saw 11 applications totaling nearly

$100,000.