Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No. 8g
ACTION ITEM Date of Meeting October 22, 2024
DATE: October 14, 2024
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Bookda Gheisar, Senior Director, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Pearse Edwards, Senior Director, External Relations
SUBJECT: South King County Community Impact Fund Program 5-Year Re-Authorization
Request
Amount of this request: $14.0 million
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission to authorize the Executive Director to Execute agreements for the
continuation of the South King County Community Impact Fund (SKCCIF) Environmental and
Economic Recovery programs for the next five years 2025-2029. This delegation of authority will
direct the Port of Seattle to contract up to a total of $14 million to community-based
organizations, refocus the Economic Recovery program, expand the geographic region of funding
to areas in King County that are identified by the Equity Index as having the greatest needs, and
identifying ways to continue funding programs in the six cities that have been prioritized as part
of the first iteration of the SKCCIF.
Staff will present branding alternatives for the Fund to the Commission at its meeting on
January 28, 2025.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2019, the Port Commission authorized $10 million over five years to build partnerships with
near airport communities with the goal of advancing equity and access to economic opportunity.
In 2020, the Port launched the South King County Community Impact Fund (SKCCIF) to support
three primary programs – Economic Recovery, Environmental Improvement Projects, and
Women and Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (WMBE) support. SKCCIF is co-managed by
the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI) and External Relations.
Commission Order 2021-12 authorized the Executive Director to conduct an evaluation and
develop recommendations for the future re-authorization of the program before the end of the
initial five-year period. These Evaluation highlights the impact of the SKCCIF, reflecting the
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 2 of 6
Meeting Date: October 22, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
positive economic and environmental outcomes of the Port’s financial investments in
communities in South King County.
From 2020-2024, the SKCCIF procured four funding cycles to contract with community-based
non-profit organizations. A total of $9.25 million has been committed to a total of 52 community-
based organizations.
Given the success of the program and needs of the communities the Port serves, we are now
requesting the Commission’s approval for the following:
To contract with community-based organizations for a total of $14 million during the next
five years (2025-2029);
To refocus the Economic Recovery program to fund projects that advance economic
opportunity instead of projects focused on recovering from the impact of the pandemic.
Recovery from the pandemic is no longer applicable, and communities are in need of ways
to expand and advance economic stability and opportunity. In refocusing this program,
we would rebrand as “Economic Opportunities for Communities;”
To expand the geographical region of where we fund to areas of King County that are
identified by the Equity Index as having the greatest need; and,
To continue funding programs in the six near-airport cities and to identify how
applications focused on programs in those cities will receive priority status.
THE FUTURE OF THE SOUTH KING COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND
The first iteration of the SKCCIF created new and innovative ways for the Port to invest in its
communities. The SKFFIC allowed the Port to build new relationships with key community
members and leaders, particularly with organizations serving and led by people of color. These
relationships have resulted in improvements in public spaces, innovative workforce training
programs, and new leadership opportunities for airport communities to engage with the Port
during critical decision-making processes. The next chapter allows for the Port to leverage what
we have learned to deepen our community relationships and broaden our impact. We aim to
establish new relationships and partnerships in near seaport communities and communities with
a low Equity Index score.
The next phase will build on the successes of the program and will adjust based on the lessons
learn from the program’s challenges. Through the SKCCIF, the Port has not only invested in near-
airport communities but also laid the foundation for strong, long-term relationships within these
communities.
Moving forward, we propose to expand the geographical region of SKCCIF to fund areas of King
County that are identified by the Equity Index as having the greatest need. We envision this as
follows.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 3 of 6
Meeting Date: October 22, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Priority region: The SKCCIF commits to continuing to fund the six cities of Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac,
Normandy Park, Des Moines, and Federal Way. The Economic Opportunity Program will offer
priority to organizations with an office in the six cities who are serving people who live and/or
work in the six cities. Environmental Program will prioritize projects located in the six near-airport
cities.
Eligible Regions: Based on Equity Index data, there is a large region in King County with a low
equity score. This expanded funding area includes the original six cities and part or all of the
following cities: south Seattle, White Center, Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Renton, Fairwood, Kent,
Auburn, Algona, and Pacific. Within this eligible region:
o 56% of residents are BIPOC (vs. 41% countywide)
o 29% are foreign-born (vs. 25% countywide)
o 8% are English language learners (vs. 4% countywide)
o 12% poverty rate (vs. 8% countywide)
In addition to the Equity Index, we are considering where people live versus where they work. Of
all the workers in SeaTac and the other five cities that SKCCIF contracts served, only 17% of those
workers live in those six cities (see Image 1). The workforce that serves the six South King cities
creates a much larger labor shed, one that stretches north into South Seattle, Renton, Kent and
Auburn, and well eastward through the southern half of King County. Additionally, residents in
the six SKCCIF-funded cities predominately work outside of those cities (see Image 2). Nearly 80%
of workers in those six cities work elsewhere, most notably in Renton, Kent, Auburn, and South
Seattle (Beacon Hill, Duwamish Valley, Georgetown).
THE SKCCIF 2.0 MODEL – ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES
The Economic Recovery Program has received feedback from partners about challenges meeting
program outcome requirements. OEDI and External Relations have re-assessed program models
and communications to ensure clear, accurate information and expectations are made available
to partners and potential partners. OEDI and External Relations are also ensuring program goals
and objectives are within the allowable RCW authority, while being responsive to community
needs.
In SKCCIF 2.0, we propose shifting from a “one-size-fits-all” model to tiered approach, allowing
multiple access points for organizations to be eligible for funding (see Table 3 below).
Organizations will be grouped into two tracks. Organizations that fall into Track 1, Tier A are those
that are well embedded in the communities they serve but have little to no experience or
knowledge of port-related industries. In this track, we will work closely with these organizations
to build their capacity to provide industry-specific programming and training to community
members with a goal of expanding our reach and network of partners while also building port-
related expertise. Over time, this will allow organizations to move to Track 2.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 4 of 6
Meeting Date: October 22, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
In Track 2, there are two tiers of organizations. Tier B is for organizations a moderate amount of
experience and knowledge of port-related industries and have existing WFD programs focused
on those industries. Tier C organizations are those who are experts in port-related industries and
are interested in scaling up their existing programming.
This tiered approach will allow us to achieve several goals. One, we will build and expand the
capacity of community-based organizations to operate port-related workforce development
programs. Two, we will grow and strengthen a community of practice among these organizations,
creating a strategic, collaborative approach to port-related WFD. Three, we will increase
outreach, education, and exposure to careers in port-related industries, especially in
communities that are largely underrepresented in these industries – communities of color,
immigrant communities, women, and low-income communities. Four, we will advance our efforts
to diversify port-related industries and grow the next generation of the workforce in these
industries.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The funding for the SKCCIF is sourced by a tax levy. The budget request of $14 million for the next
five years (2025 – 2029) is an increase over the past funding of $10 million (2020 – 2024). Evenly
distributed, this will result in an $800,000 increase per year for the next five years. Given the
program’s success, the need to expand the geographic reach of the program’s services, and the
potential to create an even greater impact in the region we serve, this is a sound, worthwhile
investment.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
1) October 8, 2024, Commission Briefing Memo
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
1) October 8, 2024 – Commission Briefing on South King County Fund Assessment and
Recommended Next Steps
2) October 10, 2023 – Commission briefing on South King County Fund
3) September 13, 2022 – Authorization of South King County Fund Cycle 3
4) July 27, 2021 – The Commission authorized $2 million for the South King County Fund for
2021.
5) April 28, 2020 – The Commission approved Motion 2020-10 to add economic
development to the permissible uses for the South King County Fund, in support of local
recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 5 of 6
Meeting Date: October 22, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
6) June 25, 2019 – The Commission approved Motion 2019-10, adopting principals to guide
outreach and development of the South King County policy.
7) November 27, 2018 – The Commission approved Motion 2018-14, establishing the South
King County Fund.
Template revised January 10, 2019.
