South King County Organizations to Receive Nearly $1.5 Million in Port Grant Funding

This press release is available in eight languages: Amharic, Arabic, French, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

SEATTLE — Multiple South King County organizations (six in total) are set to receive nearly $1.5 million in a fourth cycle of funding through the Port of Seattle’s South King County Community Impact Fund (SKCCIF) Economic Recovery Program. With today’s announcement, the Economic Recovery Program has invested a total of $6,674,591 into 34 projects led by 26 local nonprofits and community-based organizations. Funding helps increase economic opportunities in cities surrounding Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

The Economic Recovery Program launched in 2020 to assist with pandemic recovery. Through equity-based partnerships, the funding supports programs that expand opportunities for well-paying jobs and training, and recruitment of the next generation into port-related industries like aviation, maritime, construction, and green solutions.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we identified an urgent need to bolster our communities through targeted funding to develop pathways for stability, particularly for those most in need,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho. “The implementation of the Economic Recovery Program was crucial in providing these vital resources. Our commitment extends beyond financial support. We are dedicated to strengthening the workforce to support Port jobs and stabilize our communities. We remain steadfast in our partnerships with organizations and the individuals benefiting from these essential programs.”

Facilitating career pathways

With ties to all of Washington’s key economic sectors and relationships with more than 500 employers operating across its facilities, the Port is uniquely positioned to connect communities most impacted by Port operations with careers in the industry. Community-led projects help participants acquire the skills, experience, and education needed to secure increasingly complex jobs at the Port and in port-related industries. Workforce development investments take on particular importance now as so many port-related industries continue to experience staffing shortfalls.

“The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Seattle is excited to begin implementation of the Transportation Career Pathway (TCP) program through the support of the South King County Community Impact Fund,” said IRC Executive Director Kathleen Morris. “This new program will equip refugees and other historically marginalized communities with the skills and resources needed for sustainable, living-wage careers in the transportation sector. Through the TCP program, we hope to improve the economic stability of refugee and immigrant families and also support the Port of Seattle's workforce needs, ultimately fostering mutual growth and prosperity for all of South King County.”

“Construct Diversity is excited about the SKCCIF-funded Career Advancement Program, as this vital partnership will enhance our ability to reach more students in South King County and create impactful career advancement opportunities in port-related industries,” said Rodell Razor, CEO and Co-Founder of Construct Diversity. “Through this program, we aim to increase racial and gender diversity by providing mentorship and internships, creating access opportunities and connections that empower black youth in the Greater Puget Sound region.”

Recipients

Beyond the six organizations receiving fourth cycle funding, 17 organizations are continuing work on existing economic recovery projects through the program’s multiyear funding option. The six organizations in this cycle are:

Build 2 Lead

The Closing the G.A.P. (Gaining Access to Preparation) program will partner with Green River College and Highline College to provide 100 hours of construction trades and green jobs training, case management curriculum, and development of college readiness plans for youth and young adults from economically distressed zip codes.

Highline College Foundation

The Welcome Back Center Construction Field project will support refugees who are internationally educated structural and civil engineers by providing relicensing navigation, case management, language assistance, and recruitment and referrals into construction-related apprenticeship programs.

Emerald Cities Collaborative

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Training and Career Prep Academy will support members of excluded communities in South King County through outreach, assessment, training, and placement into training/apprenticeship programs and careers, such as electrical, mechanical, and sheet metal trades.

International Rescue Committee

Transportation Career Pathway is a comprehensive career pathway program building a diverse transportation workforce in support of port-related industries by assisting refugees and immigrants in South King County in obtaining their Commercial Driver License (CDL), and by providing individualized coaching, job placement, and partnerships with training programs.

Construct Diversity

The Career Advancement Program will provide pathways into construction trades through a comprehensive curriculum for youth from economically distressed zip codes based on the Equity Index in South King County. Youth will receive professional skills development, career readiness training, job site exposure, peer support within port-related jobs and careers, and career advancement through construction trade internships, pre-apprenticeships, or employers.

Refugee Women’s Alliance

Career Pathways for Immigrants and Refugees will help refugees and immigrants navigate case management and trainings and provide career development support to enter port-related industry jobs and careers.

About the South King County Community Impact Fund

The Port established the SKCCIF in 2019 to develop equity-based partnerships and provide resources and support to historically underserved and ethnically and culturally diverse near-airport communities. The fund was approved to award $10 million between 2019 and 2023 to address economic development, noise mitigation, environmental health, and sustainability in these communities. The Port of Seattle Commission will consider a new authorization of SKCCIF funding for future investments in 2024. Information on future rounds of funding is expected in early 2025.

Since the fund’s inception, more than 50 organizations have received a total of $9.25 million in SKCCIF grants for over 80 projects, through the Economic Recovery Program and Environmental Grants Program.

Economic Recovery Program projects support job application assistance in underserved and non-English speaking communities, recruit participants for pre-apprenticeship programs and maritime careers, build gardens, clean public spaces, and expand environmental education.

Multiyear funding increases the impact of the Port’s community investments and helps support sustainable project planning and implementation. For this cycle, organizations could apply for up to $100,000 for a single year of funding or $250,000 in multiyear funding.

Advocacy wins a 2:1 match rule

Until 2023, state law required that grant-funded projects meet a 3:1 match requirement to receive funds. For several years the Port made a legislative proposal to reduce the 3:1 match requirement a top priority. During the 2023 Washington State legislative cycle, with sponsorship from Representative Clyde Shavers and Representative Tina Orwall, and advocacy from current Port of Seattle Commission President Hamdi Mohamed, the Port successfully advocated for reducing the local match that nonprofit applicants must provide through the SKCCIF to 2:1. This change reduces the burden for awarded partners and enhances the Port’s ability to contract with community-based organizations, nonprofits, associations, and volunteer groups making public improvements in near-airport communities.

The Port offers several ways to meet this match, including volunteer time, contact hours with attendees of public events, educational hours, lifetime environmental value of trees planted, carbon emissions reduction, in-kind contributions, contributions of project partners, and cash donations.

Contact

Perry Cooper | SEA Airport
[email protected]