King County Executive Dow Constantine today announced the third year of new Community Service Area grant opportunities, and encouraged residents in unincorporated communities to become more connected in their neighborhoods.
“We have growing demand for community projects, and we look forward to awarding more grants to creative neighborhood groups in 2014,” Executive Constantine said.
A total of $60,000 is available through the King County Community Service Area Program for projects, with grants of less than $5,000. Examples of projects that can be proposed are:
• Newsletters that inform residents about important issues affecting the community;
• Events such as concerts, festivals, and educational and safety projects;
• Neighborhood improvement projects such as tree planting, graffiti removal and clean-up;
• Community-led planning or training; and
• Signage for a neighborhood or community.
Proposals should demonstrate how activities would be accessible to all unincorporated King County residents regardless of race, income, or language spoken.
A minimum match of 25 percent in the form of volunteer time, cash or in-kind services of the total project cost is required. Applications are due Jan. 10, 2014.
Priority for funding will be given to locally based, community-led organizations in the unincorporated Community Service Areas that encourage collaborations and partnerships.
“We have supported two years of creative initiatives and we look forward to another great year of improvements in our unincorporated communities,” said Alan Painter, manager of the Community Service Area program.
In the last two years, 49 projects were funded throughout unincorporated King County, including:
• Music in local parks
• National Night Out events
• Support for local senior centers
• Volunteer cleanup along the Snoqualmie River
• Neighborhood cleanup initiatives
• Community signage
• Youth projects
Information about the 2014 application process, grant application workshop dates, and a list of the 2013 awardees is available at http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/community-service-areas.aspx.
