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North Highline Vacant-to-Vibrant Program
- The King County Department of Local Services is now accepting request for proposals (RFPs) for the 2026-27 North Highline Vacant-to-Vibrant program, providing funding to launch a pop-up business that supports local artists, makers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses while managing day-to-day operations and reporting outcomes to King County.
- Available funding: Up to $250,000.
- Funding period: November 1, 2026 - December 31, 2027.
- RFP deadline: Monday, October 12, 2026, at 2 p.m. PST.
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Overview
The purpose of the North Highline Vacant-to-Vibrant Program is to provide funding to launch a 12-month pop-up business that will create opportunities for local artists, makers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to showcase and sell their products or services, build business skills, and increase visibility within the community.
Program goals and outcomes
- Utilize a vacant, public-facing commercial storefront for approximately 12 months.
- Support 12-18 local artists, makers, and entrepreneurs.
- Boost economic activity and community engagement in the area of the storefront.
- Gain experience in community connection, skills, and experience that support their business development.
- Gather measurable data about program participation, community engagement, storefront activity, and other results for the King County Department of Local Services (DLS).
- Document the program's experience, lessons and recommendations for DLS to enhance future pop-up store start-up efforts.
Who can apply?
Organizations who can legally apply must agree to a contract with King County and meet the following requirements:
- Nonprofit corporations with federal tax-exempt status and a registered Federal Identification Number (TIN or EIN).
- Federally recognized Tribes or Tribal organizations.
- For-profit organizations, including limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and social enterprises.
- Community-based organizations or other eligible entities with demonstrated experience providing economic development, business support, commercial activation, or related services.
- Have at least three (3) years of experience providing economic development, business support, commercial activation, arts entrepreneurship, community-based programming, or a substantially similar service.
- Have sufficient financial and organizational capacity to manage the proposed program and the anticipated contract.
- Possess a TIN, EIN, or other acceptable identification number to receive payments from King County.
- Be in good standing and eligible to receive federal, state, and county funds and not be currently debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from receiving public funds.
- Agree to comply with the King County Department of Local Services (DLS) standard terms and conditions and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and requirements.
- Demonstrate experience managing a public-facing program, commercial space, storefront, marketplace, or similar community-based operation.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify, lease, prepare, and operate an appropriate commercial storefront within North Highline.
Who is ineligible?
Organizations or businesses that rely on a fiscal sponsor.
Funding resources
- The program's funding is provided through the King County 2026-27 Budget, established by the county council.
- The total amount for the program is $300,000 (maximum of $250,000 is available for this specific request for proposal).
What can the funding be used for?
Applicants should provide a budget covering the anticipated contract period and clearly identify costs associated with storefront start-up, approximately 12 months of operations, and closeout.
Eligible expenses include:
- Commercial storefront lease costs
- Utilities and internet
- Temporary site preparation and improvements
- Temporary signage and wayfinding
- Program staffing and management
- Participant recruitment and support
- Marketing and outreach
- Community engagement and events
- Website development and maintenance
- Program supplies and operating expenses
- Performance measurement and reporting
- Other reasonable costs necessary to implement the program and approved by the King County Department of Local Services (DLS)
Selection process
- Applicants whose submission meet the basic requirements will carefully be reviewed to ensure they followed every rule in the request for proposal (RFP).
- A panel appointed through King County will review submissions that pass the first review.
- The review panel will rate the submissions using a scoring criteria (see below).
Scoring criteria
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Organizational capacity and readiness | 20 |
| Community impact and outcomes | 20 |
| Community/local entrepreneur engagement and cultural responsiveness | 20 |
| Past performance measurements | 20 |
| Equity, inclusion, and social justice commitment | 10 |
| Budget, cost-effectiveness, and financial stewardship | 10 |
Total possible points: 100
RFP process timeline
-
RFP release date
Monday, September 21, 2026 -
Q&A Period
Monday, September 28, 2026 - October 1, 2026
Send your questions to the King County Local Services Directors' Office Contracts during this time.
-
Application due date
Monday, October 12, 2026, at 2 p.m. PST -
Selected applicant is notified
Monday, October 19, 2026 -
Negotiation period
Monday, October 19, 2026 - Thursday, October 22, 2026 -
Contract signing period
Monday, October 26, 2026 -
Program start date
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Community questions
The information below serves as the official response to North Highline/White Center Vacant to Vibrant RFP questions.
Submission
- Question: The RFP cover directs bidders to Microsoft Forms, while Section 6 says responses are received by email and requests a Proposal Response Form and Pricing Sheet in the downloaded format. Which channel and documents are required? Where can we access the official Pricing Sheet, and are there attachment format or size limits?
- Response: Please utilize Microsoft Forms to submit your application. Size limits and attachments will be indicated in Microsoft Forms. Please break down your pricing within Microsoft Forms. If we are unable to understand your breakdown, we will provide a pricing sheet for you to fill out- this will not negatively impact your submission.
Deadline
- Question: What is the exact local time for the October 12, 2 p.m. submission deadline?
- Response: 2 p.m. Seattle time (PDT)
Contract
- Question: Must a site and lease be secured before submitting a proposal, or can applicants propose a potential location? Is an eligibility map or address verification process available?
- Response: The site may be secured after submission and must be in agreement with DLS’s Program Manager who will be the Awardees point of contact.
- Question: Are the standard contract terms and insurance requirements available for review before proposal submission?
- Response: The contract can be received upon email request.
Reimbursement
- Question: What is the expected time from a complete, approved monthly invoice to payment, and whether any advance or mobilization payment is available?
- Response: The Contract is reimbursement based and the Awardee is encouraged to bill monthly. Common supporting documentation looks like: receipts, invoices, contracts, bank statements showing cleared checks, etc.
Program Income
- Question: May participants pay rent or other program fees? If so, must those receipts offset County payments? Do participants retain their own sales proceeds?
- Response: No, this is free for all businesses and organizations who participate in the program. They will retain their own sales proceeds.
Scope
- Question: Are temporary modular partitions, insurance, travel, reasonable administration and contingency eligible budget items? What local partner commitments and public operating hours are expected at proposal time? Are the standard contract and anticipated insurance requirements available before submission?
- Response: Yes. Typical business hours are expected. Yes, the standard contract and anticipated insurance requirements will be available online before the close of the RFP.
- Question: The expected time from a complete, approved monthly invoice to payment, and whether any advance or mobilization payment is available.
- Response: An advance is not available, this project is reimbursement based. Reimbursements take net 30 upon completion of submission (providing all receipts and information as requested).
- Question: What does “typical business hours” mean? What operating hours are expected, is there a minimum number of days/hours (i.e. 12-5, 7 days per week)? Will there be an eligibility map or a way to confirm a candidate address with the Program Manager?
- Response: We are looking for 30-40 hours a week to be open to the public, specific days and times are open for discussion.
- Question: What local partnerships and other commitments are expected when submitting a proposal?
- Response: This will be upon discussion with the successful bidder and the Project Manager.
- Question: Is there a map of the eligible North Highline area, or a contact who can confirm whether a specific address qualifies?
- Response: Yes, this will be upon discussion with the successful bidder and the Project Manager.
Ready to apply?
Application resources
- North Highline Vacant-to-Vibrant Program request for proposal (RFP) - Outlines the North Highline Vacant to Vibrant Program, including funding information, eligibility, requirements, and the full application and selection process.