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King County Community Service Area grants for District 9 were announced today by Metropolitan King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn. Among those chosen to receive the grants are Maple Hills Maintenance Company, Four Creeks Area Council and the Community Alliance to Reach out and Engage (CARE). 

“The Community Service Area grant program aids communities and residents in coming together to improve their neighborhoods and boost ‘community’ in the truest sense of the word.” said Dunn

The Four Creeks Area Council and the Maple Hills Maintenance Company were awarded $2,000 and $1,500 respectively to aid in putting on a National Night out Event. National Night Out promotes community involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and sends a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

"Four Creeks is pleased to be helping local neighborhoods promote Blockwatch and Community Safety in partnership with King County and the Sheriff's office,” said Peter H. Eberle, President of the Four Creeks UAC. “We are looking forward to working with new community groups this year after having helped to build a successful annual NNO event in the Maple Hills community." 

"The Maple Hills Maintenance Company is excited to have been awarded this grant for our annual National Night Out event, to be held Tuesday, August 6, 2014, at Maple Hills Park,” said Matt Nepsa, a Maple Hills Park Trustee & Neighborhood Watch Volunteer. “By partnering with our local Neighborhood Watch group, area business sponsors and public safety service providers from King County and other jurisdictions, the families in our outlying area will have the opportunity to engage and conduct safety outreach in a fun and festive atmosphere. The event will strengthen lines of communication between our local residents and their serving agencies, and will promote safety awareness for the community as a whole.”

The $1,500 grant awarded to the Community Alliance to Reach out and Engage (CARE) will fund efforts that include planting, signage, cleanup, and other community improvements.

“CARE is so excited about this grant!” said Gwendolyn High, President of Community Alliance to Reach Out & Engage. “We will be able continue to build on the great work we do with our partners, King County Department of Natural Resources and the Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council, through our joint Memorandum of Understanding for stewardship of the Cemetery Pond, Tributary 291 and Coalfield Park. This is the literal and symbolic crossroads in our community - urban meets rural, residential meets commercial meets recreational, and the Briarwood community meets the Coalfield community. With the matching contributions we bring to this public-community partnership, we get more of the work done that is so important to our neighbors while still saving taxpayer dollars.”

The King County Community Service Areas (CSA) offer expanded ways for the County to engage with the 255,000 county residents who live outside city boundaries.  There are more than 70,000 residents of Council District 9 living in CSAs.

The grant programs within the CSA’s are available through a competitive application process. The grants must be used to fund community projects that offer unincorporated area residents in the Community Service Areas an opportunity to participate and be more connected in their communities. A total of $60,000 was awarded for projects in 2014.

If you live in an unincorporated community and are interested in learning more about the CSA program and how to apply for future grant opportunities please visit www.kingcounty.gov/exec/community-service-areas.aspx

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