Summary

Five community projects in unincorporated communities in District 9 will receive funding from the King County Community Service Area program.

Story

Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn announced today that five community projects in unincorporated communities in District 9 will receive a financial boost from King County’s Community Service Area (CSA) program. The grants awarded to the projects are designed to support programs that allow unincorporated county residents to become more connected in their communities.

“I was glad to have worked with my colleagues on the Council to increase this year’s grant funds by 50 percent in order to better support unincorporated communities,” Dunn said. “These grants help to create more active and vibrant communities.”

Four projects will receive a total of $8,750 to support their efforts:

• The Parks’ Homeowners Association will receive $1,600 to repair a playground structure.

“The Parks’ Homeowners Association would like to thank the King County CSA Program and Councilmember Dunn for this grant award,” said Michelle Faltaous, President of the Parks’ Homeowners Association. “We’re so excited that this award will support our work to create a safe place for children of all ages to come together and participate in outdoor play. We hope our play area will help to foster the building of relationships for children as well as their parents.”

• The Greater Maple Valley UAC received two grants for a total of $4,000, to support their Annual Train Show held in Ravensdale, as well as a survey and their newsletter.

“The grant awarded by King County, together with matching participation by the GMVUAC, will help finance the GMVUAC's annual train show at the Gracie Hansen Community Center in Ravensdale, and improvements to its web site, preparation of its annual newsletter, and conduct of its biennial survey,” the Greater Maple Valley UAC said in a statement.

• The Lake Desire Community Club also received two grants, totaling $3,150, for the remodel of the exterior of their club house and their National Night Out event.

“The Lake Desire Community Club is grateful to King County for their generous contribution to assist in funding an update to the exterior of our community center,” said Heather Stafford, Vice President of the Lake Desire Community Club. “We host many community-building events and public meetings that reach residents in nearby neighborhoods in and around our area of King County. We plan to increase parking lot lighting, repaint the exterior, update the front stairs and create a shade garden at the front. This grant will enable us to continue serving the community as a meeting place for Noxious Weed Abatement (in conjunction with King County), Boy and Girl Scout meetings, as well as holiday events, annual plant and seed swaps and a summer barbecue for the neighborhood.”

There are more than 72,000 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 CSAs an opportunity to participate and be more connected in their communities. A total of $90,000 was awarded for projects in 2017.

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 contact Councilmember Dunn’s office at Reagan.Dunn@kingcounty.gov.