1                                                                                    Item: 10c 
2                                                                                    Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 
3 
4                                               ORDER NO. 2021-12 
5 
6                          AN ORDER OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION 
7 
8                           to rename the South King County Fund and to direct the
9                           Executive Director to review the Port's South King County
10                        Fund grant program prior to the end of the program; to assess
11                        the programs impacts; to develop recommendations on the
12                        future of the program and possible extension. 
13 
14                                                  PROPOSED 
15                                            NOVEMBER 16, 2021 
16 
17                                               INTRODUCTION 
18 
19    In 2019 the Commission established a grant fund of $10,000,000 to be distributed to community
20    programs over five years. The South King County Fund started distributing grants in 2020 and is
21    expected to continue through the end of 2024. In its first two years $3,500,000 went to programs 
22    in  South  King  County  supporting  environmental  restoration,  economic  revitalization,  and
23    community capacity building. 
24 
25    This Order directs the Executive Director to initiate a review of the program, evaluate relative
26    merits, and make any necessary changes and recommendations for the future. 
27 
28                                            TEXT OF THE ORDER 
29 
30    The Port Commission hereby directs the Executive Director to conduct a program evaluation of
31    the impact of the South King County Fund prior to the end of year five of the program (2024).
32    This evaluation shall include: 
33            1.  Objective measures of community impact co-developed by Port staff and community 
34               stakeholders; 
35            2.  Community assessment of Port funding structures and processes; and 
36            3.  The co-development of a "theory of change" clearly articulating shared Port and 
37               community goals and objective measures against which future success can be evaluated. 
38 
39    Contingent  upon  the  outcome  of  that  review,  the  Executive  Director  shall  develop  a
40    recommendation on the extension of the program for the next five years at $10,000,000. 
41 
42    The South King County Fund shall be renamed the "South King County Community Impact
43    Fund." 
44 
45 
46 

Order 2021-12  Assessment of South King County Fund After Fourth Year                             Page 1 of 2

47 
48                                  STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDER 
49 
50    On June 25, 2019, the Port of Seattle Commission passed Motion 2019-10, adopting principles to 
51    guide outreach and development of the South King County Fund policy. Since its inception, the
52    Fund has distributed approximately $3.5m to diverse programs in near-airport communities and
53    organizations throughout South King County. In many cases it is doubtful these projects would
54    have been accomplished without financial support from the Port. 
55 
56    The review called for in this Order will add confidence to antidotal evidence suggesting the
57    program's success. A thorough review will assist in charting a path forward, more closely linking 
58    the program to Port's Century Agenda goals, economic development priorities, and broader goals
59    of equity, inclusion, and environmental sustainability. The review may also point to ways to work
60    more closely with communities and constituents of King County. 
61 
62    The King County Fund has provided support for a variety of community programs including: 
63         in collaboration with the Green Cities Stewardship plan increase tree cover in communities; 
64            Planting of trees especially in areas tree stewardship; 
65         formal gardens, cultural spaces and community gardens providing access to safe and
66            healthy food; 
67         instruction  on  native  plants  and  waste  reductions,  composting  and  long-term  park
68            stewardship; 
69         improved parks amenities including sports courts and culturally-relevant art; 
70         expanding a botanical garden impacted by airport expansion; 
71         providing virtual beach habitat and stewardship classes and ongoing beach clean-up efforts; 
72         removing invasive plant species and replacement with native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous
73            plants; 
74         empowering youth leaders and immigrant and refugee families to clean up our waterways; 
75         partnerships with local immigrants and refugees in training urban farmers, installing rain
76            gardens, and restoring habitat and community gardens; 
77         and more. 
78 
79    Committing an additional $10 million in funding at this point prior to the end of the original
80    program funding will provide necessary continuity, confidence and longevity in the program,
81    which will provide funded organizations the confidence necessary to plan for the future. 
82 
83    Changing the name to the 'South King County Community Impact Fund' will more accurately
84    describe the intent of the program. 
85 




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