The holidays weren’t the only reason for joy and cheer in White Center this past week. 

Community members joined King County leaders and staff to celebrate this year’s Participatory Budgeting awards on Wednesday. The county is delivering $11.75 million to support 42 projects and programs in the unincorporated areas that were chosen by the community, for the community. 

More than 200 people packed the White Center Heights Elementary cafeteria and gymnasium to celebrate the program’s achievement of delivering its second Participatory Budgeting process in three years. This week’s celebration was the culmination of planning, meetings, boots-on-the-ground advocacy for more than year and a half. 

It’s also why the event felt more like a neighborhood get-together that saw as many hugs as handshakes.

King County Deputy Executive Shannon Braddock and Department of Local Services Director Leon Richardson personally greeted representatives from each of the 42 community projects and programs as they were announced. 

These projects and programs are located in and/or serve the urban unincorporated areas of Skyway, White Center, East Federal Way, East Renton and Fairwood. 

“Collaboration between King County and the communities we serve makes Participatory Budgeting possible,” said Richardson, adding that the awards stand as a testament to the dedication of community members and Department of Local Services staff.

“This highlights the remarkable outcomes that arise when local government and the communities work together in true collaboration,” he said.

Members of the Participatory Budgeting team – from the program’s steering committee of residents to project advocates to Local Services staff – agreed. Their work involved shaping the program’s framework, soliciting project ideas from the community, evaluating those ideas, getting them onto a ballot, and delivering a monthlong community vote.

“This is an amazing night,” Participatory Budgeting Program Manager Gloria Briggs said. “We are seeing the impact the impact that PB is truly making in our communities.”

Check out the full list of winners here.