DEADLINE EXTENDED: Participatory Budgeting returns for another round, seeks applicants to serve on new steering committee

Following a historic first round of community driven funding, Participatory Budgeting is back.

Continue reading DEADLINE EXTENDED: Participatory Budgeting returns for another round, seeks applicants to serve on new steering committee

Participatory Budgeting program welcomes Jacques Imperial

Participatory Budgeting Program Administrator Jacques Imperial shown during a recent visit to the Ayutthaya Kingdom in Thailand (she loves to travel).

Local Services’ goal of empowering residents to determine how money is spent in their neighborhoods just got a valuable addition.

Recently, we welcomed Jacques Imperial as the Participatory Budgeting program’s new Administrator. In her new position, Jacques will help Program Manager Gloria Briggs, who is currently seeking applicants to serve on the program’s Steering Committee for 2023-24.

Continue reading Participatory Budgeting program welcomes Jacques Imperial

Local Services celebrates launch of Unincorporated King County Economic Alliance

While unincorporated King County boasts a diverse array of businesses, they have plenty in common with each other.

It’s why King County Local Services has partnered with community organizations to help form the Unincorporated King County Economic Alliance. As Executive Dow Constantine announced last week, this new program will further help businesses and individuals recover and thrive as the region continues to emerge from the economic slowdown of the last three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Watch the video for a peek inside the Alliance’s first meeting last month)

Continue reading Local Services celebrates launch of Unincorporated King County Economic Alliance

Local Services Top 10 accomplishments of 2022

In 2022, King County Local Services met challenges and adapted to change to deliver local government services to the unincorporated areas.

As the region and country continued to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, Local Services found itself back in the areas it serves. We worked with our communities and took other steps to make sure we could get back to business as usual, at least as much as we could. We were even honored for these efforts throughout the year, including winning national awards.

As our department and the communities we serve in unincorporated King County get ready to start a new year, let’s take a moment to celebrate some of the things we accomplished together in 2022.

Residents celebrate the winning projects of the first Participatory Budgeting vote during an announcement ceremony in August.
Continue reading Local Services Top 10 accomplishments of 2022

Conservation Corps, community members clean under bridge in Fall City near Snoqualmie River

The area under the S.R. 202 bridge in Fall City after members of the Conservation Corps and residents cleared and cleaned more than a ton of trash and litter.

The King County Conservation Corps teamed with community members to clean trash and litter in Fall City near the Snoqualmie River this week.

Several community members requested a cleanup of the area under S.R. 202, and Local Services dispatched a Conservation Corps crew. Over two days, crew members removed 2,800 pounds of trash, debris, wood, broken glass, appliances and other items that were illegally dumped (check out pictures that show just some of the litter that was collected, as well as the now-cleaned area under the bridge).

Continue reading Conservation Corps, community members clean under bridge in Fall City near Snoqualmie River

Another milestone: First Participatory Budgeting project chosen by voters will expand Cemetery Pond Open Space area in East Renton

We’ve reached another milestone in the Participatory Budgeting process – the first of dozens of projects that voters chose during a history vote this year has become reality.

The Cemetery Pond Open Space area in East Renton has received $50,000 to acquire critical green infrastructure.

Continue reading Another milestone: First Participatory Budgeting project chosen by voters will expand Cemetery Pond Open Space area in East Renton

New Vashon-Maury Island Community Van Coordinator brings experience and passion to help islanders reach their destinations

Lilie Corroon may be a relative newcomer to Vashon Island, but she’s an expert in connecting people to the services they need.

That’s why she is passionate about her new position as Coordinator of the Vashon-Maury Island Community Van program!

The Vashon Community Van gives residents a way to reach any part of the island without taking their cars. The reservation-based rideshare program – which has been available on the island for five years – was developed to provide alternative travel options and help fill transportation gaps.

Continue reading New Vashon-Maury Island Community Van Coordinator brings experience and passion to help islanders reach their destinations

King County Local Services launches Business Survey for establishments in unincorporated areas

Attention business owners in unincorporated King County: Did your business seek and receive business grants, technical assistance, or other support in the past two years? How would you rate the condition of your business?

Local Services’ Unincorporated King County Business Survey is now open and can be completed online. We’ll use your responses to develop services and programs to support businesses in unincorporated King County. By taking this 10-minute survey, you’ll give us information that helps us support businesses in your community.

Continue reading King County Local Services launches Business Survey for establishments in unincorporated areas

Community office hours are back in unincorporated King County! 

In another sign that our region is emerging from the pandemic, King County Local Services is excited to announce the return of our regular community office hours in the unincorporated areas! 

This popular program provides local, in-person help by one or more of our staff members who can connect you with county services and information – all of which are regularly scheduled in your communities. Local Services is partnering with local libraries, a local senior center, and a homeowner’s association to increase access to government services in the unincorporated areas.

Continue reading Community office hours are back in unincorporated King County! 

Local Services’ Evelyn Wood retires after 17 years with King County

Evelyn Wood, whose public service career began with the Highline School District before joining King County.

Local Services wants to wish Executive Assistant Evelyn Wood – one of the key people who has helped our department deliver government services to the unincorporated areas since we began operations – a happy retirement.

Continue reading Local Services’ Evelyn Wood retires after 17 years with King County