Category: Director’s Office

King County 2020 Community Service Area grants awarded

King County announced 45 volunteer-led community events and projects that will be expanded in unincorporated communities with grants of up to $5,000 each.

Learn more about our Community Service Grants on the Local Services website.

The community groups successfully competed for a total of $92,500 in grants, which range between $500 and $4,750 each. Community organizations are required to match at least one quarter of the total project costs. The projects must be accessible to all residents, regardless of race, income, or language spoken.

Grants were awarded to community organizations throughout King County’s Community Service Areas. This year’s successful applications include:

  • Snoqualmie Valley Community Network—support for a youth leadership summit.
  • Skyway Solutions—support for a community festival.
  • Federal Way Senior Center—funds to buy 100 chairs for use at the center.
Continue reading King County 2020 Community Service Area grants awarded

FarmKingCounty.org offers resources for farming businesses

Running a farm business is complex. Thorough business planning may help you access financing to start your farm or diversify your farm as you grow your business. Many types of financing for farms (from grants to traditional bank loans) will have different requirements such as what they will cover, amount available, deadlines, or interest rates. Your business may need employees. Labor laws dictate what is allowable — from hiring family members who are children, to paying employees by the amount harvested — and what recordkeeping is required. And like any business, farms are required to pay taxes. However, farms are also eligible for tax benefits and exemptions.

Continue reading FarmKingCounty.org offers resources for farming businesses

Local Services’ 19: Top Accomplishments of 2019

What a first year!

Our goals were clear: create a department and begin delivering improved government services to the diverse residents and businesses of unincorporated King County.

We took that and ran with it, retooling how the county listens to residents, works collaboratively with them, and acts in their communities.

Here are 19 accomplishments we racked up in 2019: Continue reading Local Services’ 19: Top Accomplishments of 2019

Local Services hires Service Partnerships manager

Jesse
Jesse Kent is the new Service Partnerships manager for the Department of Local Services.

One thing that’s different about King County’s new Department of Local Services is the Service Partnership Agreements it’s making with other King County agencies. The agreements will allow Local Services to serve as a “one-stop shop,” helping residents and businesses in unincorporated areas connect with county services while also gathering information about those services.

On March 25, Jesse Kent joined the department as its Service Partnership Agreement Manager. He’ll oversee this part of the new department’s approach, managing working relationships with other King County departments and looking at the data they collect to support continuous improvement. Continue reading Local Services hires Service Partnerships manager

Taniguchi: The end of an era means new beginnings

A head shot of Department of Transportation Director Harold Taniguchi.

(Note: Below is an email that Director Harold Taniguchi sent to all Department of Transportation employees today)

Dear colleagues,

At the end of this month, the nearly quarter-century history of our King County Department of Transportation will come full circle. Continue reading Taniguchi: The end of an era means new beginnings

John Taylor Confirmed as Department of Local Services Director

King County Local Services Director John Taylor
King County Local Services Director John Taylor

The Metropolitan King County Council on Monday gave its unanimous approval to the appointment of John Taylor to lead the newly formed Department of Local Services that is set to begin operations at the beginning of the year. Taylor, appointed by County Executive Dow Constantine in October, now formally serves as the director of the department that will better coordinate and deliver direct services to the nearly 250,000 people who live in unincorporated King County. Continue reading John Taylor Confirmed as Department of Local Services Director

“Keeping things simple” with the new Deputy Director of Local Services

Newly appointed Deputy Director of the Department of Local Services Danielle de Clercq at her desk inside her Seattle office.

The newly appointed Deputy Director of the Department of Local Services adheres to a fundamental rule when working to solve problems.

Don’t complicate things. Continue reading “Keeping things simple” with the new Deputy Director of Local Services

What adoption of the biennial King County Budget for the new Department of Local Services means for residents of unincorporated King County

table at Skyway-West Hill subarea plan open house

The biennial King County Budget adopted this month by the Metropolitan King County Council establishes the new King County Department of Local Services, as proposed by Executive Dow Constantine. Among the benefits that local residents can hope to see in 2019-2020 are: Continue reading What adoption of the biennial King County Budget for the new Department of Local Services means for residents of unincorporated King County

John Taylor takes helm as inaugural director of Department of Local Services

John Taylor standing at microphone
John Taylor, inaugural director of the Department of Local Services

One day after being named the first director of a new King County department designed to exclusively serve residents of the unincorporated areas, John Taylor participated at a retreat for division leaders and outlined his vision for delivering outstanding local public services.

“There is currently no city hall for the residents of unincorporated King County, yet it’s in effect a city of 250,000 people,” he said. “Our goal is to give them that ‘city hall’ — a place they can get permits in a simple way, get their questions answered, and find out what other services are available to them.” Continue reading John Taylor takes helm as inaugural director of Department of Local Services

Executive details new Dept. of Local Services in proposed 2019-2020 budget

map of unincorporated King County

The new Department of Local Services, established by ordinance last week by the King County Council, is now part of the 2019-2020 King County budget which Executive Dow Constantine this week proposed to the Council.

Continue reading Executive details new Dept. of Local Services in proposed 2019-2020 budget