Category: Our team

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

Cleaning up: King County Conservation Corps update

Before and after photos of some of the graffiti removal work the King County Conservation Corps did along 16th and 15th Ave SW near SW Roxbury Street in White Center thus far in 2020. The Corps has expanded some of its services in White Center and begun work in Skyway. As the program ends this April, planning is underway to address future resourcing.

The King County Conservation Corps is a partnership between King County’s Solid Waste Division, Department of Local Services, and Millionair Club Charity. Under the agreement, five-person crews provide services on weekdays in the urban unincorporated areas.

Watch Conservation Corps crews clean up graffiti and trash in White Center.
Continue reading Cleaning up: King County Conservation Corps update

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

Brater named ‘County Engineer of the Year’

Road Services Director Rick Brater holds his "County Road Engineer of the Year" plaque.
Road Services Director Rick Brater with his “County Engineer of the Year” plaque.

Road Services Division Director Rick Brater has been named the Washington State County Road Administration Board’s “County Engineer of the Year.”

He received the award at the Board’s Summer Conference in June.

Nominated by King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert, Brater was recognized as a strong manager and leader who is responsible for a regional transportation system of 1,500 miles of roads and 182 bridges, and a staff of 400 people, including six maintenance divisions.

Brater, whom the Metropolitan King County Council appointed Director of Local Services’ Road Services Division in March and who has been with King County more than 17 years, was recognized in several areas: Continue reading Brater named ‘County Engineer of the Year’

Mark Rowe is the new Deputy Director for King County Local Services Permitting Division

 

 

Pictured in his Snoqualmie office is Permitting Division Deputy Director Mark Rowe
Permitting Division Deputy Director Mark Rowe

Recently, King County Local Services Permitting Division welcomed Mark Rowe as its new Deputy Director.

It’s somewhat of a homecoming for Rowe, who had two prior stints with the county. He first spent six years as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist for Public Health-Seattle & King County before joining AT&T Broadband, where he managed the teams that established high-speed data and voice networks in the state. In 2003, he rejoined Public Health as Program Manager for Emergency Preparedness, then as Food Protection and Water Recreation Facilities Section Manager.

Most recently, Rowe served in senior leadership roles with Amazon.com Corporate. First as a global Food Safety Senior Manager for Amazon Fresh, Prime Now and Treasure Truck, then as a Senior Food Safety Manager for Retail and Operations Integration. Continue reading Mark Rowe is the new Deputy Director for King County Local Services Permitting Division

Daw to manage external relations for Department of Local Services

King County Local Services External Relations Manager David Daw
King County Local Services External Relations Manager David Daw

David Daw has joined the Department of Local Services, where he will lead the new department’s efforts to engage and collaborate with King County’s unincorporated communities.

A Seattle native, David attended Evergreen State College in Olympia and studied economic development abroad in both Central America and Africa. After earning a bachelor’s degree focused on public administration and intercultural communication, he returned to Seattle. With a friend, he co-founded The Initiative Newspaper, which ran stories about positive community action and provided resources and information about the local African-American community. Continue reading Daw to manage external relations for Department of Local Services

Human Resources managers join Road Services and Permitting divisions

As it enters its fourth month, King County’s new Department of Local Services is continuing to fill key positions. Two Human Resources managers were recently named to support the new department’s most important asset—its people.

Brittany Hagen Crosser, HR Manager I for the King County Local Services Road Services Division
Brittany Hagen Crosser

As of April 1, Brittany Hagen Crosser is the new HR Manager I for the Road Services Division. Brittany began her King County career in the former Human Resources Division in 2006, and most recently served that same agency (now also a new department) as a Project Program Manager III. For the last two years she has managed new employee orientations, helping new hires get a good start in their King County careers. She has experience in operations management, labor relations, continuous improvement, and business intelligence. Brittany is looking forward to this new chapter in her career.

“I love people and public service,” she said. “I think government should have all the benefits of the private sector in terms of creativity, innovation, and awesome staff. Every department and division in King County is unique, with its own set of HR challenges, and I look forward to learning and addressing these with the leadership of Road Services.” Continue reading Human Resources managers join Road Services and Permitting divisions