The Seattle Port Commission this week approved $14 million for the next five years of the successful South King County Community Impact Fund (SKCCIF) program.
First authorized in 2019, SKCCIF supports projects in historically under-resourced and ethnically and culturally diverse communities surrounding Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
The Commission’s action allows the Port to continue its program that prioritizes community-driven projects that promote equity, environmental health, and improved access to opportunity. SKCCIF has strengthened the Port’s relationships with key community members and the organizations that serve them.
After evaluating the effectiveness of the first four years of the program, port staff made the following modifications to the program to better meet community needs in the 2025-2029 funding cycle.
Refocus economic recovery programs to fund projects that promote economic opportunity, rather than projects focused solely on recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic Expand geographic areas , a disparity that includes regions in King County that identify the Port of Seattle as having the highest equity index, continues to prioritize efforts in six cities near airports, and how applications for projects in these cities receive priority status. identify
“The first round of SKCCIF creates new and innovative ways for ports to invest in communities in need of help managing and recovering from the pandemic,” said Seattle Port Commission Chairman Hamdi Mohamed. Ta. “The results have been improved public spaces, innovative workforce training programs, and engagement with community members.The next chapter will see the Port leverage what we have learned to improve community We can expand our impact by deepening our relationship with and expanding beyond the six cities near our airports to other areas of King County that are in need of support and capacity building.”
“Over the past two years, we have worked diligently to meaningfully expand this fund, which provides communities with the resources to implement their own strategies for economic and environmental revitalization. It’s the port’s best mechanism for directly providing transportation,” said Toshiko, vice chair of the Seattle Port Commission. Hasegawa, a South Seattle native, has made public interest a priority since joining the commission. “By using equity indexes as a tool to identify communities in high burden and need, this iteration of SKCCIF deepens the fund, expands its impact, and plays a role in building a healthy and prosperous future for everyone.” We recognize that we have a role to play.”
From 2020 to 2024, SKCCIF will launch a four-cycle economic recovery and environmental grant program to fund community-led projects that create training, pathways to good-paying jobs, and fund environmental improvements. It started. A total of $9.25 million was donated to 52 community-based organizations.
Other changes made to the SKCCIF program in response to community input include:
New in 2025
Developed a three-tier program model for recipients based on their level of experience in the port-related industry Simplified and streamlined the application process
already implemented
Pursuant to Washington state law, we reduced the amount environmental grant recipients must match to fund projects from 3:1 to 2:1. Provided 25% of annual funding within 30 days of contract start for economic recovery – provided a wider range of funding amounts and timelines to maximize the impact on the development of funded projects for applications. Include community reviewers as participants in the consensus process Develop a cohort learning model for economic recovery partners
Impact on funding
SKCCIF has revolutionized the way ports work with communities to improve access to financing opportunities. Since its launch in 2020, SKCCIF investments have fostered new partnerships with BIPOC-led community-based organizations and strengthened support for structurally excluded communities of color.
Projects funded through this program have been successful in:
Establish port-related career education and training, create access to job and internship placements, and improve minority and women business enterprise (WMBE) relationships with ports by removing barriers to participation and supporting small businesses in competitive bidding processes. ) Increase contracting opportunities Increase livability, improve green space, restore forests and parks, and promote community ownership of parks and community gathering spaces Port programs as paid community liaisons and reviewers of the contract selection process Build capacity and trust with BIPOC community members with 40 funded organizations 912 job placements 372 apprenticeships 8 apprenticeships 162 internships 32 funded organizations BIPOC-led organizations 47% complete Project 18 Number of trees planted 650 + volunteer hours 3000 + community education hours 3200 + park restoration hours 27
For more information on reauthorization, read Port Orders, Part 1, pages 58-62 of the October 22 Committee Meeting Packet.
