TagSouth King County(26)

The South King County Community Impact Fund (SKCCIF) is a $14 million Port of Seattle investment running from 2025 to 2029, aimed at improving quality of life for historically underserved communities in South King County. The fund is divided across three programs: Economic Opportunities for Communities (70%), Environmental Improvements (20%), and Diversity in Contracting (10%). Its mission is to remove systemic barriers by expanding access to living-wage jobs in Port-related industries, enhancing public spaces, and supporting community-led projects.

The City of Tukwila submitted formal comments on December 13, 2024, objecting to SeaTac Airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan Draft Environmental Assessment (SAMP Draft EA), arguing that the study area is too narrow, covering only 3,692 acres, and fails to account for broader impacts on surrounding communities including increased traffic, air quality degradation, and noise under flight paths. The city contends that proposed mitigation measures are inadequate and that the assessment ignores equity and social justice concerns affecting the low-income, diverse communities near the airport. Tukwila is calling for a full Environmental Impact Statement with an expanded General Study Area that includes the entire city and broader South King County region.

The Port of Seattle established the South King County Fund (SKCF), a $10 million initiative to be distributed through 2023, with $750,000 targeted for pilot projects in 2019. The fund aims to reduce airport-related environmental impacts in South King County communities through equitable community engagement and eight guiding principles, including prioritizing community input, supporting equity, promoting innovation, and encouraging matching funds. Projects are selected based on their readiness to proceed, added community benefit, and alignment with established Port programs and commitments.

In November 2018, the Port of Seattle Commission established the South King County Support Program, dedicating up to $10 million (with $750,000 budgeted for 2019) to provide resources and support to communities surrounding Sea-Tac International Airport. Program development is focused on setting guiding principles, identifying near-term projects, and ensuring equitable community engagement. The initiative aims to deliver both short-term and long-term benefits to affected South King County residents.

A November 2022 Sound Transit presentation to the Highline Forum outlines planned transit expansions in South King County, including the Federal Way Link Extension (SeaTac to Federal Way), the Tacoma Dome Link Extension, and the Stride S1 bus rapid transit route connecting Burien to Bellevue via Tukwila. The update also introduces new CEO Julie Timm and highlights additional improvements such as a new S Boeing Access Road Station, Sounder parking upgrades, and track and platform enhancements. While focused on regional transit growth, the projects have direct relevance to communities near Sea-Tac Airport affected by transportation and land-use planning.

The Port of Seattle's South King County Community Impact Fund, presented at the Highline Forum on September 28, 2022, is a grant program launched in 2020 to build equity-based partnerships with communities near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The fund offers three programs—Economic Recovery, Environmental Grants, and WMBE Small Business support—with a focus on engaging and building capacity within BIPOC communities. Multi-year funding options were introduced in the program's second round.

The Port of Seattle's South King County Fund (SKCF), launched in 2019, provides grants to build equity-based partnerships in communities near Sea-Tac Airport. In 2020, the fund distributed $1.5 million across Environmental, Economic Recovery, and WMBE (Women and Minority Business Enterprise) programs, supporting 27 projects; funding increased to $2 million in 2021. The program aims to address environmental and economic impacts on South King County residents through targeted community investment.