
The Port has funded three cycles of the South King County Fund (SKCF) Environmental Grants. Organizations can apply for one, two, or three-year grants for up to $20,000 per year and up to $60,000 for multiyear funding. Multi-year grants allow community groups to invest in long-term planning and implementation. Multiyear funds also increase the impact of the Port’s community investments and help to support sustainable project planning and implementation.
A total of $500,000 was awarded in cycle three to increase access to green space and improve livability in near-airport communities.
Program background
The SKCF Environmental Grants Program is a cycle of the South King County Community Impact Fund that supports projects to improve the environment in near-airport communities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Tukwila. Community-led groups are invited to apply for funding for activities such as:
- public space improvements (including parks, school playgrounds, public square, or port habitat sites);
- equipment or artwork installations, or;
- neighborhood or environmental stewardship projects.
Through funding and partnerships with community-based organizations, the Environmental Grants Program drives the Port’s investment in projects in cities around the airport to enhance livability, improve green spaces, and restore forests. The SKCIIF Environmental Grants Program expands the reach of the successful Airport Community Ecology (ACE) program into more communities that surround Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Communities in South King County disproportionately experience environmental harm due to a long history of inequitable land use practices and economic displacement that have pushed marginalized communities farther and farther south.
Fund highlights
- $500,000 of funding was available in cycle three
- Requests can be up to $20,000
- Multiyear funding is available for up to $60,000 over three years
- Projects must take place on public property. Please see City contact information at the bottom of the page to connect with parks department staff members.
- Projects must demonstrate a 3:1 match, meaning every dollar awarded by the Port must be matched by three dollars from the grant recipient or project partners. The Port offers several ways to meet this match including volunteer time, attendees of public events, contact hours, lifetime environmental value of trees planted, carbon emissions reductions, in-kind contributions, contributions of project partners, and cash
- Proposers must be a nonprofit organization with 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 status or community group that works with a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor
- Organizations must demonstrate experience in serving diverse near-airport communities that experience economic and environmental injustice
- Organizations must submit a written proposal and participate in a discussion with the review panel
How to apply
- Locate all materials for the SKCCIF Environmental Grants program at the ‘Documents’ tab on the VendorConnect site.
- All required documents must be emailed to e-submittals-sa@portseattle.org.
- Questions must be submitted through VendorConnect.
- You must register as a Plan Holder at VendorConnect to ask questions and receive ongoing updates. Register by going to the South King County Community Impact Fund Solicitation Overview page in VendorConnect.
- For detailed instructions about registering, read the VendorConnect External User Guide
City points of contact
For projects taking place on city property including parks, public right of ways, street ends, etc., it is best to contact a representative within your project city to pre-approve the project. Some projects may need permits or require approval from Parks and Recreation or Public Works. It is best to contact the city early in your planning process and if possible, ask for a letter of recommendation to include in your application packet. The following list is designated points of contact who are familiar with the Environmental Grants Program and are ready to help you with your project.
BurienName: Casey Stanley |
Normandy ParkName: Aimee Lloyd |
Des MoinesName: Jason Woycke, AICP |
SeaTacName: Anita Woodmass |
Federal WayName: Jason Gerwen |
TukwilaName: Kris Kelly |
Cycle II Funded Projects:
Weed Warriors Solar Project for New Start Community Garden |
Des Moines Memorial Drive Preservation Association Signal Box Wraps on Des Moines Memorial Drive |
Friends of Normandy Park Marine View Park Forest Restoration |
Partner In Employment SKC Youth Restoration |
African Young Dreamers Empowerment Program Youth Activism Project |
Friends of Saltwater State Park Saltwater State Park Habitat Enhancement, Monitoring, and Education |
Tilth Alliance SKC Community Garden Support |
Dirt Corps Salmon Creek Park Restoration |
Earth Corps Hilltop Restoration and Community Engagement |
Serve Ethiopians Washington Improve Angle Lake Park |
Bhutanese Community Resource Center Continue educating and connecting Bhutanese communities to open space |
Amigos Latinos de Burien A New Beginning: Revitalizing Arbor Lake Park |
Federal Way Korean American Association Hanwoori Garden (Phase II) |
The Service Board Youth Stewardship Project for Duwamish Hill Preserve |
Environmental Science Center Beach Heroes |
Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust Community-Driven Stewardship at Salmon Creek Ravine |
Toros Cycling Club Bike Training Course and Education |
EarthGen Green Stormwater Infrastructure Projects in Highline Schools |