The Port of Seattle Commission authorized $14 million this week for the second iteration of its successful South King County Community Impact Fund (SKCCIF) program over the next five years.
Initially authorized in 2019, the SKCCIF supports projects in the historically under-resourced, ethnically and culturally diverse communities that surround Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
The Commission’s action allows the Port to continue the program, which prioritizes community-led projects that advance equity, environmental health, and increased access to opportunity. The SKCCIF has strengthened the Port’s relationships with key community members and organizations serving those communities.
After evaluating the effects of the first four years of the program, Port staff have modified the program to better meet the needs of communities during the 2025–2029 funding cycles by:
- Refocusing the Economic Recovery Program to fund projects that advance economic opportunity instead of projects focused solely on recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Expanding the geographic region to include areas of King County that the Port of Seattle’s Equity Index identifies as having the greatest disparities
- Continuing to prioritize our commitment to the six near-airport cities and identifying how applications for projects in those cities will receive priority status
“The first iteration of the SKCCIF created new and innovative ways for the Port to invest in its communities who needed support to manage and recover from the pandemic,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Hamdi Mohamed. “This resulted in improved public spaces, innovative workforce training programs, and engagement with community members. The next chapter allows the Port to leverage what we have learned to deepen our community relationships and broaden our impact both in the six near-airport cities, but also expanding out into 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 is the Port’s best mechanism to directly empower communities with cash to implement self-identified strategies for economic and environmental revitalization,” said Port of Seattle Commission Vice President Toshiko Hasegawa, who hails from South Seattle and has made public benefits a priority since joining the Commission. “By using the Equity Index as a tool to identify overburdened communities in need, this iteration of the SKCCIF both deepens the fund and broadens its impact, recognizing that everyone has a role to play in building a healthy, prosperous future.”
From 2020 to 2024, the SKCCIF launched four cycles of its Economic Recovery and Environmental Grants programs to fund community-led projects that create pathways to training and well-paying jobs, and fund environmental improvements. A total of $9.25 million has been committed to 52 community-based organizations.
Other changes made to the SKCCIF program in response to community input include:
New in 2025
- Developing a three-tiered program model for recipients, based on their level of experience in port-related industries
- Simplifying and streamlining the application process
Already implemented
- Reduced the amount that Environmental Grants recipient organizations are required to match for funding the project from 3:1 to 2:1, according to Washington state law
- Provided 25% of the yearly funding within 30 days of the start of contracts for Economic Recovery – funded projects
- Provided a broader range of funding amounts and timelines to allow maximum impact to project development
- Included community reviewers as participants in the application consensus process
- Developed a cohort learning model for Economic Recovery partners
Funding impact
The SKCCIF has revolutionized how the Port works with communities to improve access to funding opportunities. Since its 2020 launch, SKCCIF investments have fostered new partnerships with BIPOC-led, community-based organizations and increased support of structurally excluded communities of color.
Projects funded through the program have been successful in:
- Establishing port-related career education and training and creating access to job and internship placements
- Increasing opportunities for Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise (WMBE) contracts with the Port by removing barriers to participation and supporting small businesses in the competitive bidding process
- Enhancing livability, improving greenspaces, restoring forests and parks, and fostering community ownership of parks and community gathering spaces
- Building capacity and trust with BIPOC community members in Port programs as compensated community liaisons and as reviewers in the contract selection process
| Organizations funded | 40 |
| Job placements | 912 |
| Pre-apprenticeships | 372 |
| Apprenticeships | 8 |
| Internships | 162 |
| Organizations funded | 32 |
| BIPOC-led organizations | 47% |
| Projects completed | 18 |
| Trees planted | 650+ |
| Volunteer hours | 3000+ |
| Community education hours | 3200+ |
| Parks restored | 27 |
For more information on the details of the reauthorization, read the Port order in the October 22 Commission meeting packet, part 1, pages 58–62.
