 Sports, Fitness, and Climate Resilience
I’m excited to announce two grant opportunities available in the upcoming budget cycle for eligible non-profit organizations and government entities. These awards will be included in the county’s first supplemental budget for the 2026–2027 term, with funding anticipated to be received by awardees in fall 2026.
Grant awards are available in the following two categories:
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Climate Resilience – Funding will support projects that strengthen local and regional climate resilience and connect with King County Park Division’s programs, as called for in the approved funding plan of the King County Parks Levy approved by voters in 2025. Eligible project categories include:
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Forest Stewardship – Projects that restore and manage forests in urban and rural areas to improve ecosystem health, support wildlife, and provide environmental and community benefits like cleaner air and water, recreation, and climate resilience.
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Park and Stormwater Facility – Projects that manage stormwater while providing community spaces like parks, trails, and open spaces for people to gather, play, and connect with nature.
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Community Response – Projects and programs that help communities prepare for and respond to climate-related challenges such as flooding, wildfires, and extreme heat through education, infrastructure improvements, and resilience-building programs.
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Get Active, Stay Active – Support fit and healthy communities through youth and amateur sports, fitness programming, and increasing ways to participate in sports, play, and outdoor recreation.
When reviewing grant applications, I will consider how well the proposal addresses a unique or significant local need, prioritizes equity, and demonstrates a clear connection to District 4.
Please complete the Expression of Interest form for these grants by Sunday, April 26. For questions, email me at Jorge.Baron@kingcounty.gov or Lan Nguyen at Lan.Nguyen@kingcounty.gov.
Click image to access the recording of the March Committee of the Whole meeting.
Harborview Medical Center Update
At this month’s Committee of the Whole meeting, we heard updates on Harborview Medical Center and the Harborview Bond Program from leadership at UW Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, and staff of the King County Auditor and Executive Offices. In my February newsletter, I touched on the importance of Harborview and why it is a priority for my office. This month, this focus on our county hospital continued as we received briefings from:
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Sommer Kleweno Walley, Chief Executive Officer at Harborview Medical Center
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Dorothy Teeter, Board of Trustees President at Harborview Medical Center
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Ian Goodhew, Chief External Affairs Officer of UW Medicine
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Ben Thompson, King County Auditor’s Office
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Tony Wright, King County Executive’s Office
Bond project findings – The UW Medicine and Harborview panelists presented on current trends at Harborview, including Medicaid changes resulting from federal House Resolution 1, updates on philanthropic efforts, and an overview of recent infrastructure and operational investments. The King County Auditor’s Office shared findings from their recent review of the Harborview Bond Project, highlighting that there are significant delays and cost overages with the project due to challenges with contractors, and the need to coordinate with other jurisdictions including the Washington State Department of Transportation and the City of Seattle. Finally, Executive staff responded to the audit finding and spoke to current and future priorities to continue moving this project forward. While I recognize that some of the delays and cost increases have been due to factors outside of the county’s control, I am concerned about the pace of progress on this project and plan to remain focused on ensuring we deliver on the vision our residents approved of for Harborview. I look forward to holding future discussions on Harborview this year.
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Click image to access the recording of the March King County Transportation District meeting.
Transportation and Roads
On February 25, the King County Transportation District (KCTD) held a public hearing in Issaquah focused on the state of county roads and transit. Local transportation districts are granted taxing authority under state law to raise revenue for transportation-related investments.
Background – The presentations provided in the February meeting focused on the troubling financial picture of the King County Roads Division, which oversees and maintains roads in unincorporated areas. Due to state caps, revenue to our county roads has been significantly outpaced by increases in costs due to inflation, maintenance needs based on rising populations, and most recently, significant damage caused by flooding. The King County Roads Division estimates that without additional revenue, they will have to suspend their capital program in 2028. Additionally, King County Metro faces a budget cliff closer to the end of the decade due to costs outpacing revenue.
Next steps – The KCTD met again in March to discuss a proposal to impose a countywide one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) sales tax to support roads and bridges in unincorporated King County. While the funding outlook for our county roads is bleak and requires intervention, I am concerned about the impact that increasing sales taxes have on affordability throughout the region. I expect that this item will be considered again at KCTD’s April 2 meeting. I welcome your input on these issues as deliberations continue.
Click image to access the recording of the March Law and Justice meeting.
Proposed Legislation on Public Defense Standards
Late last month, I introduced legislation that would update the county’s standards for public defense. State law requires that counties adopt standards on sixteen specific elements of public defense services.
Background – In late 2025, the State Supreme Court issued an order imposing new requirements on standards for delivery of public defense services but did not provide guidance on all sixteen elements required by state law. The legislation I introduced addresses this by proposing to codify those elements that the Supreme Court addressed in its order. Regarding elements required by state law but not addressed by the Court, the legislation largely points to another recent document outlining best practices in public defense: the Washington State Bar Association’s September 2024 standards.
Why it matters – Public defense is a constitutionally-required element of our criminal legal system and necessary not only to protect the rights of people accused of crime but also of victims of crime, as the legal system can hold people accountable. In Oregon, courts have dismissed cases in situations where the state has failed to provide a defense attorney, and I don’t want that to happen here.
Meeting the Supreme Court's new attorney caseload levels will require significant investment from the County and updating the code is important because current county code includes some ambiguous language that, I believe, could pose challenges to the successful and coordinated implementation of the Court's new requirements. I am committed to ensuring that our public defense system is operating effectively to protect both community safety and residents’ constitutional rights and I believe this legislation is an important step toward that goal.
Pictured providing public comment to advocate in favor of House Bill 2442.
As I shared in my December newsletter, my top priority this session was securing state support for public defense services. These services are mandated but generally not funded by the state. King County, like many local governments, has struggled to sustain this system due to rapidly growing caseloads and ongoing staff attrition. In severe situations, cases could be dismissed because no public defender is available to represent clients, and recent orders from the Washington State Supreme Court will require reductions in caseloads and increases in staffing in the coming years. This will raise costs for local governments, making state support even more critical. Unfortunately, the legislature did not take action to provide additional funding or authority to address this need. While I’m disappointed in this outcome, I will continue to advocate for state support because public defense is a core government service and essential to protecting King County residents’ constitutional rights.
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Click image to learn more about the Washington State Legislature.
Another topic you may be familiar with is Senate Bill 6346, often referred to as the ‘Millionaire’s tax’. I also advocated with state legislators on elements of this bill, which would impose, beginning in 2028, a tax on incomes exceeding $1 million. Revenues would support programs such as the state’s Fair Start for Kids Act, the Working Families Tax Credit, small business tax credits, and the state’s general fund. It repeals the sales tax on certain services and creates exemptions for diapers, hygiene products, and over the counter medications. While I strongly supported this legislation as an important step to redress the regressivity of our state’s tax code, some aspects of the legislation will have implications for King County, including:
- The repeal of the sales tax on services is estimated to reduce county revenue by $93 million annually starting in 2029, with Metro accounting for the largest share of that loss ($57 million).
- Initial versions of the bill included dedicated funds to support local governments in providing public defense services, but they were removed late in the session, leaving no clear path to address this need.
Recognizing the impacts of these changes and the limited revenue options available to local governments, the legislature signaled its intent to identify funds to offset the revenue losses for local governments from these changes. However, initial estimates show that the preliminary proposal will not fully cover anticipated reductions in revenue that local governments expect. I will continue working with state leaders as this evolves, supporting progressive changes to our tax system while also ensuring local governments have the resources needed to deliver services to our residents.
I also advocated for several other bills that were approved by the Legislature, including:
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House Bill 2266: I worked with House and Senate members to encourage their support on this bill, which reduces barriers to opening shelters and developing affordable housing across the state.
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Why it matters – According to the 2025 King County Housing Needs Assessment, our region needs to create 246,963 new homes over the next 20 years to account for population growth. But housing projects are often delayed or prevented due to processes like zoning and siting. HB 2266 streamlines these processes so that needed housing can be built faster. I am grateful that it passed both the House and Senate and was signed into law by Governor Ferguson on March 27.
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House Bill 2442 – I testified in support before the Senate Ways and Means Committee for this bill, which provides counties with tools to address important community needs, including the option to create a stable revenue source for public health clinics and child and family services.
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Why it matters – At a time when many of our immigrant and underinsured neighbors are losing access to essential services, support for public health clinics is especially critical. These clinics provide primary care, maternity and pediatric services, substance use treatment, oral health care, and more, and are currently funded through a short-term approach that will expire at the end of 2027. I am grateful that this bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Ferguson on March 25.
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Senate Bill 5068 – I engaged with state legislators in support of this legislation, which aligns state statute with federal work authorization law and ensures that individuals who are legally authorized to work in the United States are eligible for essential jobs including corrections.
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Why it matters – This is vital to King County’s ability to maintain safe and stable detention facilities through adequate staffing. This bill was signed into law by Governor Ferguson on March 18.
The state budget also includes funding for several King County priorities:
- $15 million to maintain homelessness services statewide in the event of reductions to the federal Continuum of Care program,
- $3.2 million for Metro’s pilot project providing free transit to community and technical college students,
- $25 million for Cascade Care, which provides health insurance premium assistance for income-eligible residents who are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, and
- $25 million for the state Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance to support newly arrived individuals who do not qualify for federal resettlement services.
Next steps – The Governor has until April 4, 2026 – 20 days from the end of session excluding Sundays – to act on legislation. I will monitor these decisions and continue working on county efforts related to public defense caseload requirements.
 Immigration Enforcement Update
Council has continued to prioritize protecting our immigrant community throughout the last month. You can read about our past actions here.
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Emergency Moratorium on Detention Facilities
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Earlier this month, the full council voted to enact an emergency one-year moratorium on new detention facilities in unincorporated King County. Under Federal House Resolution 1 passed last year, immigration enforcement agencies received a large budget increase to build new immigration detention facilities. Because of these additional resources, we have seen examples of federal agencies suddenly purchasing or leasing property to build new detention centers, even despite local opposition.
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What this means – Under the county moratorium, the county cannot accept applications or issue permits for new or expanded detention facilities, including immigration detention, while the moratorium is in effect. We joined numerous other jurisdictions, including the City of Seattle, in taking this critical step. I was proud to cosponsor this legislation. The moratorium will give us time to develop longer-term policies regarding any future efforts to build detention facilities in unincorporated areas of the county.
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Strengthening Restrictions on Immigration Enforcement in County Property
- On March 24, the council considered further legislation to prohibit federal immigration from using County-owned and controlled property to stage, process, or operate civil immigration enforcement activities.
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What this means – This builds upon previous ordinances that restrict county properties, employees, and contractors from aiding in immigration enforcement, and will ensure that our properties – including parks – are not used by federal immigration enforcement agents. We joined the City of Seattle in taking this step. I was proud to work with Councilmember Mosqueda on this legislation and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to inform our ability to meaningfully enforce this policy.
Celebrating at the Council
Pictured from left to right: Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Council Chair Sarah Perry, Councilmember Steffanie Fain, Councilmember Reagan Dunn, my daughter Luna, me, Jade Lenore Le Duff, Councilmember Rhonda Lewis, and Councilmember Claudia Balducci.
Celebrating our Trans Community
On March 24, Councilmember Balducci and I presented a proclamation recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility, observed each year on March 31st. We were joined by Lavender Rights Project Chief of Staff Jade Lenore Le Duff, who gave remarks and accepted this year’s proclamation. Particularly given the ongoing attempts to erase the trans community, it is important that we, local leaders and allies, are vocal in our commitment to stand firmly with our transgender neighbors, friends, and family members. Everyone deserves love, respect, and most of all the right to live an authentic, beautiful life.
Resources and Support
Meet the Trailblazers! Pictured from left to right: Councilmember Mosqueda, LGBTQIA Activist Marsha Botzer, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Executive Director Malou Chávez, Councilmember Lewis, Council Chair Perry, Lalita Uppala, Councilmember Fain, and Councilmember Balducci.
Women’s History Month Celebrations
Last week, the council hosted our Annual Women’s History Month Panel! This year’s panelists included Councilmember Rhonda Lewis and Councilmember Steffanie Fain, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project’s Executive Director Malou Chavéz, and LGBTQIA activist Marsha Botzer. This year’s theme, “Trailblazers of Our Time,” which focused on the panelists as women who are “first” in their roles, their work, and other achievements.
Kudos to Chair Sarah Perry, Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Councilmember Claudia Balducci, and district and council staff for their work on convening this annual event, a tradition that began through the efforts of my predecessor, former Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles. Congratulations to Lalita Uppala on receiving this year’s Jeanne Kohl-Welles Women Uplifting Women Award. Lalita received this award to recognize her lifelong dedication to uplifting other women, and ensuring they have access to the tools that would help them thrive. Lalita is the Executive Director of Indian American Community Services and a Commissioner on the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.
Group photo with my council colleagues, Executive Director Nura Adam of Immigrant Women's Community Center and others who joined us in celebrating Women’s History Month.
Earlier in the month, Councilmembers Claudia Balducci, Steffanie Fain, Rhonda Lewis, Teresa Mosqueda, and Council Chair Sarah Perry presented a proclamation in honor of Women’s History Month. Nura Adam, Executive Director of Immigrant Women's Community Center (IWCC) received the proclamation in recognition of the IWCC’s work helping women and families through connection, advocacy, and education, especially immigrant women and their families.
Selfie with my district 4 team member, Clara Manahan, on March 18 thanking our King County Metro Operators during Transit Operator Appreciation Day.
Metro Operator Appreciation
Reliable transportation is essential. Not only to get you to your destination, but for the well-being, mobility, and inclusion of all residents, especially riders with disabilities and those who rely on public transit to meet their daily needs. As a transit rider myself, I recognize the critical role our King County Metro Operators play in ensuring our transit systems run efficiently and successfully, and that is why my team and I took time earlier this month to personally thank our operators during Transit Operator Appreciation Day.
Pictured with King County Metro leaders and staff, local transit union leaders, Executive Girmay Zahilay, and my council colleagues who joined to celebrate our Metro Operators.
In the same spirit, Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Steffanie Fain presented a proclamation at our March 17 council meeting recognizing the week of March 22 to 28 as Transit Appreciation Week. We were joined by Metro’s 2024 Transit Operator of the Year Jack Millman, King County Metro Planning Manager Justin Umagat, Metro Deputy General Manager Ernest Kandilige, as well as ATU Local 587’s President Greg Woodfill and ATU 587 Recording Secretary Latrell Gibson who gave remarks and received the proclamation. Also joining us was our County Executive Girmay Zahilay, who thanked transit operators for their service.
Thank you transit employees for helping our residents get around the region!
Selfie with event organizers, Senator Noel Frame, and neighbors who joined the colorful celebration.
Seattle Festival of Colors
I was honored to present a recognition of Holi at this year’s Seattle Color Festival at the Mural Amphitheatre at Seattle Center. Holi is a culturally and religiously significant annual festival of colors that marks the arrival of spring, bringing together people from all communities to celebrate unity, culture, and joy. During the celebration, attendees participated in the traditional Holi experience of playing with dry organic colors, cultural performances, and more. Thank you to AmPowering for organizing this event, and to the Hindu community for welcoming everyone in our region to be part of this colorful celebration.
Pictured from left to right: Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans, Councilmember Debora Juarez, Councilmember Bob Kettle, Hilary Knight, Cayla Barnes, Councilmember Maritza Rivera, Hannah Bilka, Alex Carpenter, me, Councilmember Eddie Lin, and Councilmember Dionne Foster.
Go Torrent and Team USA!
If you know me, you know I am a huge sports fan. So when I was asked to be among a group of Seattle elected officials to welcome home the Seattle Torrent players who participated in the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and the members of Team USA who won gold, I was thrilled to be part of the welcoming event. Congratulations to Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka, Alex Carpenter, and team captain Hilary Knight for making our country proud, and inspiring the next generation of women athletes. And congratulations also to Seattle Torrent players Julia Gosling who won silver with Team Canada and Aneta Tejralova who played with Team Czechia.
Pictured with some of the students who helped organize and facilitate the event. Picture credit to Paul Dehmer with the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center.
Youth Civic Engagement
I was thrilled to be invited by the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center to be part of a town hall at Seattle University led by students from local high schools and other youth. During the town hall, participants shared testimonies and posed questions that made for an engaging conversation centered on their three top priorities – immigration, access to affordable housing, and healthcare – which are pressing issues in our community. I commend the students and youth who joined for their initiative and determination in organizing this town hall to encourage their peers to be more civically involved!
Click image to learn more about the Port of Seattle.
State of the Port Breakfast
I was honored to join other local leaders and partners at this year’s 2026 State of the Port Breakfast. There, we heard about the Port of Seattle’s 2025 accomplishments, their vision for the future, and the investments being made to provide business and job opportunities to our region.
Pictured from left to right: City of Seattle Councilmember Dan Strauss, City of Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, United Indians of All Tribes Chief Executive Officer Mike Tulee, former King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, and me. Click image for credit to Storms Photo.
Commemorating the Fort Lawton Takeover
I joined United Tribes of All Nations Foundation (UIATF) to recognize and commemorate the anniversary of the March 8, 1970 takeover and occupation of Fort Lawton by Native community and national activists. The event included a march, led by Native community members including some of the original take-over participants, from the south bluff of Discovery Park to Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center. I am proud to have shared such a meaningful part of our local history with these leaders.
Selfie with King County Sexual Assault Resource Center’s Chief Executive Officer Kate Garvey.
Be LOUD for Survivors
I was thrilled to attend the 2026 BE LOUD! Breakfast hosted by the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC). This event supports the vital services KCSARC provides to survivors of sexual assault and provides an opportunity to hear updates about the critical work on behalf of survivors. Thank you to Kate Garvey and her team for planning this wonderful breakfast each year where local leaders and advocates can get together in solidarity with survivors.
Magnolia Community Council
I was honored to be invited to join neighbors and constituents at the Magnolia Community Council’s March meeting. We met at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension to talk about how we can be supportive of our immigrant and refugee neighbors. I shared steps King County is proactively taking in response to anticipated surges in federal immigration enforcement. I was happy to see that neighbors are looking out for one another, asking for best practices on how to be an ally, and speaking up for those in our communities who may not be able to do so due to fear of retaliation. Thank you for having me and to all who attended the conversation.
City of Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, and Icelandic leader Lilja D. Alfreðsdóttir pictured on left photo. Pictured with State Representative My-Linh Thai on right.
Honoring Empowerment, Leadership, and the Icelandic Spirit
I was pleased to join my neighbors and colleagues to celebrate International Women’s Month at the National Nordic Museum. This year, the museum, located in District 4, and the Seattle–Reykjavík Sister City Association celebrated their 40th Anniversary with a special program centered around a screening of The Day Iceland Stood Still. This powerful documentary recounts the events of the day in 1975 when virtually all women in Iceland went on strike — an action that transformed the nation and redefined women’s leadership. The event was a gentle reminder of the strength, resilience, and perseverance of women past, present, and future.
 Opportunity to Engage in Federal Policymaking
On February 20, the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), proposed a new rule that would bar families from receiving financial assistance, including housing, from HUD-funded programs if even one member of the family is ineligible due to immigration status. This would be a change from the current rule that allows such “mixed status” families to obtain pro-rated assistance for families who are eligible for federal support. According to an analysis from the non-partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, enacting the proposed rule would disqualify an estimated 80,000 families and 37,000 children from receiving these essential services nationwide, including an estimated 600 families throughout Washington State. I am deeply concerned about the impact that this would have on our immigrant community. If you are interested in providing public comments to share your perspective with HUD leadership, you can do so here.
Tips on how to write an effective comment can be found here.
Comments are due by Tuesday, April 21.
Share Your Thoughts on Sound Transit Planning
By now, you’ve likely heard about three proposals put forward by Sound Transit to scale projects to balance the budget, and all three of the scenarios being proposed “stop short of delivering light rail to Ballard,” as the Urbanist reported. These proposals represent three options but there is more to explore and the Sound Transit Board will be focusing on this work over the next few months.
In 2016, the voters funded a plan, and since then long-range transit and development plans have been based on increased connections to transit in Ballard. The Ballard Link Extension is the highest-ridership line planned by ST3. I am not on the Sound Transit Board, which is why I’m working closely with Councilmember Strauss and the rest of the Ballard delegation. There are strong arguments for the importance of preserving the Ballard Link Extension, and I intend to make them.
However, the majority of the Sound Transit Board is from outside Seattle or its immediate area, and so we also need constituents to make their positions clear. If this is something you care about, I encourage you to reach out to members of the Sound Transit Board to advocate for the Ballard Link Extension. You can email the full board at emailtheboard@soundtransit.org.
Help Inform Our Response
Do you have thoughts about how the Sheriff’s Office should respond to increased federal immigration activity in King County? The Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) wants to hear from community to understand your experiences and to inform our recommendations for the King County Sheriff’s Office policies, practices, and trainings. OLEO is not part of the Sheriff’s Office and identifying data will not be shared with law enforcement. The survey is anonymous, however, please note that responses to the survey may be subject to public disclosure. Please do not include any personally identifiable information (such as names or addresses) for yourself or others. If you have questions, please contact the OLEO Policy Team at OLEOpolicy@kingcounty.gov.
Share your feedback with OLEO through the survey here. Versión en Español disponible aquí.
Submit your survey by April 30.
 Interested in Elections?
The King County Council is recruiting members for the King County Citizens’ Elections Oversight Committee (CEOC), and specifically seeking to fill the vacancies for the representative from the Korean-speaking community and a representative sponsored by either a junior taxing district or a city with a population of under twenty thousand. The CEOC is charged with conducting oversight of election-related matters, and reporting to the King County Council their observations, findings, and recommendations.
Submit your application by Tuesday, April 7.
Consider Serving on the Immigrant and Refugee Commission
The King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission (KCIRC) serves all King County residents and acts as a permanent advisory body to the executive and legislative branches of King County government. KCIRC is recruiting for five open positions, prioritizing members that can represent an immigrant-led organization that serves immigrants and refugees. Commissioners serve on a volunteer basis to work together to identify, elevate, and develop shared strategies and solutions to address the most pressing issues affecting immigrant and refugee communities.
Submit your application by April 30.
Need Help After a Disaster?
Disaster assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration is available to help King County residents and businesses recover from the December 2025 winter storm. This opportunity is available for eligible homeowners and renters impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster.
Submit your application by April 27.
 Help for Families
The King County Best Starts for Kids is now accepting Prenatal to Five Innovation Fund Request for Proposals. These funds aim to build up the power of community-led innovation to meet the emergent needs of ALL families in King County.
Submit your application by Friday, May 15 at 2PM.
Click image to learn more about Nomad Boxing Club.
PNW Regional Golden Gloves
Nomad Boxing Club, located in District 4 and a previous recipient of a Get Active, Stay Active grant, will be hosting the PNW Regional Golden Gloves in Seattle for the first time! This event will bring elite amateur boxers from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska together for a two-day championship event and the official pathway to the National Golden Gloves.
- Prelims: Nomad Skyway, 12600 Renton Ave S, 5 PM April 10, 2026
- Finals: Fremont Studios, 155 N 35th St, 5 PM April 11, 2026
 Volunteer for Your County Weed Control Board
King County is seeking volunteers to fill a position on its Noxious Weed Control Board. The Board advises the program on noxious weed control, ensuring appropriate direction to minimize the impact of noxious weeds on agriculture, natural areas and the residents of King County. Serving on the board is a great way to contribute to noxious weed policy and support the work being done in our communities to reduce the impacts and harm caused by noxious weeds.
Submit application by April 30.
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