Expanding the capacity of food banks, fostering neighborhood associations, supporting youth groups and activities, maintaining popular movie and music nights, and installing safety signage are among 52 projects that will receive Community Engagement Grants through King County’s Community Service Area Program.

The grants were announced by King County Executive Dow Constantine, who said that the funds will leverage local volunteer efforts by unincorporated area residents who make a difference where they live.

Valley organizations received a combined total of $23,400 from this grant program. Grant awards to Snoqualmie Valley projects and organizations included the following:

• Duvall Chamber of Commerce received $2,000 for Duvall Days;

• Fall City Community Association received $1,200 for a website upgrade, and $1,300 for outreach materials;

• Fall City Historical Society received $900 for historical signage for the Fall City Brick School;

• Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust received $2,000 for wayfinding signs on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail;

• Si View Metropolitan Park District received $1,000 for Theatre in the Park events;

• Snoqualmie Valley Community Network received $3,500 for its Be the Change Youth Leadership Summit;

• Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank received $2,500 toward the purchase of a van for food recovery;

• Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance received $3,000 for the Floodzilla citizen hydrologist project;

• SnoValley Indoor Playground received $1,500 for its annual Preschool and Enrichment Fair;

• SnoValley Senior Center received $2,500 for its annual plant sale, plus education and children’s activities; and

• SnoValley Tilth received $1,000 in support of the March of the Vegetables Parade, March 25 in Duvall.

The grants for community enhancement range up to $3,000 each, with a required community match of at least one-fourth of the total project. Altogether, $90,000 has been awarded to projects throughout unincorporated King County.

The grants offer residents in the county’s seven Community Service Areas the ability to participate and be more connected in their unincorporated area communities. Grant-funded activities must be accessible to all residents regardless of race, income, or language spoken.

Examples of the grant-funded projects include Youth leadership projects in the Snoqualmie Valley; Neighborhood safety events in Four Creeks, Fairwood, and White Center; Community celebrations on Vashon Island; Renewed movie and music nights in Skyway and Upper Bear Creek; Trail signs leading to Fall City; Neighborhood reflective safety signs in Green Valley and safety lighting in a Four Creeks neighborhood.

“My thanks to the Executive and the County Council for increasing the funding available this year to respond to the growing number of creative projects serving the residents of unincorporated King County,” said Alan Painter, manager of the Community Service Area Program.

A list of all the awardees and more information on the grant program and the Executive’s work to strengthen King County’s connection with unincorporated area residents can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/initiatives/community-service-areas.aspx.