King County Community Service Area grants for District 9 were announced today by Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn. The Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council (UAC), Save Habitat and Diversity of Wetlands (SHADOW), Hobart community Church, and Lake Desire community Club will each receive a grant award.

“Having access to the support of a community is an important and often overlooked benefit to living in a city. For those that live in unincorporated areas this benefit is not always available,” said Dunn. “These Community Service Area grants support community building which in turn provides safety, support and a chance for area families to thrive.”

Save Habitat and Diversity of Wetlands (SHADOW) is an organization dedicated preserving the area around Shadow Lake through education, research, and community engagement. The $2,000 grant award will help fund the organization’s major outreach events including Frog Frolic, which served over 300 participants in 2015.

“Community is at the heart of stewardship and creating a vision. Save Habitat and Diversity of Wetlands started with a vision to protect a unique wetland, but soon realized that the opportunity to share, provide education and providing a place where community could visit and help to provide future vision was the great opportunity of the project,” said Max Prinsen, President of Save Habitat and Diversity of Wetlands Organization. “Leaving a place for today and for future generations is something we can all invest in. Without SHADOW’s board, community support with vision and stewardship, the efforts of SHADOW to save, protect, enhance and share would not get done. Thank you for this grant and confidence in the community’s work.”

The Hobart Community Church will receive $3,000 toward building a safe new playground in the Hobart area. Currently the community, which has no other playgrounds, relies on the Church’s original playground, which is in great need of repair.

A $2,000 grant will be awarded to the Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council to help fund the 19th Annual Maple Valley Train Show, one of the largest train shows in the region. The event hosts anywhere from 600 to 1000 people attend each year, and provides visibility for community issues and safety training.

“This Community Service Area Grant will go to support The Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council’s 19th Annual Model Train Show. We are thankful that we will once again be able to provide the greater community an excellent family-friendly event for all to enjoy,” said Steve Hiester Chairman, Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council.

The Lake Desire Community Club will receive a $1,000 grant to help fund a kitchen remodel for The Lake Desire Clubhouse. Clubhouse facilities are currently used regularly by both members of the Lake Desire community and groups that include the Girls Scouts of America, 4H, Alcoholics Anonymous, and local faith communities. The remodel would ensure a continued safe and sanitary kitchen for the groups.

“The Lake Desire Community Club is grateful to King County for their generous contribution to help fund a kitchen remodel to extend the life of the neighborhood clubhouse and provide an adequate service area for use by local residents and area non-profits,” said Heather Stafford, President of the Lake Desire Community Club. “The clubhouse is a gathering place for neighbors and members of the community organizations who live and assemble in the Lake Desire neighborhood. Updates to the kitchen will improve the safety of the space and enhance the quality of the building and its overall ability to serve as a secure, comfortable meeting space for the community.”

The King County Community Service Areas (CSA) offer expanded ways for the County to engage with the over 252,000 county residents who live outside city boundaries. There are more than 72,000 residents of Council District 9 living in CSAs.

The grant programs within the CSA’s are available through a competitive application process. The grants must be used to fund community projects that offer unincorporated area residents in the Community Service Areas an opportunity to participate and be more connected in their communities. A total of $60,000 was awarded for projects in 2016.

If you live in an unincorporated community and are interested in learning more about the CSA program and how to apply for future grant opportunities please visit www.kingcounty.gov/exec/community-service-areas.aspx