South King County cities will benefit from Port of Seattle economic grants

This week, the Port of Seattle Commission sanctioned $1. 9 million in grants aimed at enhancing economic development across King County, with South King County communities as primary beneficiaries. The matching grant program offers funding between $10,000 and $60,000, contingent upon cities providing at least a 50% match. This initiative is designed to support business development, tourism, and projects in key industries such as aviation and maritime. Port Commissioner Sam Cho emphasized the importance of these grants for local cities to advance projects beneficial to their residents.

Tukwila will utilize the funding to aid small East African retailers through a partnership with the Somali Independent Business Alliance, while Enumclaw will focus on boosting tourism and event attendance. In the previous cycle, the program allocated more than $804,000, leading to a combined investment of over $1. 44 million in community-focused initiatives. The Port's ongoing support for local cities has been a consistent effort since 2016. As the 2025–2026 funding cycle approaches, the focus will remain on projects that align with critical industries.