Recovery.KingCounty.gov

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama on Feb.17, 2009. Better known as the "economic stimulus act," ARRA provides extraordinary grants and funding opportunities for local governments. King County's ARRA funding requests are an important first step toward securing a better future for the residents of King County. These federal grants will help ensure essential local services, such as: public safety, transportation, workforce training, human services, and housing, as well as the protection of our natural resources and the environment. The federal government awards Recovery Act grant funds directly to local jurisdictions like King County (prime recipient), or funds are passed through state agencies for management by King County (sub-recipient). In addition, federal agencies follow formula-based criteria for distributing stimulus funds as well as offering funding via highly competitive grant processes.

The primary purpose of this Website is transparency and accountability; a convenient way for anyone to track the progress of all ARRA grants sought by the departments and agencies within King County -- from application, to award, to implementation.

The information reported here represents grants applied for by King County from Feb. 17 through December 31, 2009. As required by Ordinance #16513 passed by the King County Council in May of 2009, this site was been updated monthly until the ordinance expired on December 31, 2009.

Section 1512 of the Recovery Act requires quarterly reporting from stimulus fund recipients to inform the public on how funds are expended at the local level. Detailed quarterly reports are available to the public by visiting www.FederalReporting.gov.

Ordinance #16513 required the Executive to designate a Recovery Act Coordinator.  The Recovery Act Coordinator was required to submit monthly progress reports on King County’s efforts to secure ARRA funds. The ordinance also required the Recovery Act Coordinator establish this Web page. Ordinance #16513 expired January 1, 2010.  A final report on the County’s progress through the period ending December 31, 2009 was produced January 22, 2010.

While Ordinance #16513 expired January 1, 2010, Executive Constantine issued an updated report in July reflecting King County’s progress in securing 2009 stimulus funding through June 30, 2010. That report is included here.

Progress report highlights

King County's ARRA funding requests are organized under the categories of: Energy & Environment; Health; Housing & Human Services; Public Safety; Technology; Transportation; and Workforce Training.

Overview of ARRA grant status

At the close of the reporting period ending Aug. 30, King County applied for a total of 55 ARRA stimulus fund grants.  The County applied for one new stimulus grants in the Health category. Two grants were awarded in the health category while one grant was awarded in the housing and human services category. Seven grants were denied in the categories on health, housing and human services, public safety, technology and transportation.

At the close of August 2010, all 55 of the 2009 ARRA stimulus grants applied for by King County were decided. Twenty-seven Recovery Act grant requests were awarded to King County and 28 were denied.

Overall funding status

King County’s total Recovery Act grant requests represented $259,005,813 in potential stimulus funding. Of this potential, $123,691,581 (49%) was awarded to King County programs or projects, while $135,314,232 (51%) was denied.

Recovery Act grants awarded represent an estimated 364 jobs created or retained.

King County's Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) took steps to meet with project applicants that have indicated they have received (or anticipate receiving) stimulus funding. DDES is committed to strategizing ways with stimulus fund recipient project applicants to expedite permitting in an effort to ensure these projects are "shovel ready."

County agencies also worked collaboratively with regional and national partners in support of their ARRA grant applications. These efforts by our partners, with King County's support, represented an additional 10 grant applications from which King County may benefit. Of these 10 grants, five were awarded, and five were denied.