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. This site has been updated monthly as required by Ordinance #16513 passed by the King County Council in May of 2009.

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.  The final report reflects the County’s progress through the period ending 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.

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. Additional categories may be added in future reports.

Overview of ARRA grant status

At the close of the reporting period ending November 30, King County had applied for a total of 52 Recovery Act stimulus fund grants. During the month of December, the County applied for and was awarded one new stimulus grant in the Workforce Training category, bringing the total grants applied for to 53. As of the end of December, 24 of King County's stimulus fund grant requests have been awarded; 8 are pending; and 21 have been denied.

Overall funding status Currently, Recovery Act grant requests represent a total of $233,508,928 in potential stimulus funding. Of this potential, $97,642,831 has been awarded to King County programs or projects, while $40,176,223 applied for remains pending award notice.

Recovery Act grants awarded and pending represent an estimated potential of 404 jobs being creating and/or retained through stimulus funding. The grants awarded to King County represent an estimated 364 jobs created or retained. Pending awards represent an additional potential of 40 jobs that may be created or retained.

King County's Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) is taking 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 are also working collaboratively with regional and national partners in support of their ARRA grant applications. These efforts by our partners, with King County's support, represent an additional 10 grant applications from which King County may benefit. Of these 10 grants, five have been awarded, and five have been denied.