Recently, Executive Girmay Zahilay announced a combined $2.75 million in capital grant funding for 30 local food assistance providers and community food programs to improve food security in King County.

The grants, which range from $11,000 to $450,000, will address long-term infrastructure needs and enhance the local food system. Funding will support projects ranging from facility improvements to the purchase of refrigerated vans for mobile food delivery services.

“The need for food assistance in King County communities has never been greater. As the cost of groceries continues to rise, more seniors, families, and working people are relying on food banks and community partners to put food on the table. At the same time, these organizations are being stretched thin as demand continues to increase,” said Executive Zahilay. Read more.

Please share this information with friends, family or neighbors in unincorporated King County that may be eligible for a fee discount:

If you qualify as a low-income household and live on your own property in unincorporated King County, you may be eligible for a 50 percent discount on the annual surface water management fee on your land parcel(s). The open period to apply is every year from Aug. 1 through Sept. 15.

Learn more about the fee discount at kingcounty.gov/SWMFeeDiscount. Assistance with applying is available from Business and Finance staff by calling 206-477-4800, or email wlrdswm@kingcounty.gov.

Information about the discount is available in English, Español /Spanish,  한국어 /Korean, Af-Soomaali /Somali, русский /Russian, 中文 /Chinese, and Tiếng Việt /Vietnamese.

King County Fire Marshal Eric Urban issued a Stage 2 burn ban for unincorporated King County that went into effect at 12:01 a.m., Friday, Aug. 7.

Stage 2 burn bans will be issued in neighboring incorporated cities via coordination with the King County Fire Chiefs Association and Fire Marshals.

During a Stage 2 burn ban, all outdoor fires such as backyard fire pits or campfires that use chopped firewood or charcoal are prohibited. Any person with a recreational fire who fails to take immediate action to extinguish or otherwise discontinue such burning when ordered or notified to do so can be charged with a misdemeanor. Read more.

King County’s Energize program is helping families, in-home childcare providers, adult family homes, and community spaces switch to clean energy and reduce energy costs by installing efficient electric heat pumps for heating and cooling that protect human health and the environment.

The program has expanded with new grant funding and includes qualifying homes and businesses in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties, bringing energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to the Central Puget Sound region.

“We’re making sure more children, families, and seniors in our region’s frontline communities have the reliable, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems they need to stay safe, healthy, and comfortable all year long,” said Executive Girmay Zahilay. “These upgrades will also lower energy bills, improving affordability while also promoting resilience to the impacts of extreme weather. As our region continues to experience hotter summers and colder winters, the Energize program shows King County’s commitment to meeting our climate goals while improving the health, wellbeing, and livability of our communities.” Read more.

Now that Election Day has come and gone, it’s time to be sure your ballot can be counted.

Sometimes folks forget to sign their ballot and sometimes a ballot signature doesn’t match the ones King County Elections has on file.

If you received notice about an issue with your signature, take a moment to resolve the issue. You can return a signature resolution form by mail or email, in person, or online at kce.wiki/SigCure by 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 17.

Trained staff review all signature resolution forms and verify voters’ identities so their ballots can be counted before Certification Day on Aug. 18.

For more information about King County Elections visit kingcounty.gov/Elections.