Celebrating winners of the 24th John D. Spellman Awards, King County’s highest honor for historic preservation
Crossposted from Field Notes The winners of the 24th John D. Spellman Awards for Exemplary Achievement in Historic Preservation include the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe for restoring one of the oldest structures in the region, a longtime family-owned business that is a community cornerstone in downtown Enumclaw, and a former museum director in Renton whose passion for history brought local stories to life for nearly two decades. We hosted a celebration for the winners at the Lake Wilderness Lodge in Maple Valley where then-King County Executive Shannon Braddock presented the awards. Read more.
King County receives national award for commitment to career development program
Today, King County became the first public agency to receive the Year Up United Impact Award, recognizing its commitment to creating pathways to opportunity through the Year Up United internship program. Presented by John Stanton, Chairman of the Seattle Mariners and Trilogy International Partners and founding Chairman of the Year Up United Puget Sound Board, and Shawna Boggie, Year Up United Deputy Director of Western Washington, the national award recognizes corporate partners and individuals who demonstrate longstanding and significant support for their mission of closing the Opportunity Divide. After three years of… Read More
King County launches new battery-electric buses with enhanced operator safety features
Crossposted from Metro Matters Recently, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay joined King County Metro to launch a new fleet of battery-electric buses that enhance transit operator safety, reduce harmful emissions, and prioritize deployment in south King County communities disproportionately affected by air pollution. Rolling out in electric yellow and seafoam blue, the first battery-electric buses purchased from GILLIG will begin serving riders in south King County starting Monday, Feb. 2. Initial service will operate periodically on routes 105, 128, 161, 165, 184, and RapidRide F Line as Metro evaluates performance and ramps… Read More
New “License Management” portal simplifies software requests
KCIT is pleased to introduce a more streamlined way to request Microsoft Project or Visio software licenses. King County’s new License Management portal makes it easy to submit license requests, track the status of your request, and receive automatic notifications when your request is approved or declined by your department’s financial approver. To get started, visit the KCIT Helpdesk. Users requesting a Microsoft Project or Visio license will be automatically directed to the License Management portal. Currently, the portal supports Microsoft Project and Visio license requests only. For all other software, please continue to follow… Read More
Resources to support you and your loved ones
Employees and their families may be experiencing a range of emotions as the nation navigates current events. Balanced You wants to remind you that there are resources available to help you manage these challenges. Making Life Easier (MLE) Making Life Easier (MLE) provides free, confidential mental health services to employees and anyone living in their household. Support is available through virtual or in‑person counseling, text-based coaching, online classes, and more. Read more.
Balanced You Conversations: Candace Conaty
Balanced You Conversations is a series of talks about important topics related to overall health and well-being. Karla Clark, Employee Health & Wellness Project/Program Manager III with the Balanced You team, sits down with Candace Conaty, Director of Operations with Vivecorp, a long‑time partner supporting the county’s employee wellness efforts. They discuss the many benefits of regular exercise, such as reduced risk of chronic disease, improved mental health, better sleep, stronger muscles and bones, and enhanced daily physical function. Read more.
Department of Local Services joins community to unveil ‘Welcome to Skyway’ mural
Crossposted from King County Local A brightly colored piece of artwork now greets anyone traveling in the heart of Skyway. It’s the result of community feedback and advocacy, as well as support from the Department of Local Services. Last week, the department joined the community to unveil the new “Welcome to Skyway” mural along the north end of Renton Avenue South. Stretching 40 feet long and standing 4 feet high, the unveiling marked the culmination of a community driven effort led by the West Hill Community Association and supported by the Department… Read More
Reserve space with the Fee Assistance Program
Crossposted from the King County Parks Newsletter If you need to reserve fields or other spaces in our parks this year, check out our Fee Assistance Program! Our goal is to make sure everyone in the community can rent or use a park facility — regardless of the ability to pay. Reserve picnic shelters, trails, tennis courts, ballfields, and more. Learn more and apply here.
Parks and trails are reopening after flooding
Crossposted from the King County Parks Newsletter As we get further from the historic flooding in our region, our crews are hard at work repairing the damage and reopening our affected parks and trails. Some of the recovery efforts will be long-term, but many of our flooded properties have reopened for public use. Please check the Backyard Fun Finder to view current impacts and closures in our parks as you plan your trip to nature!
King County Promise highlights early progress for students
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections According to South King County data and decades of higher education research, a lack of individualized support is a main barrier to receiving a college education. That’s why programs like King County Promise prioritize building individualized supports. A cross-agency initiative designed to support young people with graduating and successfully transitioning to college or the career path of their choosing, King County Promise provides one-on-one advising, service referrals, postsecondary navigation and transition support, and an Equity Grant to support students through key milestones like financial aid completion, high school graduation/equivalency, college admission, college… Read More
Employee News 