East King News

King County's Council approved $60 million in supplemental funding for the county's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a robust spending plan aimed at helping small businesses, organizations and our most vulnerable communities throughout the county weather the storm caused by COVID-19 and put us in a strong position to bounce back once the skies have cleared,”  council member Jeanne Kohl-Welles said in a press release from King County. “Ultimately, we need to get people back to work and have all of our ducks in a row for when we can safely approach something close to normalcy. If we can do this, we will be in the best position for ensuring the health and well being of our residents as well as for our economic recovery. This plan helps us get closer to  these goals.”

The county's first round of coronavirus funding, $28.2 million, was approved in March. Another round of funding is expected to be approved later this month.

“This budget package marks the start of our work to support the economic recovery of our hardest-hit communities, while continuing important public health programming to fight the spread of COVID 19," council member Joe McDermott said in the press release from King County. "I was proud to have run the amendment that doubled the amount of financial support proposed going specifically to the unincorporated King County business community. This initial investment in chambers of commerce, community organizations and direct grants to small businesses with a strong focus on equity for our neighbors who have been historically disadvantaged is a crucial piece of the puzzle the county can contribute in the broader  recovery effort we face as a region, state and country in the months ahead.”

 A list describing how the $59.9 will be allocated can be found at www.kingcounty.gov.