For the Reporter
World Relief, a refugee resettlement organization, received $144,227 through King County’s WaterWorks Grant Program to install large rain gardens at an old church parking lot in Kent, which reduces polluted runoff and protects local streams.
The church has a new community garden that’s providing food and kinship to newly arrived immigrants and refugees, as well as a green infrastructure to irrigate the gardens and reduce stormwater runoff.
The Kent project was among 23 local environmental endeavors that protect water quality, control pollution and build healthy communities that received county funding.
The King County Council passed an ordinance to approve the funding on May 29, green-lighting work on projects throughout the region that will include restoring damaged habitat, building green infrastructure and providing youth education and internship opportunities.
The grant program provides funding to organizations for water quality projects that benefit the ratepayers and also protect and improve water quality within its 420-square-mile service area. Cities, nonprofit organizations, schools, tribal governments are eligible to apply. Partnerships are encouraged, and key criteria include community involvement and support.
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