Summary
$900,000 in new grant funding will support community-led projects that celebrate local culture and history, strengthen neighborhood economies, and help communities experiencing displacement benefit from tourism.
Story
Today, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced $900,000 in new funding for community‑led tourism projects that celebrate cultural heritage, strengthen local economies, create jobs, and help communities experiencing residential and cultural displacement remain rooted in their neighborhoods.
Through this new competitive request for proposals (RFP), King County will award grants ranging from $30,000 to $150,000 for projects that strengthen cultural vibrancy and community resilience. In total, up to $900,000 will be awarded.
Community-led tourism puts residents and local organizations at the center of how their communities are represented and experienced. Rather than tourism happening to a neighborhood, community-led tourism gives the people who live there, greater opportunity to tell their own stories, celebrate and preserve their traditions, and help ensure that economic benefits stay within the community.
“Our local food, art, traditions, and gathering places are part of what makes King County such a unique and vibrant place to live and visit,” said Executive Girmay Zahilay. “Community-led tourism is about making sure the people who create the vibrancy have a say in how their communities and cultures are shared – and that they benefit from the opportunities that come with it. This is the kind of economic development that supports local businesses, creates jobs, and celebrates the diversity of our communities.”
Funding can support public events, art, cultural activities, and other projects that celebrate and preserve cultural traditions; share the history and experiences of a community or neighborhood; and create opportunities for residents and visitors to experience people, places, and traditions that make King County communities unique.
All funded projects must be free and accessible to the public. A full list of eligible activities is available in the RFP.
This RFP is a partnership between the King County Equitable Development Initiative (EDI), housed within the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), and the King County Executive Office. The EDI program works with communities at risk of displacement to support community-led development and preserve cultural identity, community connections, and access to place. Through this investment, King County aims to give communities experiencing residential and cultural displacement more resources to tell their own stories, preserve and share their traditions, strengthen local economies, and steward the places that hold cultural and community significance.
To guide these investments, a King County EDI Interim Advisory Board (IAB) comprised of 11 community leaders was established to provide community oversight . A workgroup of the IAB worked with DCHS and the Executive Budget Team to determine the criteria and strategic priorities in this RFP.
“What excites me the most about this RFP is that we are encouraging ways for our region to understand how we all got here,” said Maria Guadalupe Ramirez, member of the IAB. “The history of our journeys and the impacts to the communities we live in need to be acknowledged and celebrated. Both young and old will benefit from understanding how they fit in this diverse beautiful mix of humanity that we call home.”
How to Apply
Applicants should review the full RFP for details on the eligibility criteria, priorities, and evaluation and selection process. Completed RFP applications, including a proposed budget and workplan, are due on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026 at noon. Contracts are expected to begin on Jan. 1, 2027.
King County will hold a virtual information session on Friday, September 18 at noon. Register via Zoom.