WashingtonKing County
See how King County performed on our equity assessment of its ARPA Local Fiscal Recovery Fund investment strategy.
Total Equity Focused ARPA Funds
$294,654,715$294,654,715
Overall Score
High
Featured Case Study
King County, Washington invested $27.5 million of ARPA funds in the Jobs and Housing Program, connecting unhoused residents with county-supported jobs, housing, and career services to help them achieve long-term economic stability.
ARPA Equity Assessment of King County, WA
Overall Equity Focus
HighWas racial and economic equity an explicit focus of the jurisdiction's ARPA investment strategy?
95% of locations met this criterion.81% of locations met this criterion.86% of locations met this criterion.Equity Decision Making Tools and Resources
HighAre equity tools, frameworks, and structures in place to support equitable investment project identification, design, and implementation?
38% of locations met this criterion.King County identified four strategies used to advance equity, racial, and social justice. The County aims to invest: 1) where needs are greatest; 2) in community partnerships; 3) in employees; and 4) with accountable and transparent leadership.
24% of locations met this criterion.The County’s Equity, Racial and Social Justice initiative first began in 2008 where it was the first jurisdiction-wide equity initiative in the country. In June 2020, King County declared racism a public health crisis. This required the County to reconsider how to allocate funds to address economic, health, and social impacts in the community.
31% of locations met this criterion.The County co-created the Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan with employees and community partners in 2016. This plan guides the County’s pro-equity policies, decision-making, planning, operations, services, and workplace practices to advance equity and social justice within the government and in partnership with communities.
51% of locations met this criterion.King County has an Office of Equity and Social Justice and a Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer.
31% of locations met this criterion.The County has outlined pro-equity tools for program design that features 12 different data tools and dashboards. CLFR funding recipients are encouraged to use these tools to identify those most in need and manage their resources to further equity in the community.
48% of locations met this criterion.72% of locations met this criterion.38% of locations met this criterion.Community Engagement
HighDid the jurisdiction engage community members in decision making about the ARPA funds, conduct targeted outreach to historically excluded communities, and implement strategies to reach underserved communities?
94% of locations met this criterion.64% of locations met this criterion.54% of locations met this criterion.Equitable Labor Practices
HighDoes the jurisdiction use best practices for ensuring public investments deliver family-supporting jobs to residents who have faced barriers to good jobs and economic prosperity?
36% of locations met this criterion.16% of locations met this criterion.70% of locations met this criterion.29% of locations met this criterion.11% of locations met this criterion.Equity Investments
HighDid the jurisdiction make investments that have the potential to advance equity by targeting the communities most harmed by the pandemic and addressing systemic inequities?
62% of locations met this criterion.71% of locations met this criterion.64% of locations met this criterion.82% of locations met this criterion.63% of locations met this criterion.81% of locations met this criterion.45% of locations met this criterion.33% of locations met this criterion.32% of locations met this criterion.64% of locations met this criterion.64% of locations met this criterion.31% of locations met this criterion.67% of locations met this criterion.56% of locations met this criterion.50% of locations met this criterion.Transparency & Accountability
MiddleDoes the jurisdiction set performance goals, collect data to monitor progress toward equitable outcomes, and provide the public with information about how funds are being used?
55% of locations met this criterion.70% of locations met this criterion.64% of locations met this criterion.75% of locations met this criterion.