Mayor Durkan pledges to invest $100M into BIPOC communities

Mayor Jenny Durkan stated Wednesday that she’s investing $100 million into Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities as part of her 2021 budget.

The money will go towards addressing “the harm caused by centuries of systemic racism and make long overdue investments in education, housing, young people, and wealth building.”

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In addition to the investment, City Council approved the transfer of ownership of the former Fire Station 23 to Byrd Barr Place, a Central Area community service organization that provides energy assistance, affordable housing, access to nutrition, and financial counseling.

The fire station will be the future home of the William Grose Center for Cultural Innovation, where Africatown Community Land Trust will “provide small business assistance, skills training and celebrate Black/African American culture and history in the Central Area.”

The project is one of five original Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) demonstration projects identified in 2016 intended to reduce the displacement of Seattle’s communities of color. $1 million from the EDI fund will be used towards tenant improvements to the new William Grose Center for Cultural Innovation.