GiveBig To the Skyway Resource Center!

The Skyway Resource Center launched in September of 2020 after a year of planning and in response to the COVID19 pandemic. With backbone support from Renton Innovation Zone Partnership (RIZP) and in partnership with HUD’s Region X Seattle office, Renton School District and Supporting Parents in Education & Beyond (SPEB), the first “pop-up” occurred on September 2, 2020 at New Birth Ministries in Skyway. 

 The Skyway Resource Center builds off of years of community planning, dating back to 2014 when Schemata Workshop led a Community Center Visioning Process. In 2016, the Skyway-West Hill Action Plan (SWAP) called out the need to, “establish a space open to the community where service providers can conduct programs geared toward activities to benefit youth, seniors and/or other targeted populations.”

 On October 16, 2020, the Skyway Resource Center was designated a HUD Envision Center.

In December of 2020, Skyway residents advocated to the only local bank branch, which closed operations, to donate the building for use as a multi-service center, instead of selling it for private development. In the months since this request, we have been working with the King County Housing Authority to make this building the permanent home of the Skyway Resource Center.  In April of 2021, we received a Local Community Projects grant from the WA Department of Commerce for building renovation. In June of 2021, we also received a Grant from US Bank Foundation to host immersion events for Skyway youth, under the Economic Empowerment and Educational Advancement Pillars.

On August 31, 2021, US Bank donated their Skyway Branch building to King County Housing Authority to be the permanent location for the Skyway Resource Center!

Since our first “pop-up” event one year ago, more than 25 community-based organizations and public entities have provided services and resources to more than 500 community members. The services and resources align with the four pillars from the HUD Envision Center model: Economic Empowerment, Educational Advancement, Health & Wellness and Character & Leadership. 

The Renton Innovation Zone Partnership is coordinating this project in partnership with direct service providers, public agencies and the Skyway community.

We look forward to working with you to help make this project a success for Skyway!