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Priority Hire Grant Program
Purpose: King County is building on the success of its Priority Hire program, and has awarded grants to other public entities that have an interest in developing a Priority Hire program. In 2023, King County launched the Priority Hire Grant Program to support local governments including cities, towns, school districts, and public colleges, interested in advancing equitable workforce practices through public construction projects. The program provides seed funding to help jurisdictions build the foundation for their own Priority Hire initiatives. Grant awards are intended to be used as seed money to assist local jurisdictions in the early stages of establishing a local Priority Hire Program.
King County has funded grant proposals that included a clear vision for how the jurisdiction plans to move forward with Priority Hire by:
(i) Moving forward with a local Priority Hire pilot project; or
(ii) Initiating a phased approach with a pilot project followed by a broader implementation at a later date; or
(iii) The immediate start-up of a full program.
Priority Hire Grant Awarded Projects
Highline Public Schools - New Tyee High School
Highline Public Schools was one of the early recipients, using the grant to support the reconstruction of Tyee High School, a 210,000-square-foot replacement project aimed at transforming the aging campus into a modern educational facility.
From the onset, King County’s support extended beyond funding. Staff from the County’s Priority Hire Program provided hands-on guidance to Highline in implementing a Community Workforce Agreement (CWA) with local trade unions. This partnership helped ensure field compliance, promote diverse hiring, engage apprentices, and track meaningful outcomes. Through the funding, Highline hired a consultant to continue with leading these efforts and ensure compliance through the life of the project.
So far, the results demonstrate real impact:
- Over $1.4 million in wages earned by Priority Hire workers
- More than 27,000 labor hours worked by individuals from economically distressed zip codes
This project is not only rebuilding a school, it’s building a more inclusive future. Through the Priority Hire Grant Program, King County and Highline Public Schools are showing how public investment can drive opportunity, representation, and long-term community benefit.
Detailed project updates can be viewed by visiting:
For additional news updates on the Tyee High School reconstruction, please visit the New Tyee High School Repurposes Gym Floor as Colorful Seating and Wall Paneling and Tyee Alum and Laborer Proud to Help Rebuild School news posts.