Pierce County Human Services (PCHS) is spearheading a mission to uplift educational opportunities with a recent dispatch of over $6 million in funds to bolster 29 community-oriented programs. The capital, sourced from the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account (PSTAA), targets enhancements in early learning, K-12, and post-secondary education, with particular attention to aiding groups that are often marginalized—low-income families, the homeless, and those within the foster care system, as revealed in an announcement published on their official website.
This move marks a notable escalation in the county's commitment to leveling the educational playing field. Carol Mensah, PCHS's Community Action Programs division manager, detailed the significance of this financial injection, stating, "This support expands programs and reach to more individuals and families, promoting equity and access to childcare and youth programming." The sentiment, expressing gratitude for the ability to generate lasting change in the region, emphasizes Pierce County's intentions to cultivate an inclusive community.
The source of this largesse, PSTAA, lays out a provision to divide funds among King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, calculated based on their respective populations within the Sound Transit's authorized zone. By the year 2035, Pierce County alone is projected to collect an impressive $123 million. Meanwhile, the selected programs fortunate enough to receive this award will benefit from these grants beginning July 1, 2024, extending their reach and influence through to December 15, 2025.
Senate Bill 5987, enacted by the Washington State Legislature in 2015, paved the way for the establishment of the PSTAA and, by extension, this current outpouring of financial support. The bill, drafted as a component of comprehensive transportation funding legislation, has been instrumental in directing resources to places where they can effect substantive educational enhancements within the Pierce County RTA boundary. For those interested in reviewing the full scope of programs impacted by this initiative, the complete list of awards can be found on the Pierce County's website.
