For the Reporter

Futurewise has been awarded a $81,565 King County WaterWorks program grant to help reduce stormwater pollution in Algona.

Futurewise, one of 11 grant recipients, is a statewide public interest group that works to promote healthy communities and cities while protecting resources. The organization’s work, public education and legal program, and the technical support it provides local groups have become the foundation of good growth management in the state.

The King County Council gave its unanimous approval Monday to awarding grant funding for projects through its WaterWorks program. Nonprofits, local governments and schools use the funding for projects to benefit water quality throughout the region.

“The WaterWorks program funds projects that do vital work to restore, clean and protect our local waters,” said Rod Dembowski, chair of the King County Council’s Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee.

The $850,000 total comes from the use of up to 1½ percent of the Wastewater Treatment Division’s (WTD) annual operating revenues for the purpose of “water quality improvement activities, programs and projects.”

The programs that were awarded funding were chosen through a grant application review process and had to meet specified criteria to be eligible.