Building the local economy through clean water projects

Construction for the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station created hundreds of jobs for apprentices and journey workers.

When Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station went up in one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, you could say it took a village to raise it. Among the tradespeople deployed to construct our newest clean water facility were electricians, concrete finishers, welders, and ironworkers. 

For four whole years, the site buzzed with power tools and expertise – in no small part from the surrounding community itself. The project generated hundreds of construction jobs and brought on more than 40 women-and-minority-owned businesses as subcontractors who did everything from installing underground utilities and pouring concrete walls to installing cisterns and conducting community outreach.

“These were businesses and workers from local King County communities with the skills and expertise needed who were ready to do this work,” said Margo Iñiguez Dawes, who oversees King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s capital equity program. “The product has been outstanding — the Georgetown facility is keeping millions of gallons a year of polluted water from entering the Duwamish River — and that’s an outcome everyone can take pride in.” 

In one of the most competitive construction and trades labor markets in the nation, King County has come up with some creative ways to ensure that its capital projects generate a robust procurement process that attracts quality bidders who can deliver on time at a good price to taxpayers. By turning to homegrown talent in the business and labor markets, the County also ensures its dollars support the local economy and grows a strong, local workforce.  

The county’s contracting and procurement practices give a leg up to hiring locally with prime consultants required to subcontract some of their work to smaller firms and women-and-minority owned businesses. Meanwhile, projects over $5 million must also follow the Master Community Workforce Agreement, which sets basic terms and conditions of employment, such as apprenticeship opportunities to support career growth. And the county’s Priority Hire Program prioritizes hiring skilled workers from economically distressed areas within King County.  

Since 2020, these efforts have created nearly 4,000 local jobs and put $35 million in wages back into these communities. In 2024, more than 1,000 priority hire workers, including 481 minority workers and 151 women, logged nearly 190,000 hours on county projects. 

King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) manages the county’s largest capital portfolio with more than 100 open consultant and construction contracts at any given time, making its impact to the local economy felt across the region.

Attending the Contractor Outreach and Networking event for the second year, Grizelda “Griz” Sarria, project delivery manager at Tetra Tech, said these events emphasize the importance of contract equity. She initially worked with King County through a college internship.

“Our region’s infrastructure sector is booming, and private companies and government agencies are all competing for limited resources,” said Chad Merrill, WTD’s capital delivery strategy manager. “No one contractor can do it all. We need new faces, new perspectives, and a diverse workforce to meet the challenges ahead.” 

This spring, for the second year, WTD organized a matchmaking event for King County agencies putting out for capital work and contractors, large and small, interested in picking up business. The Contractor Outreach and Networking event attracted more than 400 contractors and consultants to the Muckleshoot Casino Resort in Auburn.

Michael Carter, Climate and Workforce Manager in the King County Executive Climate Office, shares contracting opportunities with an event attendee.

“Relationships bring people to the table,” said Michael Carter, the climate and workforce manager for the King County Executive Climate Office. “By collaborating with firms of all sizes, we’re able to make the economic and environmental benefits of our work felt throughout the county.” 

For smaller firms such as Greenprint Partners, the partnership with King County has been transformative.  

“It’s not just about delivering great projects — it’s about opening doors for people like me,” said Tiffany Sevilla, a program manager at Greenprint Partners, a minority- and women-owned business that’s supporting the equity and social justice work for the Mouth of Duwamish Wet Weather Facilities Program. “Working with King County has helped me grow professionally and allowed our firm to expand.” 

Interested in working with King County? 

Whether you are a small business, consultant, or contractor, King County is ready to connect. If you missed the event this spring, the Wastewater Treatment Division hosts virtual meetings every quarter to discuss upcoming procurement opportunities and offer direct access to staff who can answer your questions. Visit our Contract Opportunities page to learn more and sign up for updates!