Seattle City Wire

Seattle residents and businesses will benefit from more than $5 million in grants through the Equitable Development Initiative (EDI), according to a news release.

The city awarded $4.4 million to community organizations and $1.25 million will go toward capacity-building and support existing EDI partners. 

“To tackle the challenges of displacement, our City is investing in community-based organizations who are leading the way to empower and strengthen underserved communities and create economic vitality," MayorJenny A. Durkan said in the news release. "The Economic Development Initiative has a strong record of creating the newest homes for our City’s residents, non-profits, and local small businesses through leveraging other city programs."

Durkan said the budget was a priority and she wanted to change how the city invests in communities of color by focusing on the experiences that Black and Indigenous communities have.

"Even in this difficult year, my budget set aside historic resources to meet the challenges of this moment and move us toward being the city we want to be when we come out of this crisis: stronger, more just, and more equitable," Durkan said in the news release.