Groundbreaking Hope: Skyway's Resource Center Marks a New Chapter
A decade-long journey culminated in a momentous occasion on January 18th, as the Skyway community in West Hill celebrated the groundbreaking of the Skyway Resource Center. This milestone comes after an inclusive Community Center Visioning Process and years of local engagement in comprehensive planning.
Ryan Quigtar, the Executive Director of Renton Innovation Zone Partnership (RIZP), expressed the significance of this achievement, stating, “This is a huge, tangible win for our neighborhood and is truly a community-owned development.”
The Skyway Resource Center, designated as a HUD EnVision Center, will serve as a multi-service hub offering economic empowerment, educational advancement, health and wellness, and character-leadership services to the Skyway community—a region in King County with limited resources. U.S. Bank generously donated the land and a 4,568 square-foot building in 2021, replacing an existing mobile resource center launched by RIZP in 2020 to address the service gap for Skyway residents.
For Quigtar, who grew up in Skyway, this project holds personal significance. Back in 2012, while attending the University of Miami, he crafted a business plan for a youth center in Skyway. “This will be a welcoming space that helps everyone in our community thrive,” Quigtar affirmed. “For youth to understand they have options is super powerful.”
The King County Housing Authority (KCHA) is actively involved as a steward of the project, providing technical support to community organizations leading the development. KCHA serves as the property’s fiscal agent and oversees building improvements. Robin Walls, CEO of KCHA, emphasized their commitment to enhancing communities with fewer services and investments.
U.S. Bank, beyond donating the property, is contributing an ATM, financial support, and financial literacy resources to the facility. Chris Befumo, U.S. Bank Branch Banking Market Leader for Washington, stated, “The Skyway Resource Center will play a significant role in delivering exactly that for this community.”
Anticipation is building for the center's opening in October 2024. It will host over a dozen nonprofit, public, and community-based organizations, offering a comprehensive array of services. This collaborative effort, supported by funding partners such as King County, the State of Washington, the Ballmer Group, Norcliffe Foundation, Sunderland Foundation, LISC, and 4-Culture, signifies years of dedicated development.
Senator Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, shared her enthusiasm, saying, “The Skyway Resource Center's new home symbolizes the strength of our community’s spirit, and I'm confident it will continue to be a vital resource for our neighbors.”
For more information about the Skyway Resource Center, you can visit their website at https://www.skywayresourcecenter.org/.
See more photos below from the ground breaking taken by Seattle photographer Susan Fried on behalf of Converge Media.
