Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program

The call for projects is open

Interest application due date extended to October 17, 2025: Sandy Williams Connecting Communities interest application.

Sandy Williams and community connection

The Washington State Legislature established the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program (SWCCP) to improve active transportation connectivity for people walking, biking and rolling along and across current and legacy state highways (RCW 47.04.380).

This program serves communities with high equity needs. These are communities most affected by barriers to opportunity and environmental health disparities. Lawmakers named the program to honor Sandy Williams. Williams was a community leader in Spokane who advocated to reconnect her African American neighborhood after the construction of Interstate 90 through the city of Spokane split it in half. You can learn more about Sandy Williams and the creation of SWCCP in our online storymap.

Information sessions

There will be information sessions for the program August 13, 2025, from 10:00 -11:00 a.m., and August 27, 2025, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. There is also a design-focused session August 21, 2025, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.. 

Funding snapshot

Funding

This funding round can provide up to $10 million combined to successful applicants. 

Eligibility

The following organizations are eligible for funding:

• Tribal Governments
• Municipal governments including counties and cities
  • These governments should work with their WSDOT region if they are developing a project on the state’s system
• Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs)
  • These organizations should only apply for planning-related grants
• Nonprofit organizations
  • These organizations should only apply for planning grants
• WSDOT regions
  • Region staff must partner with local jurisdictions in their project area to develop applications

This statewide program prioritizes projects in locations with very high and high equity need for funding. It also prioritizes overburdened areas as defined in RCW 47.04.380.

You can explore which areas across the state SWCCP may be prioritized with our Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Equity Need Viewer.

Eligible project phases

Planning: Funding for equitable, community-centered transportation planning focused on restoring community connectivity, public engagement, and developing local policies to prevent displacement. includes early design from 10-30 percent.
Quick Build: A quick build project is a design build construction project that is a community-driven safety improvement that can last from a few days to a few years.
Design: Funding for 100% of the design
Construction: Funding for projects that are “shovel ready”. These construction funds can be used to build Complete Streets to restore or improve community connectivity; remedy physical barriers that divide communities from employment, education, and opportunity; and address facilities burdening local communities from an environmental justice perspective. 

Expected outcomes

WSDOT works with program grantees to develop new or improved active transportation infrastructure on state and legacy highways. This includes quick-build or permanent features like greenways, sidewalks, protected bike lanes or crossings, as well as speed management and safety enhancements.

Application requirements

Applicants must:

1. Demonstrate that their project will increase connectivity and safety for community members in high equity need areas. These changes should help people walk, bike or roll to and from essential destinations and community spaces such as schools, transit, health centers, parks and grocery stores.
2. Provide proof that they have partnered with local Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). The applicant must also provide proof that they will collaborate with CBOs to develop their proposed project, such as a letter of support.
3. Provide a memo demonstrating they have completed an initial consultation with affected tribes as outlined in the guidance document.

Additional information is available in the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Grant Program: Introduction and Guidance 2025-2026 document.

Required documents

You must submit the following when applying for this funding:

• Sandy Williams Connecting Communities interest application
• a tribal consultation memo
• all required supporting documents specified in the application guide

If you have questions, contact the SWCCP Program Lead Clara Cheeves, clara.cheeves@wsdot.wa.gov.

Elements of a strong project proposal

We consider several factors when selecting programs for funding. Not every eligible project proposal will receive funding. We strive to fund the most innovative and impactful proposals. We also want to support communities of all sizes. Preference will be given to proposed projects that accomplish the following.

• They connect people. Projects will connect people using active transportation to essential resources and community spaces such as schools, transit, health centers, parks, or the grocery store.
  • A project will connect to, or extend, existing active transportation networks or pathways.
  • It will advance equity and environmental justice by addressing transportation challenges for high equity need communities.
• They benefit communities. Projects will benefit communities socially and economically. They will do this through partnerships with community-based organizations and by contracting with underrepresented firms. Projects may improve transportation access use recycled, natural or low-carbon materials, include green buffers or pollinator-friendly landscaping; make it easier for people of all ages to comfortably and safely travel; and more.
• They make people safer. Projects improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and people using mobility devices, especially at high collision locations. They do this by reducing people’s exposure to crashes that result in severe injury or death. They also reduce the severity and likelihood of those crashes.
  • They build accessibility into project design and construction.
  • They use innovative design approaches and practices that help people walk, bike and roll more safely and comfortably
• They are viable. Project leadership is multidisciplinary. Leaders represent key knowledge areas such as transportation, planning, recreation, climate, public health, parks and transit. Teams have the staff capacity and resources to manage projects effectively.
  • Projects can demonstrate support from cities in their project areas and the most-affected community members. They may do this by noting existing partnerships, previous planning documents, or thoughtful outreach and engagement plans.
  • Applicants have a track record of completing projects on time and on scope, with meaningful community engagement.
• They meaningfully engage communities. Projects will consult community members on planning, development and execution. This fosters community engagement and ownership of the project in both the short and long-term This may include:
  • Youth and/or children contributing to or leading aspects of project development and implementation. Aspects may include engagement, design, installation, monitoring and evaluation.
  • Community-based organizations leading or co-collaborating on project aspects of the project.
  • Planning engagement with key partners such as parent-teacher associations, non-profit organizations and public health organizations.

Matching funds

Once awarded, grantees can leverage SWCCP funds as local match funding for federal funds for their project. This may include BUILD grant (previously known as RAISE grants), Safe Streets for All grants, Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program grants and WSDOT-administered federal funding sources. Additionally, funds can bring resources to projects where state agencies such as the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB), regional or local funding cannot fully meet needs.

Glossary

Environmental justice

As defined in RCW 70A.02.010, Environmental Justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, rules, and policies. Environmental justice includes addressing disproportionate environmental and health impacts in all laws, rules, and policies with environmental impacts by prioritizing vulnerable populations and overburdened communities, the equitable distribution of resources and benefits, and eliminating harm.

Award history

The Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program has distributed $20,928,000 to 26 projects statewide as of July 2025.

Climate Commitment Act funding

The Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and -invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov. 

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