Amazon contributes $1.4 million to support Bellevue parks, neighborhoods, and human services

By Cameron Sheppard • May 18, 2021 11:15 am
Vulcan Real Estate renderings of the new Amazon office spaces Courtesy photo/ Amazon.
Vulcan Real Estate renderings of the new Amazon office spaces Courtesy photo/ Amazon.

On May 17, Amazon announced that it is donating $1.4 million to the City of Bellevue, which includes $1 million to the Bellevue Human Services Fund, $289,000 for neighborhood

enhancement projects and $150,000 for parks improvements.

Amazon donated an additional $1 million to the Human Services Fund in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds help support a range of critical community programs, from food assistance to housing to education and behavioral health.

“We’re excited to continue working with policymakers, local organizations, and the community as Amazon continues to invest in Bellevue,” said Brian Huseman, Amazon’s vice president of public policy. “As a member of Bellevue’s vibrant and resilient community, the company is pleased to work with the city to help address community needs and support beloved parks and neighborhood assets.”

The Human Services Fund is the primary resource Bellevue uses to support social services in the community. There are still many Bellevue residents who continue to struggle to provide the basics like housing, food and transportation for themselves and their families. The city will distribute these funds to more than 40 entities across the Eastside as they struggle to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Amazon press release.

“Amazon continues to invest in Bellevue, and I thank the company for setting such a stellar example of community partnership,” said Mayor Lynne Robinson. “These dollars will have a significant impact on our community as we begin to recover together from the effects of the pandemic.”

The neighborhood enhancement and park donations will fund multiple projects to help improve outdoor spaces in Bellevue. These projects include:

• Bellevue Botanical Garden

• Bel-Red Mini-Park Dog Off Leash Area

• Citywide Tree Planting via Bellevue’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative

• Crossroads International Park

• Kelsey Creek Farm

• Bat houses at Lake Hills Greenbelt

• Northtowne Park Playground

• Utility Box Art Wraps in Downtown and Bel-Red

• Wilburton Children’s Tiles on NE 8th Street

In 2020, Amazon announced that it is planning to bring 25,000 jobs to Bellevue as part of the expansion of its Puget Sound headquarters. To accommodate its planned job creation, Amazon has been securing office space in Bellevue and has begun construction of the first office tower at 600 108 th Avenue NE. Amazon’s downtown construction will provide its teams with state-of-the-art office space, and the community with new amenities – such as new art installations, outdoor plazas, two new daycare centers, and street-level retail space.

Amazon’s new $2 billion Housing Equity Fund is aimed at creating and preserving housing for moderate to low-income families in our three headquarters communities, including Puget Sound. The first investment consisted of $185.5 million in below-market loans and grants to King County Housing Authority to preserve up to 1,000 affordable homes in the Eastside, including units in Bellevue’s Pinewood Village, Hampton Greens, and the Illahee Apartments.