February 6, 2026

Year Up United

King County became the first public agency to receive the Year Up United Impact Award, recognizing its commitment to creating pathways to opportunity through the Year Up United internship program. Presented by John Stanton, Chairman of the Seattle Mariners and Trilogy International Partners and founding Chairman of the Year Up United Puget Sound Board, and Shawna Boggie, Year Up United Deputy Director of Western Washington, the national award recognizes corporate partners and individuals who demonstrate longstanding and significant support for their mission of closing the Opportunity Divide.

After three years of a successful partnership, the county also signed a new $1.125 million agreement to continue the internship program for five more years, expanding opportunities for future Year Up interns.

Year Up United is a national nonprofit that connects talented young adults ages 18–29 to professional careers through skills training, mentorship, and paid internships. The program supports young people who face barriers to traditional career pathways — including those without a four-year degree or who need to balance work and other responsibilities — by providing the experience, support, and connections needed to succeed in professional roles across the public and private sectors.

King County's Department of Executive Services initiated the partnership with Year Up. Chief Procurement Officer Terry Blake invited the first cohort of Year Up interns to Procurement and Payables in 2023 after seeing the positive impact of the program during his tenure in the private sector.

Since that time, King County has worked with nearly 50 interns, 19 of which have transitioned into full-time living wage professional careers, including public sector roles throughout King County departments including the Procurement and Payables team within DES, Public Health – Seattle & King County, King County Treasury Operations, and King County Metro.