$1 Million Federal Investment Opens Doors for King County Healthcare Workers
(May 27, 2026 — Seattle, WA) The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) is proud to announce that Senator Patty Murray secured $1 million in federal funding through the FY2026 appropriations bill to expand healthcare workforce pathways in our region.
“Of course, there is another important pipeline we need to be investing in as well – that is our skills pipeline,” Senator Murray said in a February speech on the Senate floor. She points to securing funding for the WDC to “address health care workforce shortages by building a school-to-work partnership between local colleges, unions, and others.”
This investment reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that every worker in King County deserves a clear path to a good job, particularly in healthcare, one of the region’s fastest growing sectors, supporting more than 166,000 jobs.
“When we invest in workers, we strengthen our entire region,” said Marie Kurose, CEO of the WDC. “We’re deeply grateful to Senator Murray for her continued leadership and commitment to workforce development. Through this investment, we’re creating more pathways for career mobility, stronger partnerships between employers, labor, and educators, and greater opportunities for the health and security of families in the Puget Sound.”
This funding will support the WDC's ongoing effort to build structured, supported pathways into healthcare careers with a focus on entry-level workers who have historically been locked out of higher-wage roles due to cost, lack of access, and systemic barriers. It builds on the proven foundation of the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) and deepens our partnerships with Colleges and SEIU 1199NW Training Fund to connect workers to apprenticeship training in nursing, behavioral health, and other critical healthcare occupations.
As Ligaya Domingo, WDC Board Member & Senior Racial Justice Director at SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, shares “Our members know firsthand how hard it is to move up in healthcare without the right support. By working alongside labor, employers, and community partners, we can build real pathways for workers to grow into the jobs our healthcare system urgently needs. It’s a step toward building a system that values the real people doing the work every day.”
We sincerely appreciate Senator Murray’s leadership in championing workforce development investments that expand access to good jobs. This funding will open doors for more workers in King County to access meaningful career opportunities in healthcare.