Amazon in the community: Here’s what’s happening in Seattle, Bellevue, and the Puget Sound

Looking for the latest news about what’s happening around our Puget Sound headquarters? You’re in the right place.

With more than 75,000 employees here, we continue to invest in the community, help power the local economy, and provide well-paying jobs with leading benefits. As Amazon grows, so does our responsibility to the people and places that we call home.

We’re committed to addressing issues that matter most to the Puget Sound community including affordable housing, education, and homelessness. We offer employment, pre-paid education, and technical skills training to move into higher-paying roles, and up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave across the U.S.

A lot is happening here—be sure to check back regularly to discover the latest about Amazon’s community commitments and how we’re investing and unlocking opportunity for our hometown region.

Learn more about what we’re doing in the Puget Sound region for our employees, neighbors, and the community.

• How Amazon is helping Puget Sound employees develop skills and land the jobs of the future
• 9 statistics that show how Amazon’s return to office is helping to bolster Seattle businesses
• Amazon named top corporate giver in Puget Sound region
• Meet the 8 rising Seattle artists selected for Amazon’s Artist in Residence program
• Amazon commits $25 million to new public-private housing fund that will build affordable homes near public transit across Washington state
• Amazon donates $3 million to community colleges’ computer science programs in the Puget Sound region
• Amazon to fund construction of 568 affordable homes in Seattle
• Amazon welcomes 4 new small businesses to Puget Sound HQ

Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund (HEF) launched a $40 million pilot program that will help up to 800 families and individuals become homeowners, including residents from underserved communities across Puget Sound. The pilot is in partnership with the National Housing Trust (NHT) and will support a range of innovative homeownership models led by local nonprofit organizations in the Puget Sound region (as well as organizations in the Arlington, VA and Washington, D.C. region, and Nashville, TN). NHT will partner with these organizations to acquire and build affordable homes for sale to local residents (the majority of them making below 80% of the area median income).

African Community Housing & Development (ACHD) is one of the Puget Sound-area organizations participating in this initiative. "This funding will allow ACHD to further develop our holistic services and affordable homeownership projects for the African Diaspora community in King County," said Hamdi Abdulle, ACHD Executive Director. "ACHD knows that when we invest in affordable homeownership, we invest in advancing human dignity."

Since 2021, HEF has committed more than $1.7 billion to create or preserve more than 14,000 affordable homes for renters across the company’s hometown communities, including more than 5,300 homes across Puget Sound. Learn more about this pilot program and Amazon’s Commitment to Housing Equity.

Amazon volunteers helped clean up five parks around Seattle as part of Amazon’s Global Month of Volunteering initiative. This is the second year Amazon volunteers participated in the Seattle Parks cleanup activity, where they assisted with picking up litter, weeding, and mulching activities, all in the name of beautifying the parks.

From September 1-30, tens of thousands of Amazon employees will volunteer to support the communities where they live and work, adding to the company’s local investments throughout the year, as part of the Global Month of Volunteering initiative. In collaboration with hundreds of community organizations, employees will help support causes they are passionate about—from climate change, education, and food insecurity, to disaster relief and housing inequity.

Follow what our employees are doing in support of Global Month of Volunteering and beyond.

Last week, we released the latest findings from Amazon’s 2023 Economic Impact Report. Since 2010, we’ve invested more than $225.7 billion in Washington state. Keystone Strategy, a third-party consultancy has found that these investments, including infrastructure and compensation to our employees, have helped to expand the local economy and support an additional 487,200 indirect and induced jobs across the state in fields like health care, retail, construction, and education. Additionally, more than $205 billion has been added to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) thanks to our investments and job creation, on top of what we’ve directly invested.

“Amazon is proud of our role in keeping the Puget Sound region and Washington state economic engines running,” said Ron Frierson, director of Economic Development for the Western U.S. at Amazon. “From the hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs we’ve created and supported across the state, to the development of our global headquarters and infrastructure investments, we’re proud of the opportunities we helped to unlock for Washingtonians.”

We also know that our responsibilities here go beyond our business investments, and we’re committed to the causes that matter to the community. In the last two years alone, Amazon has become the largest corporate philanthropist in the Puget Sound region, with more than $174 million donated to local nonprofit groups and charitable organizations. On top of this, we’ve also provided more than $500 million to create and preserve more than 5,300 affordable homes here through the Housing Equity Fund, Amazon’s $2 billion commitment to address the national housing affordability challenges starting in our hometown communities.

Learn more about how Amazon is committed to building a stronger community and powering the local economy.

Amazon provided a new $1.7 million donation to Alliance for Education and Bellevue LifeSpring to support the immediate needs of students from underserved communities in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington. These nonprofit organizations will use the contributions to help manage their respective Right Now Needs Funds—programs designed to ensure students in the Puget Sound region have their basic needs covered, from from food to clothes to school supplies. Amazon’s donation includes $1 million to the Alliance for Education to support all 104 schools within the Seattle Public Schools district and $700,000 to Bellevue LifeSpring to support all 30 Bellevue School District schools.

Learn more about how Amazon has supported the needs of students from underserved communities in the Puget Sound region through Right Now Needs Funds.

On October 16 and 17, 2023, 25 fellows from the Amazon Housing Equity Fund’s Housing Equity Accelerator Fellowship (HEAF) program met in Seattle, Washington to visit several affordable housing developments across the region and to share their experiences as program members—a key goal of the Housing Equity Fund is to support diverse developers and minority-led nonprofits focused on affordable housing.

Visiting fellows toured four affordable housing properties—some that were complete, under construction, and yet to break ground—while learning from local developers at these project sites. Fellows also shared insights regarding how the Amazon Housing Equity Fund is helping them grow their businesses while creating more affordable homes across their respective communities.

Collectively, the Amazon Accelerator program includes 38 diverse developers from the Puget Sound Region, the Arlington, Virginia/ Washington D.C. region, and Nashville, Tennessee. Learn more about the Amazon Housing Equity Fund and its Accelerator program.

Tens of thousands of Amazon employees from 51 countries around the globe participated in Amazon’s Global Month of Volunteering, an initiative dedicated to building stronger communities in the cities and towns where our employees live and work. Volunteers cleaned up parks, donated school supplies and clothing to students, built houses for families experiencing homelessness, assembled wish boxes for kids, and delivered meals to local food banks.

In Seattle, employees gathered at Amazon’s Day 1 Playfield to volunteer with Clean the World to build and deliver more than 90,000 hygiene kits to Puget Sound organizations that support disaster relief efforts around the world. Clean the World provides recycled soap and hygiene supplies to people who have limited access to essential items that help prevent illnesses and diseases.

Learn more about how employees supported our Global Month of Volunteering around the globe.

In October, Amazon hosted Delivering the Future at our Puget Sound headquarters. 100+ reporters from around the world got a behind-the-scenes look at our latest innovations that will help us better serve customers, support employees, and show up for communities we serve around the world. Learn how Amazon is driving innovation, right here in the Puget Sound:

• Amazon announces 8 innovations to better deliver for customers, support employees, and give back to communities around the world
• Amazon announces 2 new ways it's using robots to assist employees and deliver for customers
• Amazon is launching ultra-fast drone deliveries in Italy, the UK, and a third location in the U.S.
• Amazon announces its first automated U.S. fulfillment center to eliminate plastic delivery packaging
• Amazon unveils new AI-powered technology that will inspect delivery vans and help keep drivers safe

In September, we shared that Amazon would be creating more than 250,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal fulfillment center and transportation roles for the holiday season. In Washington state, that means 7,000 new opportunities for people looking for a new job, interested in making a career pivot, or just looking for a short-term way to earn extra money. And the roles we provide are for those at any career stage. In fact, 56% of associates hired by Amazon in the Seattle area were previously not working, and for 11% of those people, their role at Amazon was their first job.

“When I first started at Amazon, I was a seasonal employee, and then I really quickly became a blue badge, full-time employee,” said Laci Temple, a delivery station associate in Sumner, Washington. “You have a lot of opportunities here that you can take advantage of.”

What’s more, Amazon is also investing $1.3 billion this year toward pay increases for customer fulfillment and transportation employees, bringing the average pay for those roles to over $20.50 per hour. Some fulfillment centers are also providing bonuses, like $3,000 being offered at a fulfillment center in Arlington, Washington.

“I came to Amazon earlier this year because I was looking for an opportunity that would allow me to run my business and earn a paycheck after hours,” said local Amazon employee and farmer Grace Graver, an associate who works at Amazon’s fulfillment center in Kent, Washington. “You get medical and dental benefits from day one. Not only that, but the retirement benefits are great. It’s really easy to enroll in, and HR walks you through everything.”

We provide career advancement opportunities, anytime access to earned pay, health, vision, and dental insurance from the first day on the job; a 401(k) with company match; up to 20 weeks of paid pregnancy/parental leave for birth parents (six weeks for eligible supporting parents); and Amazon’s Resources for Living program, a free benefit offering mental health and financial services and support for employees, their families, and their households.

To learn more and apply, check out Amazon’s Jobs page.

Amazon is partnering with the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF) to give $150,000 to the Seattle Fire Department to fund new safety equipment and firefighter mental health resources to support the needs of first responders in Seattle.

“Our firefighters bravely respond to unthinkable challenges, and this can take a toll on mental health,” said Guy Palumbo, director, Amazon Public Policy. “We must make sure that, as a community, we are investing in our first responders, so they’re able to continue their life-saving work. This grant is our way of saying ‘thank you’ for serving our city with dedication and courage."

The donation is part of a new three-year commitment from Amazon to GSF to honor military veterans and first responders, and will help fund first responder grants for state-of-the-art equipment. This includes resources like a revolutionary PeerConnect app, which provides peer support, wellness tools, self-assessment, mental health programming, and resources to Seattle Fire team members. The Department will also be equipped with 900 pairs of cutting-edge extrication gloves, ensuring hand protection in various rescue scenarios.

“We are grateful to have been selected for this grant from GSF and Amazon,” said Seattle Fire Chief Harold D. Scoggins. “With nearly every dollar of our department budget allocated, finding the money for new equipment and training can be challenging. Through this generous grant, we’re able to provide each firefighter with the tools they need, while continuing to build programs that help firefighters deal with the traumatic and stressful situations they encounter daily. Neither would have been possible without GSF and Amazon’s support.”

GSF has a long-standing mission of honoring defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need through various programs, initiatives, and contributions like this one.

“Our first responders are on the front lines of our communities, running into danger and risking their lives every day to keep their cities safe,” said Donna Palmer, executive director, GSF. “On behalf of our founder, Gary Sinise, and our incredible partner, Amazon, we are honored to provide this essential equipment to the Seattle Fire Department to show our deep gratitude for these heroes and their service to their community.”

Earlier in October, to mark National First Responders Day, volunteers from Amazon and GSF team members gathered at Seattle Fire Station 2 in Belltown to extend their appreciation. Seven members of the Amazon First Responders affinity group, a group of former first responders, volunteered to serve meals to the firefighters in attendance. In addition, two therapy dogs joined to help lend a “paw” to support firefighters during the event.

Since 2008, Amazon has supported the critical work of Food Lifeline and its mission to end hunger in Western Washington. Food Lifeline sources millions of pounds of healthy, surplus food from partners across the region. From June 2022 through July 2023, 1.5 million people in Western Washington visited area food banks, which was a 50% increase over the previous year. Through its work, Food Lifeline delivers food to more than 400 distribution sites across Puget Sound to feed our neighbors every single day.

“Our weekly deliveries of food from Amazon and its partners are a key component in the work we do in Western Washington,” says Ryan Scott, chief development officer of Food Lifeline. “The yellow crates they deliver are everywhere in our warehouse and are a testament to Amazon’s commitment and hard work in helping end hunger.”

This November, we’re excited to expand our partnership in support of Food Lifeline’s “Together to End Hunger” holiday initiative. Beginning November 6, a food donation bin designed by local Seattle artist, Stevie Shao, will be set up at Kraken Community Iceplex to collect food items for donation to Food Lifeline.

On November 22, fans and neighbors can join us before the Seattle Kraken game on the southwest plaza outside Climate Pledge Arena from 3-7 p.m. PST for the “Together to End Hunger” Food Drive presented by Amazon to benefit Food Lifeline. Bring canned goods to donate, see Stevie Shao create a “Together to End Hunger” mural live, and pick up your own “Together to End Hunger” advocacy patch featuring Shao’s design. All food collected by Amazon will be delivered to Food Lifeline, then transported to food distribution sites across Puget Sound.

“We’re building a movement to end hunger,” said Scott. “And the key to building a movement is raising awareness. The more people understand the problems, the more action they will take. With our “Together to End Hunger” holiday initiative, Amazon is helping bring more people into the conversation, and more voices mean more action.”

Food Lifeline is one of several organizations that Amazon supports financially and logistically to help people facing food insecurity across Puget Sound. Learn how Amazon partners with additional food assistance organizations across the U.S. and other ways Amazon invests in the Puget Sound community.

As Amazon continues to grow, we know that our customers, employees, and the communities where we operate have high expectations of us. They look to us to have a positive impact beyond our investment and the jobs we create, and they want to see us apply our innovative spirit and resources to help address the many challenges their communities face. We want to do that, too.

Discover how we partner with local nonprofits and devote our resources, infrastructure, and people to help build a stronger community by reading our Community Impact Report: Puget Sound.

Learn about how Amazon is helping to address U.S. communities’ biggest challenges right now.

In 2024, Gage Academy of Art will move from its current location in the Capitol Hill neighborhood into Amazon’s re:Invent building located in South Lake Union.

“Creating space for the arts is vital for fostering a thriving downtown that brings together diverse retail, dining, entertainment, and culture options, and we’re thrilled that our Puget Sound headquarters will host Gage Academy of Art as part of this effort,” said John Schoettler, vice president of Global Real Estate and Facilities at Amazon. “Gage Academy is an essential part of the Seattle arts scene and we look forward to experiencing firsthand the positive impact it will have on the surrounding community.”

Gage Academy of Art is a fixture of the Seattle arts community. The school is committed to excellence in the fields of painting, drawing, and sculpting, and has invited art makers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to become a part of its vibrant learning community. More than 3,000 adults and young people enroll each year in Gage Academy’s ateliers, classes, workshops, and youth programming. Gage also hosts another 8,000 community members across its campus, partner locations, and online for free lectures, community art programs, and family-friendly events when it moves to its new space in South Lake Union, the school can serve a larger, more diverse student body in a central location and close to more public transportation options.

“We want to thank Amazon for supporting Gage Academy and our longstanding mission to make the arts accessible to Puget Sound community members of all ages,” said Kathleen Allen, executive director, Gage Academy of Art. “This partnership with Amazon and relocation downtown will allow us to develop a state-of-the-art facility that aligns with our commitment to excellence in arts education.”

The new 14,000-square-foot space is designed by architecture firm NBBJ and will include innovative and flexible classrooms, art studios, and communal student spaces that promote collaboration. The design will embody openness through its multi-level spaces and accessibility through its central downtown location and proximity to multiple public transportation options.

Learn more about Gage Academy of Art and its mission to make arts accessible.

Timed to National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), Amazon celebrated our various apprenticeship programs with organized local events in Seattle and Washington, D.C., and virtual viewing parties around the world. We also announced our 1,000^th conversion from apprentice to full-time Amazon employee. The events offered an opportunity to recognize the achievements of current apprentices and recent apprentice graduates in cloud, mechatronics, and robotics roles, and hear from program leadership and our local partners. In Seattle, Amazon cohosted the events with Apprenti, a Seattle-based non-profit organization that administers the Amazon programs and coordinates with training providers.

Clint Daguplo started as a seasonal associate in July 2020, but he always had a passion for robotics. He decided to participate in the MRA program. “The apprenticeship program was great because I was able to earn the certifications needed for a job in robotics, while being paid during the learning and on-the-job training. Throughout the program, I was able to learn about the different opportunities Amazon offers to grow your career and to grow as a person.” After completing the MRA program, Clint landed a role as a Control Systems Technician on the Reliability and Maintenance Engineering team at an Amazon robotics site in Seattle.

NAW is a nationwide celebration that highlights the value of Registered Apprenticeships in advancing our economy, promoting equity, and supporting underserved communities. Amazon offers numerous paid apprenticeship programs that provide employees opportunities classroom learning and on-the-job training to earn the certifications and training hours needed to land technical and nontechnical roles. Read more about the benefits of on-the-job training programs like our apprenticeships from Nick Curry, Senior Manager of Emerging Talent Pipelines at Amazon.

On November 22, fans and community members descended upon the Climate Pledge Arena before the Seattle Kraken game with canned goods in tow to support the “Together to End Hunger” food drive, say hello to Buoy, and catch artist, Stevie Shao, creating a mural in real time that was donated to Food Lifeline. The event was a collaboration between Amazon, Food Lifeline, and Shao to raise awareness about food insecurity in Puget Sound while also collecting food to support the community. Amazon delivered 1800 pounds of food, which equates to roughly 1500 meals, from this initiative to Food Lifeline who will distribute it across nearly 400 food distribution sites in the region.

Amazon’s partnership with Food Lifeline is an important one that dates back to 2008. Today, this partnership is more important than ever since over 1.5 million people in western Washington will visit food banks this year, which is a 50% increase from last year.

“With Amazon’s support through the donation of millions of pounds of food, logistical support, and financial contributions, Food Lifeline is able to better serve and deliver for Puget Sound residents facing food insecurity every day. We’d like to thank Amazon for their ongoing commitment to helping end hunger in their hometown community, everyone who has supported the 'Together to End Hunger' initiative, as well as those who support individually by donating their own time, money, and voice to support this cause,” says Ryan Scott, chief development officer of Food Lifeline.

If you haven’t had a chance yet, it’s not too late to support the work of Food Lifeline and make an impact on Puget Sound families this holiday season. Visit their website to donate or volunteer and check out scenes from the “Together to End Hunger” food drive above.

Amazon volunteers helped students explore computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) as part of CSEdWeek—a national effort to advocate for equity, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the technology industry.

In the Puget Sound, Amazon Future Engineer partnered with Seattle Public Schools and Bellevue School District to host Hour of Code events with over 100 local elementary school classrooms. Amazon volunteers used the new Hour of Code Dance Party: AI Edition, a collaboration with Code.org that gave students an hour-long introduction to coding and AI. Students created their own virtual music video set to hit songs from artists including Miley Cyrus, Harry Styles, and more. The activity provided an introduction to AI, including learning about large language models and how they are used to power the predictive analytics responsible for creating new images, text, and more.

“This is what we mean when we say ‘we want our kids Seattle ready.’ We're thankful our students can explore computer science in a way that’s safe with guidance from adults, so they can take it to the next level,” said Dr. Brent Jones, superintendent, Seattle Public Schools. “When we consider jobs of the future, we don't know what they are right now, but they'll have some aspect of coding. We can fight it or we can embrace it. I believe our students are learning how to embrace technology, naturally.”

Additionally, Amazon donated $1.5 million to Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) to update the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards to reflect rapid advancements in technologies like AI, help teachers incorporate career exploration initiatives in their classrooms for students, and maintain the CSTA Annual Conference as the premier professional learning event for CS educators. Learn more about Amazon’s efforts to expand access to computer science and STEM education.

‘Tis the season for giving! From setting up a Winter Wonderland in downtown Seattle for the community to hosting toy drives and shopping opportunities to support underserved children and families, Amazon is partnering with local organizations to help make this a special holiday season.

Over 300 Amazon employees volunteered at our Winter Wonderland Toy Store, which provided gifts to underserved families across the Puget Sound region to give their loved ones. With help from organizations like Wellspring Family Services and Rainier Athletes, the Winter Wonderland Toy Store welcomed hundreds of families to pick out over 13,000 gifts for the holidays, courtesy of Amazon.

Amazon also hosted an employee toy drive and donated more than 5,000 toys for children and families currently living at Mary’s Place Family Shelters. The toys were transported via Amazon delivery vans and hand-delivered by Amazon employees to the Mary’s Place Family Shelter locations in Seattle at our Puget Sound headquarters and in Bellevue.

And in South Lake Union, our neighbors are welcome to enjoy our downtown Seattle campus Winter Wonderland, which includes larger-than-life snow globes and trees adorned with lights—perfect for holiday photo opportunities. We provided complimentary hot chocolate and hosted winter season performances from the Dickens Carolers, who delighted pedestrians with acoustic versions of their holiday music favorites. Winter décor will be up until January 8, 2024.

In the last two years, Amazon has become the largest corporate philanthropist in the Puget Sound region with more than $174 million donated to hundreds of local nonprofits and charitable organizations. We have deep roots in the Puget Sound region and are committed to its long-term sustainable growth and success. Learn more about our efforts in the Puget Sound Community.

The Chinatown-International District’s annual Night Market has been a hallmark event in downtown Seattle since its inception in 2006—attracting thousands of visitors each fall to enjoy all the district has to offer. However, rising production costs and decreasing sponsorship forced the cancellation of the 2023 Night Market. Knowing the positive impact the Night Market has for small businesses, the local culture, and on the Seattle community, Amazon is excited to announce that we are committing $250,000 to ensure the market will continue for the next three years.

Each year, the market brings neighbors and the wider community to the Chinatown-International District (CID) to try a variety of cuisines, enjoy cultural performances, and browse vendor booths. In addition, the market adds much-needed foot traffic to the rich and varied small businesses that make up the district.

"Ahead of the Lunar New Year, and with Amazon’s generous donation and support, we’re thrilled to celebrate and bring this beloved community tradition back to the neighborhood after announcing its pause last summer," said Monisha Singh, executive director of the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area, the nonprofit that organizes the event. “The market, while celebrating culture and community, also serves as an important fundraiser for the critical work we do year-round to support those that live and work in our neighborhood—including our more than 400 small businesses. We look forward to welcoming visitors back to the Night Market this September to enjoy all that the CID has to offer.”

“Coming from a family of CID small business owners, I know how important the Chinatown-International District Night Market is to our community,” said Seattle Citywide Councilmember Tanya Woo. “It’s been a fixture of the neighborhood for nearly 20 years and has helped so many small businesses grow. That’s why I am so excited by this support to ensure it continues. My hope is that this funding will allow for the Night Market to endure for generations to come.”

The Market is planned for September 2024.

^{The interior of Amazon's Dynamo building in Bellevue.}
Take a look inside the newest buildings—Sonic and Dynamo—at our Puget Sound Headquarters, which host a variety of meeting spaces, lounges, focus rooms, grab 'n' go markets, and more.

Dynamo provides space for over 1,500 employees, and opened shortly after we began welcoming 1,000 employees to Sonic.

^{A team suite in Amazon's Sonic building in Bellevue.}

Today Amazon announced a donation of $9 million in grants to six local organizations addressing the urgent needs of people experiencing homelessness across the Seattle region. Major recipients include Mary’s Place and Plymouth Housing, with additional funding to support The YMCA, The YWCA, YouthCare, and Friends of Youth.

“As the number of people experiencing homelessness in our region continues to grow, it is important to support the organizations directly helping youth, families, and individuals,” said Alice Shobe, Global Director of Amazon in the Community. “From providing cash donations to local nonprofits to address soaring costs and increased demand, to investing more than $550 million to add over than 5,500 affordable homes in the Puget Sound, we are committed to helping tackle these challenges.”

The $9 million in grants will go to the following organizations:

Amazon is donating $6 million to Mary’s Place in support of its ongoing operations and to provide funding toward a new affordable housing development in Burien, WA. The project will replace an existing shelter and provide more than 200 beds of emergency family shelter, housing, outreach, and prevention services for families, along with 90 units of permanently affordable housing to be developed by Mercy Housing Northwest. 

“Our partnership with Amazon has brought hope and housing to hundreds of women and families in our community. The love and support from Amazonians is life-changing,” said Mary’s Place CEO, Dominique Alex. “Today’s generous gift will help us increase critical shelter capacity and realize our big dream of making affordable housing more accessible for our guests and neighbors in South King County. We are so grateful to our incredible Amazon neighbors!”

Since 2016, Amazon has committed more than $100 million in cash and in-kind donations to support Mary’s Place’s work to address family homelessness in King County. In 2020, Amazon and Mary's Place united to open the Mary’s Place Family Center in The Regrade—a first-of-its-kind permanent family shelter built inside one of Amazon’s office buildings in its Seattle headquarters. 

Plymouth Housing is a nonprofit that works to eliminate homelessness and address its causes by preserving, developing, and operating safe, quality, supportive housing. Plymouth also provides adults experiencing homelessness with opportunities to stabilize and improve their lives. Amazon is donating $2 million to Plymouth Housing to support the recent spike in demand for the organization’s services. Amazon has supported Plymouth Housing in multiple annual fundraising events, and in 2019, Amazon donated $5 million to their PROOF campaign, which helped create 600 new affordable homes.

“This incredible investment from Amazon allows Plymouth Housing to bring even more of our neighbors from life on the streets into the dignity of a permanent home," said Karen Lee, CEO of Plymouth Housing. "We look forward to our continued partnership with Amazon and to working together to ensure that our most vulnerable neighbors receive the housing and supportive services that they need to thrive and leave homelessness behind for good.”

The YMCA, YWCA, YouthCare, and Friends of Youth will use their grant funding to support their critical work serving the needs of people experiencing homelessness across the region, including families, women, and youth.

The donations announced today are the latest effort from Amazon to help address homelessness across Puget Sound. In addition to supporting the work of these organizations, Amazon is investing to increase affordable housing across the region. Learn more about Amazon’s community impact efforts.

Photo by Auston James

For the third consecutive year, the Amazon team was proud to support the 2024 Seattle/King County Clinic through sponsorship and team volunteer efforts. As the largest volunteer-driven health clinic in Washington State, the Seattle/King County Clinic offers free healthcare services to thousands of people in our community who need it most.

"Every person deserves access to quality healthcare, and the Seattle/King County Clinic is doing vital work to address health disparities by ensuring the most in-need members of our community receive treatment," said Ty Rogers, VP of corporate communications and board member of Seattle Center Foundation. "Amazon is proud to support this effort, and we’re committed to promoting health equity by ensuring these services are accessible. Thank you to everyone who came together to make this clinic happen, including the many Amazonians who volunteered their time to support our community."

Amazon has deep roots in the Puget Sound region and is dedicated to the area’s long-term success. That’s why Amazon is expanding the impact of this private-public partnership by committing additional funding to support clinic operations for the next three years.

“I’m so impressed with how teams at Amazon demonstrate a commitment to our culture of giving back to the community,” said Venkat Ramamurthy, senior software developer for Amazon and clinic volunteer. “After realizing how complex the healthcare system is, and the barriers so many face finding care, I was inspired to get involved. Volunteering at the clinic allows you to meet fascinating people from all walks of life while being part of something that has a huge and lasting impact.”

Photo by Auston James

The clinic, held February 15-18 at Seattle Center, brought together nearly 100 cross-sector partners spanning healthcare organizations, civic agencies, nonprofits, and private businesses. As healthcare costs rise, and available public services remain difficult to navigate, the clinic fills an urgent need for accessible care.

“We’re so grateful for Amazon’s generous support of Seattle/King County Clinic,” said Julia Colson, co-founder and project executive for the clinic. “Since our inception in 2014, together with our partners and volunteers, we have provided more than $23 million in critical dental, vision, and medical services free of cost to more than 27,000 individuals. That is the power of partnership.”

Amazon announced today that since December 2023, the company’s Housing Equity Fund (HEF) has committed more than $122 million to help preserve and support the development of over 1,700 affordable homes in Seattle, Bellevue, and Kirkland.

“Since launching the Amazon Housing Equity Fund three years ago, we’ve moved quickly to support local organizations and developers to increase the supply of affordable housing—and we’ve seen the impact we can make,” said Alice Shobe, global director of Amazon Community Impact. “In Bellevue, for example, where we now employ more than 12,000 people, we’ve helped increase the number of affordable housing units by 20%.”

Today’s announcement includes partnerships with nine local organizations focused on affordable housing. These affordable homes are located near resources residents need (like transit, schools, and employment centers) and will serve individuals and families earning between 50% to 80% of the area median income. These communities include:

• Ardea at Totem Lake in Kirkland, is a new affordable housing community under development by TWG, and will include 170 new homes reserved for seniors.
  
• MLK Family Housing is a new mixed-use development under construction in Rainier Valley that will include 147 new affordable homes. This project is a partnership with The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI).
  
• Altaire at Jackson Park in North Seattle, a partnership between SRM Development and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, will provide 206 affordable homes less than a mile from the Shoreline South/148th Link light rail station.
  
• Crossroads Apartments is an adaptive reuse affordable housing community by Great Expectations LLC. The project will transform the former Sagebrook Senior Living Center, a vacant assisted living facility, into 108 affordable homes in Bellevue.
  
• The Terrapin Apartments is being developed by Johnson & Carr and will provide 155 new affordable homes within a half-mile of the new Bellevue Downtown Link light rail station.
  
• Atrium Court Apartments will include 201 affordable homes, and Trace 4001 will include 191 affordable homes. Both projects are in Seattle’s Othello neighborhood, are close to the Othello light rail station, and are being developed by Nitze-Stagen.
  
• Bode Greenwood, a development in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood by Bode Affordable Living, will consist of 117 new affordable homes for individuals.
  
• The Claremont Apartments is an existing affordable housing community in Seattle’s Mt. Baker neighborhood and includes 68 affordable homes. The Lake Washington Apartments is an existing affordable housing community in Seattle’s Seward Park neighborhood, and includes 377 affordable homes. Amazon’s support will enable local nonprofit SouthEast Effective Development (SEED Seattle) to keep both of these apartment communities affordable for 99 years.

Since its launch in 2021, HEF has helped to significantly increase multifamily affordable housing throughout the region. Today’s announcement brings Amazon’s affordable housing commitments across the Puget Sound to a total of $670 million to help make over 7,200 homes available to more than 15,500 residents. Learn more about the Amazon Housing Equity Fund.

Over the last few months we’ve shared some exciting updates about the expansion of our Puget Sound headquarters in Bellevue. In December, we announced that 1,000 employees moved into the first half of Sonic, also known as Tower 555. Then in February, we celebrated the opening of our next building, Dynamo, bringing an additional 1,500 employees to Bellevue, Washington. And today we’re excited to share that we are continuing construction on the remaining 22 floors at Sonic, bringing online an additional 500,000 square feet of collaborative workspace in Bellevue. Once complete later this year, Sonic will provide space for more than 4,500 employees total.

^{Employees can take in the view from the Sonic balcony.}

"Amazon's continued investment in Bellevue is another show of confidence that our city is growing and open for business," said Joe Fain, president and CEO of the Bellevue Chamber. "Nearly 80% of polled residents shared that the growth that Amazon and other tech companies have brought to Bellevue has been good for the city. As the office market across the globe continues to show signs of post-pandemic strain, Bellevue is bucking the trend and breathing fresh life into its Downtown."

Our expansion to Bellevue is part of Amazon’s natural growth progression in our Puget Sound headquarters. Since we first announced the expansion in 2020, we’ve brought more than 12,000 jobs to the city and we remain committed to our long-term plans to bring 25,000 jobs here. Bellevue provides more space for us to create good jobs and offers a business-friendly community with great amenities, a high quality of life, and a fantastic talent pool.

In addition to investing in our Puget Sound headquarters, Amazon is also committed to supporting causes that are important to the local community. Since 2021, we’ve donated over $174 million to local charitable groups and nonprofit organizations, making us the region’s largest corporate giver. We also continue to invest in affordable housing initiatives through the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, which has contributed $670 million to preserve and create more than 7,200 affordable homes in the Puget Sound region.

Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund is providing $11.8 million+ in below-market loans, grants to preserve these affordable homes for current and future residents.

Access to affordable housing is one of the greatest challenges facing low to moderate-income households, including residents in communities across the Puget Sound region where Amazon has a strong presence.

Preservation of existing affordable housing is one of the most effective ways to ensure affordability, as it helps keep people in their homes who might otherwise be priced out, and helps ensure homes that are affordable today stay affordable for the long-term.

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In cities like Seattle, however, where the cost of residential real estate continues to climb, many naturally occurring affordable rental units (homes that have, historically, been affordable to renters) are at risk of being sold and converted to market-rate homes, putting them out of reach for current and future residents in need of affordable housing.

For these reasons, The Amazon Housing Equity Fund (HEF) prioritizes efforts to preserve (and improve) existing affordable housing, making it possible for low to moderate-income residents to stay in their communities. Two existing affordable Seattle apartment communities, the Claremont and Lake Washington Apartments, have been kept affordable by SouthEast Effective Development (SEED), a local nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life in Southeast Seattle through housing, economic development and the arts. With $11.8 million in financial support from HEF, SEED was able to ensure these 445 homes stay affordable for the next 99 years.

“Southeast Seattle is facing some of the greatest displacement pressures in Washington State. The Claremont and Lake Washington Apartments will provide a critical resource for residents in need of quality, affordable housing. We’re thankful for Amazon’s support, which is helping us keep these homes affordable today and for future generations,” said Michael Seiwerath, Executive Director, SEED.

The Claremont, located in Seattle’s Mt. Baker neighborhood, consists of 68 affordable homes for families earning between 50% to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Lake Washington Apartments, located in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood (and within walking distance of Lake Washington), consists of 377 affordable homes for families earning between 30% to 60% AMI. Both of these apartment communities are in highly desirable neighborhoods—close to mass transit, schools, employment centers, and other neighborhood amenities.

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“When we keep existing homes affordable, we help foster greater equity across our communities,” said Senthil Sankaran, Managing Principal, Amazon Housing Equity Fund. “By preserving the affordability of the Claremont and Lake Washington Apartments, HEF and SEED are helping current and future residents have access to high-quality affordable homes and surrounding resources that contribute to a better quality of life.”

Learn more about The Amazon Housing Equity Fund.

Photo by Suzi Pratt

Amazon celebrated the grand re-opening of Seattle’s Be'er Sheva Park on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The park has undergone significant renovations, and Amazon is proud to provide support to close the funding gap needed to complete the project.

“Amazon’s generous, transformational support helped the Rainier Beach community bring the vision for this project to fruition,” said Rebecca Bear, president and CEO, Seattle Parks Foundation. “Be’er Sheva Park now has beach access, restored salmon habitat, a cultural stage, and much needed picnic areas. The park now better reflects the needs of the neighborhood and will support a thriving community in Rainier Beach.”

Photo by Suzi Pratt

The improvements, resulting from a public-private partnership led by Seattle Parks and Recreation, Rainier Beach Link2Lake, and the Seattle Parks Foundation, includes art installations, a boardwalk with lighted paths, and a stage for cultural performances, along with new access to the beach for members of the local community. Located in southeast Seattle, the 25.5-acre park on the shores of Lake Washington is the perfect place to visit on a summer day. With stunning views of the Cascade Mountains, it is a popular destination for picnics, family gatherings, yoga classes, and more.

“The Rainier Beach community is one of Seattle’s most dynamic and diverse neighborhoods. Amazon remains committed to providing solutions for causes that drive meaningful change for our neighbors across the Puget Sound region,” said Taylor Hoang, senior community engagement manager at Amazon. “The re-opening of this park brings the community access to native plants, artwork, walkways, and beach access just in time to enjoy this spring and summer.”