King County is now taking applications for two different grant programs that could benefit islanders: historic barn preservation and youth sports facilities.

The county announced recently that it has $500,000 in grant funds available to fund the preservation of the county’s historic barns for the first time since 2008. Workshops, including one on Vashon, are scheduled this spring to assist barn owners with the grant process.

In a statement, county officials said that historic barns are “highly visible icons of King County’s farming heritage,” but are threatened due to changing farming practices, skyrocketing maintenance costs and development pressures. With this in mind, King County’s Historic Preservation Program re-launched its Barn Again preservation grant program, which was last funded in 2008.

The available funds will be distributed in two competitive grant rounds, the first of which begins this spring, with up to $250,000 in funding available for qualifying projects. Another $250,000 will be available in spring 2017.

“People who own historic barns and outbuildings are the stewards of our shared history, and it is exciting to work with them to help stabilize and rehabilitate these structures … ” King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert said in a statement.

To be eligible for funding, barns, outbuildings and agriculture-related community spaces such as grange halls, must still convey their historic character, be more than 40 years old, located in King County and in need of substantial repair. Grant awards are anticipated to be in the range of $5,000 to $75,000 for projects such as repairs to roofs, foundations, walls, structural frameworks and building systems.

Officials from the county Historic Preservation Program will hold a free, informational workshop for interested islanders from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, at the Vashon Library. Potential applicants can get help with the application process and assistance planning the scope of work to be done.

The program is funded through King County and 4Culture’s Building for Culture Initiative, which uses the county’s early payoff of Kingdome debt to provide funding for cultural facilities and historic properties throughout the county. On Vashon, the Building for Culture Initiative provided more than $1 million in funding late last year for Vashon Allied Arts’ new performing arts center, Voice of Vashon’s Storefront Studio, the replacement of Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Museum’s foundation and Friends of Mukai’s restoration of the Mukai House.

Grant applications are also being accepted for the county’s Youth Sports Facilities grants, which last year provided funds for improvements to Vashon Island Rowing Club’s boathouse and for the construction of indoor batting cages.

The program provides matching grant funds, ranging from $5,000 to $75,000 to qualified groups that partner with a public agency, such as a school district or parks department, to develop or renovate sports facilities.

Applications for the 2017 funding cycle are being accepted until June 17, with letters of intent due by May 6.