Today, Rep. Greg Stanton announced that he secured the inclusion of nearly $10 million for several key Community Funding Projects as part of the House passage of H.R. 4502, the Seven-Bill Appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2022.
“From investing in small businesses and career development, to improving transportation safety and water security, these funds will make a critical difference in the lives of Arizonans,” said Stanton.
The projects requested by Stanton included in the legislation are:
$4 million to advance the new $150 million Arizona-centered environmental infrastructure authority Stanton secured in the 2020 Water Resources Development Act, which was based on his bill, H.R. 2206, the Environmental Infrastructure Assistance Act. These funds will be used to provide grants to communities and tribal nations to address their water infrastructure needs.
$1.8 million for Tres Rios, an ecosystem restoration project along the Salt and Gila rivers, which Stanton supported and advocated for during his time as Phoenix mayor. The project was spearheaded by the late Sen. John McCain and Rep. Ed Pastor and is designed to provide flood control protection and the use of treated effluent from a regional wastewater treatment facility to restore hydrological connectivity and sustain fish and wildlife habitats. Specifically, the funds support a Post Authorization Change Report that is necessary to complete construction of the project.
Phoenix
$960,000 for the City of Phoenix to make critical safety improvements to the intersection at 32nd Street and Thomas Road, including traffic signal rebuild, crosswalk enhancements, street lighting and ADA upgrades. This intersection is ranked as the 39th most dangerous intersection in the region by the Maricopa Association of Governments. These funds were requested by the City of Phoenix.
Mesa
$600,000 for Terros Health in Mesa to help renovate 5,500 square feet of existing space to build out Café (Children, Adolescents, and Families Empowered) Stapley to create a model apartment for high-risk and at-risk youth, ages 12 to 17, in Arizona communities to support teaching day-to-day skills and relationships. This model of care holds promise to reduce costs of health care related to emergency care, residential treatment and other societal costs realized in the justice system.
$300,000 to assist small businesses in downtown Mesa with façade improvements, including new or refurbished business signage, colonnade rehabilitation or removal, and small- to medium-sized façade design and construction projects. Downtown Mesa is a federally designated Opportunity Zone and locally designated Redevelopment Area. These funds were requested by the City of Mesa.
$300,000 to support the Aliento Education Fund’s efforts to boost first-generation immigrant and Latino students through social-emotional programming. These programs include paid student fellowships and internships; building the capacity of educators, counselors and school leaders through professional development on college access and post-secondary pathways; and supporting collaboration with cross-sector partnerships such as school districts, community colleges, universities, businesses, and cities to advocate for increased access to higher education.
Tempe
$500,000 to support the City of Tempe’s efforts to lift up local entrepreneurs—with a focus on minority entrepreneurs—and help them overcome the most significant obstacles to start-up manufacturing through grants to cover the cost of space, start-up raw materials and equipment necessary for micromanufacturing. The funds would also support Tempe’s effort to train and coach entrepreneurs.
$500,000 to support the City of Tempe’s efforts address homelessness in the community by helping to acquire an existing hotel of up to 60 rooms to provide shelter for up to 120 vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness. While at the facility, temporary residents would receive services and await transition to permanent supportive housing. These funds were requested by the City of Tempe.
Chandler
$990,000 for the City of Chandler to install smart meters to better conserve our water supply in the wake of climate change. These funds were requested by Mayor Kevin Hartke and the Chandler City Council.
The appropriations bill now heads to the Senate.