WASHINGTON, D.C.—All 12 of Rep. Greg Stanton’s Community Project Funding requests, totaling $11.9 million, were included in the minibus appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2024 that passed the House of Representatives.
“Each of these projects came directly from the community, and will improve the quality of life for Arizonans by investing in water infrastructure, building affordable housing, supporting public safety and strengthening our local economy,” Stanton said.
A full list of projects Stanton secured funding for is below.
Tempe
$1,890,000 for the City of Tempe’s Kyrene Recharge Well, and $959,752 for the Recharge Wells Pipelines. These funds build on $3.45 million Rep. Stanton has previously secured expand and improve the Kyrene Water Reclamation Facility and ground water recharge facilities. Once complete, the project will allow the city to store its reclaimed water for future recovery and improve its drought resiliency.
$1,666,279 for North Tempe to add an additional 100 units of affordable housing. These funds will be used to provide multi-family affordable housing for families, seniors, veterans and those with disabilities. The City of Tempe has committed to maintaining 49.3% of its housing inventory as affordable. Currently this supply is 26% and well below community demand.
“Like all fast-growing cities, Tempe faces increased demands for critical services like infrastructure maintenance, water delivery and the creation of affordable housing. These challenges can only be solved through strong partnerships between all levels of government, and we are glad to see Congress recognizes the role the federal government can play in helping meet local needs. I would like to thank Congressman Stanton for securing crucial funding for our recharge well and affordable housing construction in North Tempe. These worthy projects will help us to meet our sustainable growth goals into the future,” said Tempe Mayor Corey Woods.
Mesa
$959,752 for the City of Mesa to make water main improvements, and $800,000 for Mesa to install Smart Meters. These funds would allow the city to purchase equipment to inspect and repair its water transmission mains to maximize the efficiency of the distribution system to reduce water loss, and fund the purchase and installation of 12,000 smart meters in several vulnerable communities to promote water conservation and sustainability. As conditions on the Colorado River become more serious, it is important that the City and customers have greater stewardship over their water consumption and intuitive information to make water efficient choices at homes and businesses.
"We appreciate Representative Stanton’s support for funding of these important projects to help Mesa manage water demand. Utilizing the latest in water infrastructure technology, the Smart Metering program gives utility customers greater stewardship over their water use, quickly identifies high usage, and helps families and businesses save money. The Water Main Improvements program replaces aging pipes to increase reliability and minimize water loss in our distribution system. These infrastructure projects are critical to maximize operational efficiency as we plan for a future with less Colorado River water,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles.
Phoenix
$959,752 for the City of Phoenix’s Water Service Lines. These funds would help the city identify lead and galvanized lines in the water system for replacement to comply with the Lead and Copper Rule Revision.
$1,000,000 for the City of Phoenix to help construct the new Fire Station 74 in Ahwatukee to meet the rapidly growing demand for fire and emergency response in the community. Due to the increased demand and population growth, the fire department emergency response times currently exceed the National Fire Protection Association response standards in this area.
“I am grateful to Congressman Stanton for his efforts to secure much-needed funding for major Phoenix projects that will benefit our city for decades to come,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “The Ahwatukee community has long-awaited a new fire station, and thanks to additional support from Congress, we’ll be able to provide excellent emergency services to keep our growing community safe. We will also use newly allocated funding to conduct an important assessment of Phoenix water pipes to address public health concerns, prevent wasteful water leaks, and continue delivering clean water to our residents. I’m grateful to have an advocate in Congressman Stanton who intimately understands our city’s needs and works tirelessly to meet them in Washington.”
Chandler
$1,000,000 for the City of Chandler’s Micro Flex transit service. These funds would be used to expand the city’s microtransit service that provides an on-demand public transportation option for residents. With this assistance, the city will be able to operate in more areas and increase the hours of operation.
“I am happy to see that bi-partisan negotiations to fund our government continue to progress and that the City of Chandler has secured funding to expand and improve our micro-transit service. The $1 million appropriated to the City of Chandler for our city’s on-demand, public transportation service, Chandler Flex, will allow us to integrate autonomous vehicles into the service fleet. Additionally, the funding will help in our efforts to streamline and simplify the process of travel planning and purchasing for our riders and ensure that Chandler Flex functions as part of a truly unified transit network. Since launch, Chandler Flex has completed 25,000 rides, with 42% of monthly riders traveling to and from schools. We look forward to being able to expand this service and provide even more affordable transit options for our residents. I want to thank Congressman Stanton for his support in obtaining these transit dollars that will greatly benefit our community,” said Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke.
Arizona
$100,000 to advance Stanton’s signature Arizona-centered environmental infrastructure authority. These funds will be used to provide grants to communities and tribal nations across to address their water infrastructure needs. Since authorization of the authority in 2020, nearly $33 million in federal funds have been delivered to 20 water projects across Arizona.
$1,382,000 for Valley Metro to purchase accessible micro transit vehicles to serve areas not served or are underserved by traditional transit options, and $500,000 to purchase five electric busses, as well as the associated infrastructure to help transition to a zero-emission bus fleet—helping improve the region’s air quality.
“We thank Congressman Stanton and our federal partners for advancing funding that will support how the fastest growing county travels into the future,” said Valley Metro CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller. “We want to give our residents mobility choice and a healthy quality of life, and these dollars are crucial to doing so.”
$700,000 for Junior Achievement of Arizona to help renovate their BizTown Facility, allowing for the continued delivery of career and financial literacy education to low-income elementary and middle school students.
"We are grateful to Congressman Stanton for the investment in this capital initiative. Thanks to this award, Junior Achievement of Arizona will be able to renovate our JA BizTown facility where 25,000 students annually learn critical work readiness and financial literacy skills," said Katherine Cecala, president of Junior Achievement of Arizona. "It's this type of investment that allows us to stay on top of what matters most - preparing today's generation for future success in work and life."