- November 3, 2023
Kelly, Sinema Deliver Over $61.7 Million For Arizona Wildfire Prevention, Military Installations Projects, Affordable Housing Development, and More in First Part of Annual Budget Bill
Senators secured major investments for local Arizona communities that strengthen flood and wildfire prevention, support military servicemembers and their families, invest in affordable housing, and more
Package includes funding for a Kelly and Sinema-backed initiative to create a service center in Gila County for veterans suffering from injuries or trauma
Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema announced major federal investments they secured across Arizona in the first part of the Fiscal Year 2024 bipartisan federal appropriations legislation. Kelly and Sinema secured $61,765,000 for key projects in every corner of the state – including funds to strengthen flood prevention, improve wildfire response, provide child care services and clean water at military installations, construct affordable housing for seniors, and more.
The package includes funding to complete a Kelly and Sinema-backed initiative to convert a former Forest Service fire station into a service center that will help veterans recover from service-related injuries and trauma.
“After hearing from Arizonans and working closely with our Democrat and Republican colleagues, we’ve secured funding that will support Arizona veterans and military families, upgrade our roads and bridges, improve wildfire response, and expand access to affordable high-speed internet,” said Kelly. “These investments will improve the lives of Arizonans in every corner of our state.”
“The investments we secured represent real solutions to real challenges communities across our state face. We’re delivering major resources to protect families from floods and fires, support recovering veterans, ensure clean water for military servicemembers and their families, and so much more. I’m proud to deliver these wins for our state,” said Sinema.
Breakdown of successful projects secured by Kelly and Sinema in the Fiscal Year 2024 bipartisan budget legislation:
| Project | Recipient | Amount | Description |
| Pleasant Valley Veterans Retreat | Gila County | $333,000 | Pleasant Valley Veterans Retreat – This project will convert a former Forest Service fire station into a service center that will help veterans recover from service-related injuries and trauma. This project is a collaborative effort between Gila County and the State of Arizona. |
| Huachuca City Fire Protection | Town of Huachuca City | $336,000 | Huachuca City Fire Protection –Huachuca City faces a risk of brush and wildfires. This project will allow Huachuca City to replace their aging fire engine and purchase a new rotary tractor/mower to replace the town’s currently inoperable mower to better prevent and respond to fires. |
| Pinetop Wildland Fire Response Station | Pinetop Fire District | $3,274,000 | Pinetop Wildland Fire Response Station – This project will construct a new wildland fire response station, which will house the district’s wildland fire response division. Pinetop Fire District serves a high-risk wildfire community, and this new facility will prevent and combat area wildfires. |
| Colorado City Flood Control Project | Town of Colorado City | $55,000 | Colorado City Flood Control Project –This project will allow Colorado City, AZ to carry out a Preliminary Investigation Feasibility Report to enable flood control and erosion prevention in the Short Creek Wash. Short Creek Wash runs through the center of Colorado City and periodically floods. |
| Gila Bend Consolidated Facility (Luke AFB) – Planning & Design | Luke Air Force Base (Gila Bend Auxiliary Airfield) | $2,200,000 | Gila Bend Consolidated Facility Planning & Design – This project will allow for the planning and design to replace the Control Tower, Fire Station, and Base Operations Complex at Gila Bend Auxiliary Airfield, to support ongoing operations at the field used by Luke Air Force Base. |
| MCAS Yuma Water Treatment Plant | Marine Corp Air Station (MCAS) Yuma | $8,900,000 | MCAS Yuma Water Treatment Plant – This project will support the construction of a new water treatment plant to serve the Marine Corps Air Station at Yuma. The current water treatment plant was built in 1947 and is in dire need of replacement to guarantee water quality for Marines and their families. |
| Luke Air Force Base Child Development Center | Luke Air Force Base | $2,700,000 | Luke Air Force Base Child Development Center – This project will construct a new facility capable of serving 250-300 children of servicemembers stationed at Luke AFB. The current Center at Luke AFB is aging and unable to serve the current needs of servicemembers and their families. |
| Guardian Angel POTFF Facility, Davis-Monthan AFB | Davis Monthan Air Force Base | $8,500,000 | Davis Monthan Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) Facility –This project will construct an Air Force Reserve POTFF facility to provide proper space for strength training, physical therapy, rehabilitation, mental health, and family counseling, all vital components of troop readiness. |
| Hotel Conversion for Senior Permanent Supportive Housing | City of Phoenix | $3,000,000 | Phoenix Senior Permanent Supportive Housing – This project will provide needed renovations to a 120-room former hotel to convert it to Permanent Supportive Housing for seniors experiencing homelessness. |
| Oro Valley Honeybee Wash Bridge Deck Repairs | Town of Oro Valley | $685,000 | Honeybee Wash Bridge Deck Repairs – This project will repair bridge deck delamination and cracking on several bridges within the town’s roadway network. |
| Buffalo Soldier Trail Reconstruction Phase I | City of Sierra Vista | $3,200,000 | Sierra Vista Road Reconstruction – This project will allow for the Design and Reconstruction of Buffalo Soldier Trail which carries approximately 20,000 vehicles per day, operating as a bypass between SR90 and SR92 and links highway traffic to Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca Army Installation. |
| Ruby Road Bridge over the Potrero Creek and Union Pacific Railroad | Santa Cruz County | $3,600,000 | Ruby Road Bridge – This project would replace the Ruby Road Bridge over Potrero Creek and create a grade separated crossing for the Union Pacific Railroad line. This would improve safety and connectivity for this underserved community. |
| Casa Grande Ash Roundabout | City of Casa Grande | $2,500,000 | Casa Grande Fire Station – This project will demolish and mediate an asbestos-filled site for the creation of a new Headquarters Fire Station for the growing city of Casa Grande. |
| Town of Eagar Fiber Expansion Project | Town of Eagar | $1,500,000 | Eagar Broadband Expansion – This project will expand on a new broadband fiber project to get high-speed internet connections to more town residents. |
| Land Acquisition Initiative for Prescott Airport Protection | City of Prescott | $3,000,000 | Prescott Airport Protection – This project will allow for an enhanced safety zone for incoming and departing planes, and would allow for future runway expansion, supporting future growth for the City of Prescott. |
| South 10th Avenue Affordable and Mixed-Income Housing Development – Pre-Development Infrastructure | City of Tucson Housing & Community Development | $4,000,000 | City of Tucson Affordable Housing Development – This project will upgrade a city-owned 12-acre site with the infrastructure necessary to support new development. Preparing the site will allow the city to move forward with an affordable and mixed-income housing project. |
| Innovation 27 Workforce and Education Collaborative | City of Phoenix | $2,000,000 | Innovation 27 Workforce and Education Collaborative – This project will convert a long-closed retail facility into an innovation and education center that will partner with higher education institutions to provide career training programs to high school and adult learners. |
| Valley Metro Electric Accessible Microtransit Vehicles | Valley Metro | $1,382,000 | Valley Metro Electric Accessible Vehicles – This project will allow for the purchase of seven electric accessible small vehicles and related infrastructure connectors to provide more flexible transit options. |
| Tolleson I–10 Frontage Road | City of Tolleson | $3,600,000 | Tolleson I-10 Frontage Road – This project is to address traffic congestion and safety concerns in the area of 91st Avenue and I-10. Currently, there is not a connection between 99th Ave and 91st Ave at I-10. |
| Center of Excellence for Health Sciences Workforce Incubator | Pima Community College | $2,500,000 | PCC Center of Excellence for Health Sciences Workforce Incubator – This project will address a critical nursing and healthcare workforce crisis in Arizona. The project funds construction infrastructure and the purchase of training equipment and specialized medically related furniture needed for the center. |
| CASS Senior Haven- Emergency Housing for Senior Citizens | Central Arizona Shelter Services | $1,500,000 | CASS Senior Haven – Opening July 2023, The Haven will provide emergency housing for senior citizens in a non-congregate hotel setting with a bed capacity of 170. |
| Baffert Mountain Point Development | Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc | $3,000,000 | Baffert Mountain Point Development – This project will support the development of a senior independent living facility. |
| TOTAL: | $61,765,000 | ||
