Arizona Utilities Offer Grant Funding to Coal Plant Communities to Support Economic Development, Infrastructure and Planning Efforts

Five organizations serving Arizona communities impacted by the transition away from coal-fired power plants will receive grant funds to support their local economies from the Utility Grant Funding Program.

The program is jointly funded by Arizona Public Service (APS), Salt River Project (SRP) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and provides critical support to develop new, sustainable economic strategies for residents and other organizations in affected communities.

The following recipients were recently selected for the eighth and ninth rounds of grants, which mark the final rounds of this program:

• Apache County Emergency Management received a $25,000 grant to hire a grant writer who will help the agency pursue federal, state and private grant funding opportunities on behalf of Apache County.
• Joseph City Unified School District received a $10,000 grant to support grant writing initiatives.
• The Alliance for Navajo Broadband received $25,000 to hire a grant writer who will help the organization enhance workforce development opportunities.
• The St. Johns Unified School District and City of St. Johns received a $25,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study, survey and matching funds to support a Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) grant that will replace existing grass with synthetic grass to reduce water consumption.
• The St. Johns regional Chamber of Commerce received a $25,000 grant to support future grant application processes that support businesses, drive tourism and develop infrastructure to support electric vehicles.

SRP has pledged to continue providing monetary support to enable community-wide improvement projects, similar to the broadband expansion effort in Apache County, which began in 2022 and was designed to connect 11,000 residents and more than 4,000 homes across the county.

“Communities across Northeastern Arizona have embraced opportunities to develop new strategies for long-term economic success. SRP is proud to help support that effort,” said Buchanan Davis, Director of Local Government Affairs at SRP. “We’re going to continue to offer support for years to come, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for these evolving communities.”

APS, SRP and TEP pledged a combined $1 million to the Utility Grant Funding Program, which was launched in 2023. APS and TEP funds for the Utility Grant Funding program did not come from customer rates. 

"It has been a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow with our local community partners on this project for the last several years," said Wendy Erica Werden, Manager of Community Investment at TEP. "With electric utilities providing funding for projects that allow economic and community development to flourish, our collaborations will make a positive impact today and into the future."

Over the course of nine grant award cycles, tribal, state, and local governments, public schools, economic development groups and nonprofit groups within 75 miles of a closing or closed coal plant were encouraged to apply for funding to bolster economic development in their communities.

“Meaningful progress happens when we work hand in hand with the communities we serve,” said Tina Marie Tentori, APS Director of Community Affairs. “We are proud to collaborate with our utility partners and local organizations to help build a resilient economic future for the region. As Arizona’s energy landscape evolves, we remain committed to supporting the communities that have powered our state for generations.”

Some past recipients of the Utility Grant Funding Program include the Town of Eagar, the Town of Springerville, The City of Show Low, Round Valley School District, The Chilchinbeto Chapter of the Navajo Nation, the City of St. Johns, the City of Holbrook, the Joseph City Foundation and the Apache County Superintendent of Schools.

About APS
APS serves 1.4 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties and is a leader in safely delivering reliable, affordable electricity in the Southwest. APS maintains a diverse range of energy resources, including nuclear from the Palo Verde Generating Station, natural gas, coal, solar, wind and energy storage – a mix that’s about 58% clean. With 140 years of experience serving Arizona, APS is the main subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW).

About TEP
TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to about 457,000 customers in Southern Arizona. For more information, visit tep.com. TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For more information visit fortisinc.com.