Arizona Utilities Offer Grants to Support Economic Development, Operations and Training in Coal Plant Communities

PHOENIX – Seven organizations serving Arizona communities impacted by the transition away from coal-fired power plants were selected to receive over $155,100 in economic development grants from the Utilities’ Grant Funding Program.

The program provides critical support to develop new, sustainable economic strategies for their residents and other stakeholders in impacted communities. Funding is provided by Arizona Public Service (APS), Salt River Project (SRP) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP). The following organizations were recently selected as grant recipients:

Pioneer Irrigation Company will receive a $12,000 grant to help cover the costs to support the application writing fee for the Arizona Water Infrastructure and Finance Authority's Water Conservation Grant Fund application.

The Chilchinbeto Chapter of the Navajo Nation will receive $18,100 to conduct a water study on a new purification plant that removes 98% of contaminants. The study will determine water chemistry, formation, perforation, pump size, recharge rate, and other capabilities.

The Town of Eagar will receive $25,000 for a grant writer to submit infrastructure and development applications.

The City of St. Johns will receive funds to update the city’s general plan to further economic development. The $25,000 grant will be used to hire a consultant.

The Apache County Superintendent of Schools will receive funds to help expand broadband throughout its county. The $25,000 grant will retain Community Broadband Advocates consulting services to help navigate Arizona’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant.

Navajo County will also receive a $25,000 grant to help hire a consultant to help with BEAD grant opportunities to ensure access to high-speed internet for all residents and businesses.

The City of Holbrook will receive a $25,000 grant for future economic opportunities. The funds will be used to hire a consulting firm to update Holbrook’s general plan.

APS, TEP and SRP pledged a combined $1 million in awards available through the Utilities’ Grant Funding Program. Area-specific tribal, state, and local governments, public schools, economic development groups and nonprofit groups are eligible to apply. More details about submission eligibility and requirements are available here.

This was the program’s third round of grant awards made since the program was launched in 2023.

The fourth grant application cycle is now open. Applications are due by April 15, 2024.

APS and TEP funds for the Utilities Grants Funding program do not come from customer rates.

About APS

APS serves approximately 1.4 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties, and is a leader in delivering affordable, clean and reliable energy in the Southwest. The company is committed to serving customers with 100% clean power by 2050. As owner and operator of Palo Verde Generating Station, the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free electricity, and with one of the country’s most substantial renewable energy portfolios, APS’s current energy mix is 51% clean. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW).     

About SRP

SRP is a community-based, not-for-profit public power utility and the largest electricity provider in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, serving approximately 1.1 million customers. SRP provides water to about half of the Valley’s residents, delivering more than 244 billion gallons of water (750,000 acre-feet) each year, and manages a 13,000-square-mile watershed that includes an extensive system of reservoirs, wells, canals and irrigation laterals.

About TEP

TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to more than 447,000 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.