Big bucks are coming to Maricopa County, aimed at sprucing up neighborhoods and delivering a new lease on life for thousands of residents. In a recent move, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors opened their wallet, dishing out more than $1.8 million in Community Development Block Grants for the cities of El Mirage, Gila Bend, and Guadalupe. It's a game-changer for infrastructure and safety, with over 2,000 locals slated to reap the benefits.
Maricopa County's Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Sellers tipped his hat to the initiative, saying, "These grants will create a safer and healthier environment for our neighbors in these communities that have the greatest need," in a statement on the county's official site. With a keen eye on uplifting the community's living standards, the grants are a nod from the council to the pressing needs of its people.
Dishing out the funds in detail, El Mirage is set to bolster its sewer game with $820,000, flushing out old problems with 1,700 feet of new service lines. Gila Bend's getting a grip on hydration and health, as $497,000 goes into swapping 1,635 feet of antiquated waterline for some fresh PVC piping. Meanwhile, the Town of Guadalupe banks on being brighter and safer as it switches on $493,600 to replace 41 old lamps with 48 new, nifty lighting poles—thwarting shadows with an added sparkle on 10,505 feet of roadway.
The dough is doled out courtesy of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant program, as the Maricopa County Human Services Department manages the cash flow. With these funds, the county aims to solder the gaps in service and polish up the quality of life, especially for their rural folks. Supervisor Steve Gallardo put it succinctly: "This funding will play an important role in improving Gila Bend’s water quality and prioritizing community safety and security in Guadalupe, among other things," as cited on the county's announcement.
