SAFFORD — On Monday the Graham County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an agreement with the Arizona Department of Housing to use Community Development Block Grant funds to make improvements to the Fairgrounds.
“This is exciting that we’ve received this money, because we do have a lot of big changes coming at the Fairgrounds. So this just falls in and helps us fund that,” said Supervisor Clay Mack.
The county will receive $291,022 and plans to use the money to construct about 2,500 feet of new, 5-foot sidewalks with disability access throughout the grounds. The county will also use of the funds to develop parking spaces for those with physical disabilities.
Under the contract with the Department of Housing, engineering and design has to be finalized no later than August and the project go out to bid no later than November. Everything must be complete by July 15, 2027.
Community Development Block Grants are funded by the federal Housing and Urban Development Department to the states, which passes the money to the counties.
The county is also waiting to hear if the Senate has voted in favor of a House Appropriations bill that includes $1.2 million inserted by U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., for Graham County to upgrade the irrigation system at the Fairgrounds.
The Appropriations bill passed the House in January.
