SAFFORD — Fourteen organizations are asking for $227,293 in financial help from the City of Safford
The city has budgeted $100,000 for grant distribution this year, and the Safford City Council will hold a work session Monday to decide who get money and who gets left out.
Six organizations have requested $20,000 each, the maximum allowed under the grant program:
- Desert Cat Rescue and Sanctuary for the spay and neuter voucher program
- Easter Seals Blake Foundation for facility improvements
- First United Methodist Church for a transport vehicle for Sidewalk Sunday School
- Graham County Citizens Alliance for its program of placing holiday wreaths on veterans’ graves, a memorial park, transitory veterans housing and a veterans’ rehabilitation center
- Mt. Graham Safe House for operational expenses
- St. Vincent de Paul for operational expenses and to pay fees at the landfill
Of those six, only Safe House was funded last year, at $10,000.
Boys and Girls Club of the Gila Valley is asking for $16,380 to upgrade its kitchen facilities, Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry has requested $15,350 for operational expenses and to pay fees at the landfill, and Safford Downtown Association is seeking $15,000 for its façade grant program. All three received funding last year — $20,000 to Boys and Girls Club, $10,000 to the Downtown Association and $2,000 to Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry.
Two groups are seeking $10,000 each — Desert Seed Resource Center for operational expenses and air separator, and Eastern Arizona Hispanic Heritage Corporation for scholarships and event costs. Hispanic Heritage received $3,000 last year.
Gila Valley Samaritan Home has requested $9,863 for pantry expansion, Wi-Fi and liability insurance; Gila Valley Arts Council is seeking $7,000 to house performers; SEACUS is asking for $6,800 for operational expenses; and the Safford Bulldog Booster Club requested $6,000 for a commercial washer and dryer. Only Samaritan Home did not receive funding the previous year; SEACUS received $10,000, the Arts Council $4,745 and the Booster Club $5,000.
Gila Valley Balloons is asking for $5,000 for its Balloon Extravaganza event, Safford Lions Foundation is seeking $3,400 for American Flags on Highway 70 and Main Street, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters requested $2,500 for operational expenses. Last year, Gila Valley Balloons received $3,600.
All of the groups meet the requirements of being nonprofit organizations registered with the state, and serving Safford residents; however, both Gila Valley Balloons and First United Methodist Church are listed as inactive on the Arizona Corporation Commission website as of Sept. 18.
The City Council will meet Monday at 6 p.m. in the Safford Library’s programming room.
