Prescott Valley Withdraws from County CDBG, Impacting Funding Allocation

The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors has unanimously decided to allocate $400,000 from the Yavapai County Housing Repair Program Community Development Block Grant to the Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity. One supervisor was absent during the vote.

Earlier, the Board approved $1.3 million in CDBG funds during a meeting on January 8.

Prescott Valley has opted out of the county’s funding formula, as explained by Mark Rason, assistant director of development services.

Recently, Prescott Valley’s population decline—down to 51,000 residents—has affected the funding calculations for Yavapai County.

Every four years, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allocates CDBG funding, which is managed locally by the Northern Arizona Government Council. Supervisor Nikki Check represents the county in these matters.

The initial funding request included $400,000 for the Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity, an equal amount for Prescott Valley Meals on Wheels, and $500,000 for a cleanup project in Seligman and Ash Fork by Yavapai County Development Services.

Initial suggestions from county staff aimed to distribute a $266,080 funding cut among VVHFH, Prescott Food Bank, and Yavapai County Development Services, with each receiving $347,549. However, after a motion by Check, the final allocation was set at $400,000 for VVHFH, $271,323.50 for Prescott Valley Food Bank, and $371,323.50 for Development Services.

Now, Prescott Valley can apply directly for CDBG funding annually as a qualified community, which could help address the financial gap up until 2029.

Check mentioned that this new arrangement seems like a fairer distribution, benefitting the entire county through VVHFH’s services.

For more details on the Critical Home Repair Program, reach out to VVHFH at (928) 852-7661.