One city ward in Tucson is trying to distribute over a quarter million dollars to small businesses and nonprofits that may have lost funding from the Trump administration.
At their Aug. 19 meeting, the council approved member Rocque Perez’s request to spend his budget surplus on a competitive grant process and targeted investments within Ward 5, which covers the south side of Tucson.
Perez said the extra $500,000 is unspent discretionary funds, including American Rescue Plan Act dollars. Perez was appointed to fill former councilmember Richard Fimbres’ seat in May after he resigned due to health reasons.
“With the conditions that former councilmember Fimbres was under, there wasn't necessarily a lot of activity within his outputs. And so most Ward offices and the mayor's office have already kind of expended those funds, but I inherited a pretty hefty amount,” he said.
Tucson’s southside has faced historic underinvestment compared to other parts of the city, Perez said.
“That can be seen in everything from the way that Ward 5 has been impacted by, say things like PFAs or TCE water contamination, to the ways in which our federal administration has withdrawn grants that are serving the Hispanic community,” he said. “In every instance where there has been a slating of infrastructure projects, Ward 5 has been at the bottom.”
Perez said the goal of direct investment is to offset disproportionate harm on Hispanic communities amidst the Trump administration’s ongoing federal funding cuts.
“Everything from our senior meals program to the impacts to our school districts,” he said at the Aug. 19 meeting.
$75,000 is available to small businesses, and a separate $75,000 is available to community organizations. Each can receive up to $5,000 per award.
Two awards of $75,000 each are also available to neighborhood associations, community groups or HOA boards for a Safe Streets Grant, aimed at improving neighborhood traffic safety.
There is special emphasis on nonprofits serving youth, education institutions, and food security, according to a Ward 5 statement.
The remaining $290,000 is direct investment, Perez said, which included awards to the Second Sky community center, the Metropolitan Education Commission, Barrio Restoration, education foundations, and various city departments.
Grant applications are due by October 1 and interested groups can apply on the Groundswell Capital website.
