Huachuca City hears how $516,000 in CDBG funds could be used for water, parks and community buildings

Huachuca City officials and residents met March 21 for a public hearing on potential uses for an expected FY2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) regional award. William Osborne, speaking for SEAGO, told the council the town can use federal CDBG funds for public infrastructure, community facilities, housing rehabilitation and limited public services.

Osborne explained Arizona’s CDBG allocations include a regional account (approximately $515,000 for Cochise County’s share), a two‑year Colonias set‑aside and an annual state special projects (SSP) pot for planning or projects that become available. “You will only be able to select one” primary implementation project from the regional account, Osborne said, although SSP grants can fund engineering and design to make an implementation application competitive.

The SEAGO representative stressed eligibility rules: projects must principally benefit low‑ and moderate‑income residents (51% low/mod beneficiaries) or meet other national objectives such as slum/blight removal or urgent health and safety needs. He also noted Colonias applications require shovel‑ready designs, completed environmental review and an income‑qualified client list.

Mayor Johann Wallace and Town Manager Suzanne Harvey asked SEAGO to include ideas raised at the hearing in the formal project list that will be the basis for a Council resolution and subsequent application paperwork. Osborne said the hearing record will be used to compile the list and that the council need not pick a project at the meeting.