Huachuca City holds public hearing on anticipated $516,000 CDBG award; council to compile candidate projects

Huachuca City held a public hearing March 21 to collect resident input on how to use an expected FY2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation. SEAGO representative William Osborne told the council the town is expected to receive "approximately $516,000 in FY2026 of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds" and reviewed eligible uses that include water and wastewater work, community facilities, housing rehabilitation and certain public services.

Osborne outlined program constraints and options: regional‑account awards cycle on a multi‑year rotation and provide a non‑competitive pool to participating rural jurisdictions; Colonias set‑aside and State Special Projects (SSP) funds are competitive and typically require shovel‑ready or design‑complete proposals. Mayor Johann R. Wallace said the town will document all project ideas from the hearing so they can be considered for the required resolution and application.

Residents and councilmembers offered multiple candidate projects, including modernization of the Activity Center (kitchen and ADA improvements), water‑system assessments and smart meter replacement, park revitalization and goat‑head weed abatement, a pedestrian path connecting upper and lower Huachuca City, after‑school and library programs, and options for housing and property abatement. SEAGO staff advised that SSP grants can be used to fund planning and engineering to make projects competitive for later implementation funding. The public hearing was closed and the council adjourned; SEAGO will provide meeting minutes and the town manager will work with staff to assemble a formal project list.