Hobbs Unveils Innovative Rural Initiatives in Clarkdale

On Thursday, August 8, Governor Katie Hobbs visited Clarkdale to address Local First Arizona’s annual Arizona Rural Policy Forum. The gathering took place at the Clark Memorial Clubhouse and focused on state government investments in rural areas.

During her address, Hobbs announced the reactivation of the Greater Arizona Development Authority (GADA), a program responsible for providing financial assistance aimed at enhancing rural infrastructure projects. “This will provide opportunities to leverage existing funds that are essential to infrastructure,” she noted. The original GADA, operational from 1997 to 2014, facilitated $575 million directed towards public infrastructure through 84 projects throughout Arizona.

Robin Romano, chairwoman of the Arizona Finance Authority, emphasized the importance of GADA’s revival, stating, “Its mission to assist Arizona’s rural communities and tribal governments is as important today as it was in 1997.” She indicated that the board anticipates financing between $50 million and $100 million in the upcoming year.

The Arizona Finance Authority characterized GADA as a state infrastructure bank designed to aid rural and tribal communities. It utilizes its funds as collateral to help secure bonding for communities that struggle to access traditional capital markets. In a separate announcement on August 15, Yavapai College shared that Hobbs released over $400,000 in grants, aimed at offering $500 scholarships for students entering workforce programs.

Additionally, the college received a $650,000 grant intended for workforce training at a USDA-inspected meat processing facility in Camp Verde. However, this facility was subsequently removed from the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget due to last-minute amendments aimed at addressing a $1.3 billion state budget deficit.

Hobbs highlighted other funding allocations, including $9.5 million designated for the Arizona Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Operator Fire and Flood Assistance Program. This initiative supports farmers and ranchers with post-natural disaster infrastructure repairs, bolstered by an additional $3.2 million from the American Rescue Plan.

Hobbs pointed out the launch of several workforce development initiatives statewide, particularly in rural areas, which heavily rely on local community colleges. “For example, we have launched five Future48 Workforce Accelerators in partnership with rural community colleges,” she explained. The colleges involved include Mojave Community College, Arizona Western College, Central Arizona College, and Apache Junction.

Among the rural assistance programs mentioned were: a workforce scholarship program aimed at 10,000 students across ten community colleges in healthcare, education, and advanced manufacturing; $300,000 for the Gila County Summer Workforce program for forestry; the creation of a commercial driving program in Holbrook; and funding for an expanded welding program accommodating 175 students. Notably, $993 million has also been allocated for federal broadband improvements.

“We’re doing a lot to ensure access to affordable housing across the state,” Hobbs stated. She noted a historic $150 million allocation to the state’s housing trust fund, aimed at improving housing availability. Moreover, Hobbs introduced a new Arizona microbusiness loan program that offers low-interest loans up to $50,000 for companies with five or fewer employees, with the Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization set to receive $100,000 from this initiative.

A comprehensive report on the microloan program is scheduled to appear in the August 16 edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.