20 Projects, $15 Million: Adelita Grijalva's Federal Funding Push for Southern Arizona

Southern Arizona could be in line for a significant infusion of federal dollars, thanks to a sweeping set of funding requests championed by Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ).

The freshman congresswoman announced Wednesday that 20 community project funding requests she submitted on behalf of her district have been included in the House Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bills, adding up to just over $15 million in proposed investments.

The money still needs to clear both chambers of Congress and be signed into law before any of it reaches the ground.

One project, the Copper Queen Library in Bisbee, did not make the final cut after controversy struck Grijalva's fight for the library.

"These investments span city centers, rural communities, and Tribal Nations throughout Southern Arizona," Grijalva said. "Every one of these projects reflects priorities identified by local communities and will deliver real benefits for Southern Arizona families."

Spread Across a Region

The projects touch nearly every corner of the district. In Pima County alone, the list includes street safety improvements along South 12th Avenue in Tucson, two separate affordable housing developments, facility upgrades at Pima Community College, an overhaul of a dangerous intersection at Benson Highway and Columbus Boulevard, and a water system replacement at Tucson Mountain Park.

Marana Health is also in line for funding to add 3D mammography units, potentially expanding cancer screening access to thousands of additional patients annually.

Further out, Santa Cruz County would see a new roundabout in Rio Rico, while Cochise County projects include water system upgrades at the Douglas Port of Entry and expanded diabetes care services through Chiricahua Community Health Centers.

In Yuma County, the dollars would go toward downtown revitalization in San Luis, workforce training expansion at Arizona Western College, flood-prone road reconstruction in Somerton, and a new multi-use pathway along a local canal corridor.

Tribal communities also feature prominently in the package. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe would receive funding for a second phase of an early childhood learning center, while the Tohono O'odham Nation would receive equipment for a western police and fire substation.

Grijalva emphasized the breadth of the package as intentional. "From improving public safety and infrastructure to expanding access to health care, housing, education, and economic opportunity," she said, the goal was to make sure no part of the district was left out.