Saturday, May 10, 2025
5/10/2025
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - Website: www.surpriseaz.gov Surprise was just one square mile of farmland when it was founded in 1938 by Flora Mae Statler. According to Statler’s daughter, her mother once commented “she would be surprised if the town ever amounted to much.†Today the City of Surprise has a population of over 150k residents with a growing regional population and a need for expanded community services and amenities. The original one square mile of farmlands still exists and is called “The Original Townsiteâ€. Within the site is a City-owned parcel which includes the following amenities and community assets: Villanueva Recreation Center, Gaines Park & Ballfield, Hollyhock Pool, Hollyhock Library, Maricopa County Housing Authority-Surprise Family Housing Development, and the Surprise Affordable Senior Housing Development. Surrounding the parcel are residential neighborhoods. The City of Surprise is constructing the Northwest Valley Multigenerational Community Resource Center, intended to benefit many vulnerable groups in our community including youth, adults, seniors, adults with disabilities, and families struggling with poverty, mental health, and homelessness. This center is a long-term investment in our community, generating economic resiliency and contributing to the overall well-being of those it will serve. Thanks to federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, Maricopa County and the City of Surprise have collaborated to invest $27M into this approximately 36k sq. ft. facility. The need for local community and support services is high and continued regional population growth is expected. Surprise is currently turning away programs and partner agencies due to lack of space. The center will improve resources by centralizing and expanding programs and services from several aging city buildings: The Sur prise Resource Center is a comprehensive hub for veterans, individuals with disabilities, and social services. By establishing collaborative relationships with an expanding network of community organizations and government bodies, the Center provides community members access to a wide range of services, including rent and utility aid, employment assistance, as well as food and nutrition support. Currently, people from over 20 cities have received services from the Surprise Resource Center. The Hollyhock Library is a small library located in the Original Townsite. The library is a resource for books, movies, crafts, and some school services including tutoring and homework assistance. This 1,000 sq. ft. building serves visitors from over 61 different area codes. The Surprise Senior Center is the hub of activities for citizens aged 50+ as well as disabled adults. The center offers a hot lunch program, a fitness room, and a plethora of activities and programs. Seniors from 15 cities are active members of the Surprise Senior Center. The Northwest Valley Multigenerational Community Resource Center will expand existing programs and implement new programs. Additionally, the center will serve the rapidly-growing Northwest region by expanding Surprise and Maricopa County Human Services co-funded partnerships which include the Surprise/El Mirage Community Action Program (CAP) office, an Arizona@Work Maricopa County Workforce Development Coordinator, and the Northwest Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program (I-HELP). This center–and by extension, its campus–will be the perfect complement to the investment and growth already existing in Surprise’s historic Original Town Site. The center will be built on shovel-ready, city-owned land in a low-income neighborhood, located in a qualified census tract, and is expected to be completed by early 2026. Surprise looks forward to opening this multigenerational community resource center to serve our community in new and expanded wa ys.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).