ICYMI: Ciscomani Secures $4.6 Million for Cochise County
COCHISE COUNTY, AZ – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, secured $4.6 million for Cochise County in this year’s FY24 appropriations package.
“During the appropriations process, it was crucial for me to prioritize funding for projects of all sizes, in all corners of our district,” said Ciscomani. “I am confident that this money – nearly $5 million – will have a long-lasting impact on the community and benefit Cochise County residents, visitors, and businesses for years to come.”
Left: Ciscomani visits Buffalo Soldier Trail project site in Sierra Vista. Right: Ciscomani tours Northern Cochise Community Hospital in Willcox.
The funding will benefit two projects in the county. In Willcox, the Northern Cochise Community Hospital will receive $859,000 for structural upgrades to the main entry and emergency department. Upgrades include construction on current awnings over the entrance, which are approximately 50 years old and do not accommodate current ambulance or vehicle sizes. This often results in vehicle collisions with overhead canopies.
The City of Sierra Vista will receive $3.79 million for the Buffalo Soldier Trail Reconstruction Project. This money will allow for the city to replace and repave portions of the road, which has not been repaired in 20 years. The Buffalo Soldier Trail hosts thousands of vehicles per day, linking highway traffic to the City of Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca Army Installation.
Both receiving organizations have expressed their appreciation to Congressman Ciscomani for securing these funds.
“When Congressman Ciscomani visited Northern Cochise Community Hospital, he saw the critical need for the hospital infrastructure project that was funded,” said Mo Sheldon, CEO of the Northern Cochise Community Hospital. “This funding will modernize our main entry areas, providing easier access for ambulances to reach the Emergency Department without risk of collision to infrastructure designed for much smaller emergency vehicles. We are very thankful to Representative Ciscomani and his office for spearheading this effort and to Senators Kelly and Sinema for their continued support and commitment.”
“The City of Sierra Vista is so grateful for this funding because this is equivalent to four years of our entire annual street maintenance,” said Sierra Vista Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Umphrey at a press conference celebrating the funds. “If we were to try to fund this project solely on our own, it would take us cutting some vital services from our budget. On behalf of the city, we appreciate the bipartisan work that Congressman Ciscomani and his colleagues did to make sure that our project, the Buffalo Soldier Trail, got into the package for funding. It not only serves the City of Sierra Vista, but it serves our nation. There are over 10,000 vehicles a day that use this road, getting to and from Fort Huachuca and leaving Sierra Vista. Without this funding, it would continue to deteriorate, and we wouldn’t be able to do maintenance.”
In total, Ciscomani secured $26 million for 13 projects in every county of Arizona’s 6th Congressional District. He is the only member of the Arizona delegation to sit on the House Appropriations Committee.