July 2025 - Lee en español

Closer to our Community

Supervisor Allen and Chief of Staff CJ Boyd during office hours in Sahuarita.

Hello District 3!

Our mobile office hours have officially started, and we’ve been so pleased to meet with constituents all across our district. On Saturday, June 14, we started in Ajo. Then, on July 8, we were in Sahuarita, and on July 9, we visited Three Points.

Save the date for upcoming office hours! This month and in August, Supervisor Allen and staff will be meeting with constituents at the following times and locations:

• Marana: Tuesday, July 22, 4-7pm at the Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr Library.
• Arivaca: Saturday, August 2, 9am-12pm at Marian's Farmer's Market.
• Ajo: Saturday, August 9, 10am-1pm at the Escape the Heat Market.
• Flowing Wells: Wednesday, August 13, 3-6pm at the Flowing Wells Library.

Please help us spread the word! Stop by, say hello, and let us know how we can support you.

Supervisor Allen on Project Blue

On June 18, I sent an email to more than 170 constituents who had reached out to our office to share their concerns about Project Blue. I'm sharing my response here as well, since this is an ongoing issue that will impact our community. For those who don’t know, Project Blue is the code name for a data center to be developed by Beale Infrastructure just east of the City of Tucson. The end user of this facility and their projected energy and water consumption are still unknown to the Board of Supervisors and the public due to the use of NDAs (non-disclosure agreements). Below are some updates on this contentious project, including what has happened over the past two weeks and what’s coming next Despite the community voicing overwhelming opposition to the proposed data centers project, on June 17 the Board of Supervisors approved the rezoning and land sale with a 3-2 vote (Supervisor Cano and I opposed it. See my arguments here). Unfortunately, that was the only opportunity for the County Board of Supervisors to say no to this project. However, following that vote, we took immediate action and added two items to the agenda for the following Board meeting:

1. Requiring environmental impact reviews of economic development projects: We directed County staff to come back in 60 days with a policy to conduct environmental impact analysis of economic development projects. As many of you know, there was extensive reporting on the economic impact of the proposed data centers, but little to no actual information on the impact of data centers on our water, air, energy, and climate. That means that all of the claims that this project would be "water positive" and "sustainable" were not coming from environmental experts; but rather, from the private developer who stands to profit from this deal.
2. Reform the use of NDAs in economic development projects: We directed County staff to also come back in 60 days with a more refined policy for use of Nondisclosure Agreements. Besides the environmental concerns, our community told us loud and clear that we should not be making a deal where so many of the relevant details were shrouded in secrecy. We want to develop a policy of using NDAs only to protect truly proprietary information, not vital details of a development that are necessary for us to know in order to judge whether it's a good fit for Pima County--details like how much water this project will use, how much energy it will use, and how many data centers are we actually looking at.

Good news! Both of items passed with a 3-1 vote at the July 1st Board meeting! Over the next two months, county staff in the Department of Environmental Quality, Wastewater, Conservation Lands & Resources, the County Attorney, and other departments will work together on improving these policies in hope that the next time a project like this comes before the Board, we will be in a better position to actually know the full picture of what we are voting on, and that information can be shared with the public. The next step for Project Blue is at the Tucson City Council. In order for the project to move forward, the area needs to be annexed into Tucson, and there are still several opportunities for public input before a decision is made. Wednesday, July 23rd, 5-7pm – Community Information Meeting at Mica Mountain High School Wednesday, August 6th, Time TBD – Tucson City Council Study Session Tuesday, August 19th, 5:30pm – Tucson City Council Meeting Again, thank you to all folks who took the time to reach out to our office about Project Blue. Please continue to let us and other elected officials know your thoughts and concerns on this and other issues.

Jennifer Allen 

Community Spotlight

At the June 25 Ajo District Chamber of Commerce meeting, 29 local small businesses were awarded a total of $43,600 in grants to help them launch or grow their ventures in Ajo. This impactful initiative was made possible through funding from Freeport McMoRan and in partnership with the International Sonoran Desert Alliance and the Ajo Chamber.

This year’s grant recipients showcase the amazing diversity and innovation in Ajo’s small business community. From culinary delights like Alexis Royall and Born Elder’s A Good Noodle and Carol Spencer Royall & Anadyr Elliott’s Ajo Eats, to unique creative ventures such as the Ajo Community Clay Studio and Nikki See’s See Ceramics, there’s something inspiring for everyone. Local favorites like Annelise Keuper’s Curley Coffee and Arlene Dreste’s Desert Haven Animal Care highlight the community spirit, while entrepreneurs like James Goodin of Free Spirit Originals and Rodney Hopkins of Dark Hollow Woodworking bring fresh ideas to the arts and crafts scene. These businesses represent just a snapshot of Ajo’s vibrant and growing entrepreneurial landscape.

Along with cash grants, recipients received scholarships to the DreamBuilder business development program, access to the Ajo business center, and paid internships to support their growth. Some of the honored businesses will also showcase their innovative ideas at Ajo’s sixth annual Moonshot Rural Pitch Competition on August 20, further highlighting the vibrant local economy.

Congratulations to this year’s awardees!

Upcoming Events

Movie Night in Ajo!  Pima County Parks and Rec invites you to dive into summer fun at Bud Walker Park on Thursday, July 18! Enjoy a movie night and swimming event, with the Ajo Pool open from 7:00 p.m. until the movie ends. It’s the perfect way to beat the heat and soak up the community vibe! More information at 520-387-6641.

A Free Outdoor Movie Series Christmas in July? Absolutely! On July 19, dress up like it’s December 25th and at 6 pm join a family-friendly screening of Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018). Where: Gladden Farms Community Park, 12205 N Tangerine Farms Rd, Marana, AZ. More information: https://www.maranaaz.gov/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Movies-in-Marana

Pima County Job Fair Pima County is partnering with employers in education and the public sector on a job fair on Thursday, July 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 pm at the Kino Event Center, 2805 E. Ajo Way. Want to work in Pima County? At this fair, there will be 14 County departments with job openings, plus 17 other agencies. If you can't make it this day, explore all Pima County job openings online or call 520-724-8028 and ask for recruitment.

Dog Days of Summer Adoption Event Join Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) on Saturday, July 12, for a tail-wagging good time at their adoption event!  Where: 4000 N Silverbell Road. Hours: 10 am - 7 pm. All dog adopters will receive a doggie life jacket and tennis balls, while all cat adopters will receive a cozy new blanket (while supplies last).

*Let us know about upcoming community events! Please e-mail us at district3@pima.gov.

Community Resources

We Want to Hear From You

Here are some opportunities to provide your input on County projects:

Around District 3

Here’s a quick overview of what we've been up to across District 3.

Pima County Northwest Service Center

Supervisor Allen was honored to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Northwest Service Center. Located at 1010 W. Miracle Mile, this amazing space brings services from the Health Department and the Community & Workforce Development Department. It also features 39,000-square-feet of offices, meeting rooms, a computer lab, a mobile food unit inspection station,
low-impact water harvesting, and convenient access to public transit and the interstate. Come visit!

Tribal Visits

Building a strong relationship with the Pascua Yaqui and Tohono O’odham Tribal Nations is a top priority for Supervisor Allen. During her campaign, she met with leadership for both tribes including all 11 of the Tohono O’odham Districts. Now she is continuing these dialogues in her role as Supervisor. During the last weeks, she met with the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council, as well as the San Xavier, Pisinemo, and San Lucy District Councils.

Jen shared with Council members her priorities and updated them on recent Board activity including the resolution to protect Ironwood Forest National Monument, the resolution in Opposition to the Militarization of the Border, as well as recent votes on affordable housing and the data center. She heard a number of concerns and staff is working with the appropriate departments to help.

Donation to Arivaca Fire Department

Rural fire districts are consistently challenged throughout Arizona. Because fire districts are funded by property tax, poorer communities are woefully under resourced. The County has a responsibility to find solutions to this disparity. 

While working with Arivaca to find a Water Truck, our office had success with obtaining a used County truck to support the work of the Arivaca Fire District. Thanks to Chris Ader at Arivaca Fire District for alerting us to this need; to Leonard Boswell, director of Fleet Services; along with staff that helped coordinate the donation, such as Peter Bowers and Leanne Hartin.

Monthly Meetings with other Elected Officials

It is important for our office to work in cooperation and coordination with other jurisdictions and elected officials whose areas overlap with District 3. To this end, Supervisor Allen meets regularly with Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Sahuarita Mayor Tom Murphy, Marana Mayor Jon Post, Ward 1 Council Member Lane Santa Cruz, and Ward 3 Council Member Kevin Dahl. These meetings are intended to share updates, understand each other’s priorities, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Visiting Pima County Departments

Constance Hargrove, Director of the Pima County Elections Department

Over the past month, our team has been wrapping up an extensive series of visits to Pima County departments and offices, totaling 43 meetings. This month we've had the privilege of meeting with the dedicated staff and leadership from several departments including Elections, Communications, the Office of Digital Inclusion, Human Resources, and Emergency Management. We also sat down with the Court Administrator, Deputy Court Administrator, and the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court to gain insight into the important work they do. One of the highlights was a tour of the Crisis Response Center (CRC), where we learned about their vital mission to support individuals in crisis and connect them with the resources they need.

Ajo Asphalt Project and Cooltainer

Using $46,000 from the Parks Renewal Fund, the Pima County Parks and Recreation Department recently completed pavement preservation (seal coating and striping) at the Bud Walker and Ajo Community Center and Aquatics parking lots. A cooltainer was also installed and has been in operation since June 1. A cooltainer is a repurposed shipping container converted to a cooling center for community members experiencing extreme heat. 

Subscribe to our Channel

Be up to date with the Board of Supervisors meeting recap. Every two weeks, Jen summarizes the most important discussion and decisions of each agenda. Follow us and subscribe here: Youtube.com/@SupervisorJenniferAllen

Meet Shadow Blue!

If those stunning blue eyes don't get you, you'll fall for his happy-go-lucky, goofy personality! Shadow Blue is a very friendly young pup who loves people and other dogs. He's eagerly looking for a family who values fun and belly rubs.

Shadow Blue is free to adopt. He is neutered, up-to-date on vaccines, and microchipped. His ID number is: A867333. Contact: Pima Animal Care Center: 520-724-5900

Serve on a Pima County Board, Commission, or Committee!

Use this QR code and fill out a brief questionnaire, and someone from our office will contact you with next steps! 

Reach Out!

We can connect you with Pima County Departments and Services, such as home repair/weatherization, rent and utility assistance, eviction prevention, transportation, land use issues, animal rescue, employment assistance, and much more.

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Email: district3@pima.gov

Call us: 520-724-8051 or 520-724-8251
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