 Sept. 28, 2026
 Building a more wildfire-ready Pima County
Pima County has completed the first year of its Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP), making measurable progress toward a safer, more wildfire-resilient region. The WMP was developed around three focus areas: prevention and public education, mitigation, and emergency preparedness and response. The plan has strengthened coordination among County departments, fire agencies, land managers and community partners. By the end of FY26, 89% of the WMP’s initial tasks had been advanced.
Community education was a major focus: 91 Firewise-related presentations reached more than 1,700 participants, while digital wildfire messaging extended to approximately 940,000 people. MyAlerts emergency notification registrations grew to 45,116 users and the new Wildfire-Ready webpage provided residents with a centralized source for preparedness information.
Health sets new record for cooling center visits
The Pima County Health Department’s Office of Heat Response and Relief (OHRR) works to prevent heat-related illness and death across the County. A major focus of the 2026 heat season has been expanding access to cooling and respite services, particularly for the most vulnerable residents in the community. As the leaders of the Pima County Heat Relief Network, OHRR supports cooling centers through supply distribution, resource coordination, situational briefings, and technical assistance.
For the first time, OHRR provided direct financial support for cooling center operations, allocating a total of $99,000 to the Salvation Army and the Ward 6 Chill Space. The Heat Relief Network also expanded from 36 locations in 2025 to 48 in 2026. In addition, OHRR conducted preseason canvassing to promote new locations and encourage community use of cooling centers throughout the summer.
The combination of these efforts are already showing promising results. OHRR started tracking cooling center visitations in 2024, with 14,926 total visitors reported by members of the heat relief network. In 2025, this more than doubled to 35,106 visitors. As of Sept. 1, heat relief partners have reported more than 86,942 visitors in 2026. This new record will continue to grow through the remainder of the heat season, which is expected to last until October 2026.
This sharp increase highlights both the growing demand for cooling resources and the importance of continued investment in heat relief and mitigation programs. As record-breaking temperatures continue to hit Pima County, it becomes more imperative to provide safe and accessible spaces to our community during times of extreme heat.
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On target for clean energy
Renewable energy has a lot of upsides and very few downsides, and that matters when you’re working in local government and are tasked with delivering practical solutions.
Guiding principles for the Pima County Facilities Management team are cost savings, emissions reductions, and stacking every additional benefit possible. Facilities Management takes care of County buildings, keeps track of what's happening across all sites, and looks for priority opportunities that make the most of limited capital funds.
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Shaping the future of transportation in Pima County
Thank you to the thousands of people who provided comments for MOVING PIMA, Pima County's first Transportation Master Plan. We appreciate and value that you shared your transportation needs, concerns, and priorities, helping to shape a long-term vision for the County’s transportation system.
Although the first phase of public outreach has concluded, the planning process continues. Please sign up for project updates and watch for the release of the draft Transportation Master Plan later this year.
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The Pima County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan revision kicks off
Did you know that Pima County has eight identified natural hazards that affect the community, and agencies from across the County engage in mitigation efforts to reduce those risks? It takes a whole community to strive towards resiliency; one way is through natural hazard mitigation planning. Approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and then adopted by local governing bodies, to include special taxing districts, the Pima County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) not only helps our County identify natural hazards and develop mitigation strategies, but it has also opened funding opportunities to help achieve mitigation efforts. Pima County continues to have a solid and robust multi-jurisdictional plan. Last approved by FEMA in November 2022, the Pima County MJHMP follows a five-year planning cycle and is ready for revision.
To continue seamless efforts and meet cycle requirements, the Pima County Office of Emergency Management, in coordination with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs Mitigation branch, hosted a kick-off meeting on Aug. 26 to mark the beginning of the plan revision process. A diverse array of partners, including state agencies, county departments, municipalities, tribal representatives, school and fire districts, academia, subject matter experts, and non-governmental organizations, met at the Pima Emergency Communications and Operations Center to learn about the upcoming plan revision process and mitigation updates. Community partners will work through the revision process through the spring of 2027.
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Monsoon rains nourish KERP, County’s ‘urban oasis’
The late summer rains provided some extra sparkle for one of Pima County's most overlooked gems.
After the recent storms, the Kino Environmental Restoration Project (KERP) basin is full to the brim, providing a scenic view for visitors as well as cost savings for the County and environmental benefits for the community.
Sometimes known as Pima County's "urban oasis," KERP sits northwest of Ajo Way and Country Club Road, adjacent to the County’s massive sports complex. It covers 121 acres, including native vegetation, flood control structures, and a 50-foot-deep pond that serves to collect stormwater for irrigation.
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Celebration of County's landmark conservation plan's 25th anniversary continues
Did you know that 2026 marks a quarter-century since the birth of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan? Pima County’s award-winning plan balances protection of the County’s important cultural and natural resources with the need for responsible development. This year, the County is honoring the anniversary of the plan with guided hikes, history tours, wildlife watching, volunteer stewardship, and other community events.
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Governor's Office offers programs to help save energy, reduce emissions
The Arizona Governor’s Office of Resiliency has programs to help Arizona residents and businesses conserve energy, save money, and reduce emissions.
Efficiency Arizona is a point-of-purchase rebate program for income-eligible Arizona households with the goal of improving energy efficiency, home comfort, and long-term savings on energy bills.
A single eligible household may receive up to a total of $14,000 in rebate dollars through their Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program (HEAR).
Rebates are available for:
- Electric heat pump: up to $8,000
- Electric heat pump water heater: up to $1,750
- Electric heat pump clothes dryer: up to $840
- Electric stove/cooktop/range/oven: up to $840
- Insulation, air sealing, ventilation: up to $1,600
- Electrical panel upgrade installation: up to $4,000
The Arizona Clean Energy Hub is a one-stop shop that connects households, businesses, schools, nonprofits, and governments with rebates and tax credits available for energy-saving building upgrades, renewable energy, and electric vehicles.
In the “Household” category, a homeowner could get:
- 30% off a rooftop solar installation
- $2,000 off an energy-efficient heat pump
- $1,000 off the installation of an EV charger
Incentives are also available to renters and landlords of multifamily buildings. An Incentive Calculator links participants to tax credits, incentives and rebates available locally.
The “Businesses” and “Local Governments, Nonprofits…” categories provide lists of available incentives to generate renewable energy, efficiency upgrades, purchase of electric vehicles (EV), installing EV charging equipment, and clean manufacturing.
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