 The City of Tucson's Council Member Rocque Perez has grant funding opportunities for small businesses, community programs, and neighborhood street safety in Ward 5.
Small Business Grants
$75,000 (Up to $5,000 per Award)
Invested by Council Member Perez and administered by Groundswell Capital to support small businesses with flexible funding for growth, stability, or recovery. Funds may be used for equipment, renovations, staffing, or operational expenses.
Community Program Grants
$75,000 (Up to $5,000 per Award)
Invested by Council Member Perez and administered by Groundswell Capital to support critical services to ward five residents. Priority areas include youth development, food security, health, education, arts and culture, housing access, and civic participation.
Safe Streets Grants
Up to $75,000 per Project (Two Award Goal)
Department of Transportation & Mobility and made possible by Prop 411 to empower city residents to improve neighborhood safety through traffic calming enhancements, including traffic circles, speed humps, chicanes, and other tools for City-owned streets.
Learn More and Apply
 Milagro on Oracle, Photo Credit: Logan Havens
The Arizona Department of Housing awarded El Pueblo Housing Development (EPHD), the City of Tucson’s non-profit development entity, the Urban Development of the Year Housing Hero Award for Milagro on Oracle. The 63-unit affordable housing complex, located in the Thrive in the 05 and the Miracle Mile National Historic District, is EPHD’s first development and the City’s first Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) project in over a decade.
Read the Press Release
MDOT Care Package Assembly
 Volunteers assembling care packages to be distributed in the community
The City of Tucson's Multidisciplinary Outreach Team (MDOT) distributes care packages year-round to some of our community’s most vulnerable neighbors, those living in mobile homes or experiencing unsheltered homelessness. These packages are often the first step in building trust and offering a pathway to housing and supportive services.
MDOT is made up of outreach workers from Old Pueblo Community Services, El Rio Health, and the City of Tucson’s Housing First Program. Together, they connect people experiencing homelessness with housing resources and essential services. The team includes a family nurse practitioner, medical assistant, and experienced outreach staff ready to meet people where they are.
Last year, thanks to volunteers and partner organizations, over 900 care kits were shared across Tucson. These kits are often the first step in building trust and connecting people with housing and support services.
Want to get involved? Join MDOT for their upcoming volunteer events to assemble care packages in the fall.
Volunteer Dates (Saturdays, from 9–11 a.m.):
- September 27
- October 18
- November 15
- December 13
City of Tucson Offers Hazardous Lead Paint Removal for Older Homes
 Do you own a home within the City of Tucson limits built before 1978? If so, your home may contain lead paint which could be dangerous to the children’s health.
Lead-based paint can be hazardous when it peels, flakes, or chips in places children frequently touch, like windows, doors, and stairs. The Lead Hazard Reduction Program, operated by the City of Tucson’s Housing and Community Development Department, can help keep young children safe by mitigating the effects of lead exposure, such as delayed development, learning problems, hearing issues, and other health concerns.
Homeowners who qualify receive free blood testing for children under 6 years of age, and free elimination of lead hazards in the home, which may include new windows and doors. While funding lasts, families may also receive other health and safety repairs, such as a roof replacement.
Read the Press Release
Free Cooling Centers Open Daily Until August 31
With triple-digit temps, don’t underestimate the desert heat! The City of Tucson is opening six cooling centers daily (including holidays), from noon - 4 p.m. until Sunday, August 31, to help vulnerable Tucsonans stay safe during the hottest hours of the day.
All cooling centers are along via Sun Tran bus routes to ensure everyone can get the relief if needed.
📍 Cooling Center Locations:
- Donna Liggins Center | 2160 N 6th Ave
- El Pueblo Center | 101 W Irvington Rd., Bldg #9
- Fred Archer Center | 1665 S La Cholla Blvd
- Freedom Center | 5000 E 29th St
- Morris K. Udall Center | 7200 E Tanque Verde Rd
-
Randolph Center | 200 S Alvernon Way
|
