$103K grant sought for Gold Canyon community center staffing, costs

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

A request to authorize submitting a grant application by Gold Canyon Community Inc. for $103,610 for staffing and operating a community center was approved recently by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors.

The board voted unanimously June 5 on a consent agenda with other items to approve a resolution seeking the funding from the Tohono O’odham Nation shared revenue program and for Pinal County to serve as the fiscal agent.

The concept of a community center was developed to be for socialization, education and resources to enhance wellness and safety at home and in the community, wrote Gold Canyon Community President David B. Coward in a Proposition 202 tribal gaming application sponsorship/support form.

Out of the $103,610 being sought, $82,530 will be for the salary and benefits of a community center manager, $19,600 for facility overhead including sublease payments, $800 for technology and $680 for marketing, according to the application.

“Longterm it is anticipated that the community center will be self-sufficient from community sponsors, user fees and donations from individuals. These requested funds are to assist in the development of programs and activities that will attract users to keep the facility open on a more regular basis and support the community,” Coward said in the grant application.

In a community needs assessment, it was determined that a place to physically meet for community activities was lacking, he said.

“There was no community center that was freely available to residents for gatherings, educational opportunities or social engagement. It was also noted that the lack of information for assistance for an aging population was lacking. A venue to host information sharing was needed and connections to services was unavailable in a central location for access to all that needed this information,” he said.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.