Yavapai County Development Services Department is looking for properties throughout all of Yavapai County that could use a free environmental check-up. These checks are for buildings and land that aren’t currently being used, are empty or abandoned, and are in the incorporated and un-incorporated areas of Yavapai County. The goal is to help get these properties ready for new uses and bring them back to life.
What’s This All About?
Last year, Yavapai County and the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This money is meant to help turn old, potentially problem properties in Yavapai, Mohave, Navajo, and Coconino counties (including cities like Prescott, Camp Verde, Kingman, Show Low, Winslow, and Flagstaff) into valuable community assets.
How Can This Help Property Owners?
This grant offers free environmental assessments for approved properties. This can include:
- Looking into the property’s history for potential environmental
- Testing for things like asbestos and lead paint in
- Creating plans for how to clean up any issues found, which can help with future
Here’s the best part: Property owners are not required to do anything with the information they receive. It’s just for their benefit, and they can use it however they choose.
Why Is This Important?
When a property has an unknown past or its history isn’t well documented, it can be tough to sell, lease, or even get a loan for it. This grant helps remove those worries about hidden environmental problems. By getting these free assessments, properties become much more appealing and valuable to investors, buyers, and developers. It also makes it easier for owners to get funding.
Act Fast!
The money for this program, called the Northern Arizona Property Reuse and Redevelopment Program, is available until September 2028 or until it runs out. Since it’s given out on a first- come, first-served basis, property owners, business owners, developers, and even regular community members are encouraged to nominate properties as soon as possible for these free assessments.
To learn more and nominate a property, visit: https://nacog.org/brownfield-program-in-action/
