Title
Visit Arizona Legacy Golf Course Revitalization Grant (Ordinance S-49363)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, accept, and if awarded, enter into agreements for disbursement of grant funding from the Arizona Office of Tourism Visit Arizona Legacy Golf Course Revitalization Grant Program. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item. If received, the grant funds would be for an amount not to exceed $210,000.
Report
Summary
Utilizing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) meant to aid the tourism, travel and hospitality industries in responding to the negative economic impacts of the pandemic, the Arizona Office of Tourism is accepting applications for the Visit Arizona Initiative Legacy Golf Course Revitalization Grant Program. As the Arizona travel, tourism, and hospitality industries recover from the pandemic, the Legacy Golf Course Revitalization Program will provide assistance to older golf courses to implement infrastructure updates that modernize the courses and make them more sustainable. Golf driven tourism was tied to 2.4 million visitors and brought an estimated $2.2 billion to the Arizona economy in 2019, supporting 24,100 jobs.
Eligible projects for this grant program include golf course infrastructure modernization projects that helps 18-hole courses over 90 acres built before 1986 reduce their dependence on water resources, thereby being more sustainable and responsive to the negative economic impacts of the pandemic. Eligible courses can apply for assistance of $15,000 per acre over 90 acres, up to a maximum of $105,000. Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis.
The Parks and Recreation Department intends to apply for grant funding for multiple City-owned golf courses, including Encanto and Cave Creek golf courses for up to $105,000 each or $210,000 total. Built in 1935 and located in the core of the City's historic district, Encanto Golf Course is approximately 160.84 acres and is the third oldest golf course in Arizona. Cave Creek Golf Course is approximately 211.88 acres and was built in North Phoenix in 1983 as a landfill reclamation project.
Financial Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund. There is no match requirement.
Location
Council Districts: 3 and 4
Cave Creek Golf Course - 15202 N. 19th Ave.
Encanto Golf Course - 2775 N. 15th Ave.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson and the Parks and Recreation Department.