On Sept. 24, 2024, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) sent out 29 press releases, each announcing a grant. The grants ranged from $568,740 for district leadership training to $11.1 million to expand workforce development and strengthen infrastructure in West Virginia. In one day, EDA finalized nearly $100 million in grants to communities across the country. The City of Page, AZ received one of the largest awards, $4,976,000.

According to the EDA release, the grant is to “support redevelopment of the Downtown Business District, to increase its commercial viability and promote tourism.”  The terminology for the Page business district has changed since the grant was originally applied for. Most are referring to the business district on top of Manson Mesa as Uptown Page to distinguish it from the businesses below the Mesa. It’s a logical distinction.

“This EDA investment will support a revitalization project that will create jobs, promote tourism, and help build regional economic resilience in the Page, Arizona community,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

“Rural communities like Page are a critical component of our diverse and vibrant economy,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “Every corner of Arizona has something to offer, and these funds will help the mom-and-pop shops that are the heart and soul of this community expand their reach and attract new opportunities for growth. I know that with these resources, Page will be able to enter a new chapter of prosperity that will create new jobs, grow their economy, and lay the groundwork for a brighter future for us all.”

“These investments will help the City of Page build the infrastructure it needs to attract new businesses and good-paying jobs—ensuring long-term economic growth for the community,” said Senator Mark Kelly.

“We’re proud to announce this $5 million grant to make infrastructure improvements for the City of Page – supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and expanding opportunities for Arizonans so they may continue building better lives for their families,” said Senator Kyrsten Sinema.

While city, state and federal leaders played a role in securing the grant, most of the work was done by staffers not mentioned in press releases. First, someone must apply for the grant -- do all the calculations, the research, the paperwork (around 300 pages). Very few have the skills and patience to go through all the processes and complete a winning federal grant. Page has such a person, Planning Director Zach Montgomery.

“I submitted the application in March of this year,” said Montgomery. “And I worked on it approximately nine months prior to that to put the application together, and that was done due to city council's approval to move forward.

“And because of city council's unanimous approval of that project, I was directed to write a grant to get money to help fund it.”

The project the funds were originally intended for was titled “Streetscape” by J2 Engineering & Environmental Design. A more accurate term is uptown revitalization because it entails more than beautification; it includes infrastructure. The “Streetscape” name contributed to public misconceptions about the scope of the project.

On Oct. 26, 2023, Montgomery sent an interoffice memorandum to City Manager Darren Coldwell about the misconceptions. “Based on comments made, I believe many people don’t have a complete understanding of what ‘Infrastructure’ means, regarding typical project developments that cities regularly address, where many people think it only means utilities, and that is only part of what it means. As a result, I recommend we define exactly what ‘Infrastructure’ means from a planning, engineering and development sense, so we’re all on the same page. To begin with, ‘Infrastructure’ involves everything my Site Plan Review Committee must review for each new development being built in Page, whether it’s a new street, commercial store, restaurant, shopping center, apartment complex or a residential housing subdivision.

“In a nutshell, ‘Infrastructure’ means anything man-made that is constructed and/or placed into or onto undeveloped land to build a new development and Planning Departments conduct site plan reviews for new developments, where we follow the American Planning Association plan review principles, and their definition of ‘Infrastructure’ is as follows:

“Infrastructure: Those man-made structures which serve the common needs of the population, such as: potable water systems and wells; wastewater systems; solid waste disposal amenities and sites; stormwater retention and detention ponds, systems and areas; electric, gas, cable, fiber-optics and/or other utilities; bridges and dams; asphalt and/or concrete paving for streets and roads; paved parking stalls, wheel bumpers and stall markings; pedestrian sidewalks, curbs, gutters, bicycle paths and/or trails; trash dumpster enclosures; mailbox kiosks; bus/transit stops and shelters; fences and walls; permanent landscaping; street and/or path lighting; road signage; traffic control signage, devices and electronically lighted traffic signaling and control systems and/or monitoring devices; or similar.”

All city infrastructure elements have life expectancies, some more predictable than others. Ideally, a city acts preemptively on critical items like underground pipes and conduits for water, sewage and electricity. For example, a top concern in Page is the waterline from the dam that supplies all the water for Page and LeChee. It’s old and a redundant line is needed. It’s the same for streets. North Lake Powell Boulavard’s asphalt paving has met its life expectancy; multiple ADA ramps and pads must be replaced; the turn radius at most intersections is too shallow for large trucks to turn without going up onto the curb, gutter and sidewalk, causing damage.

What’s going on under North Lake Powell Boulevard is unknown. Regarding electrical wiring, Montgomery said nobody seems to know how much electrical wiring is or isn’t enclosed in conduit.

“At a minimum, we would have to repave, whether we shorten the lanes or get rid of lanes or we don't,” said Montgomery. “We have to repave at a minimum because the pavement’s outlived its life expectancy.

“Once we remove the asphalt and see what else needs to be replaced or repaired underneath the asphalt, that's when we'll go in and do that. There's absolutely no way of knowing until we get into the street what actually needs to be repaired or replaced.”

Once Lake Powell is repaved, Montgomery would like to see a 10–15-year moratorium on that section of the boulevard to protect the pavement’s integrity. “Because anytime you start doing cutting and patching in a brand-new asphalt, it just undermines and deteriorates the solid surface from that point forward.”

The EDA grant is only part of the infrastructure investment. The grant agreement calls for the City of Page to contribute $5.8 million to the improvements, making the total around $11 million. Coldwell told the Chronicle around $5 million was already budgeted for Streetscape, so those funds would go toward the city’s end of the bargain with the EDA.

Montgomery expects the bulk of the grant money will go toward uptown infrastructure maintenance. And, though the funds were originally intended for the Streetscape project, there is flexibility in how the funds are used, as long as it’s for uptown business district revitalization. Currently, since the Streetscape project met last-minute resistance, the city is waiting to see what Page Forward comes up with. Page Forward is a local think tank that wants to see Page progress and hopes to strengthen communications between citizens, business owners and the city.