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Teri Drew Honored with Prestigious ATHENA Leadership Award

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Prescott-area High Tea celebrates local women in the international program.

Among a sea of fancy hats and fine china, more than 150 community members came out in style to celebrate women in leadership during the third annual Prescott-area ATHENA Awards High Tea, hosted by Quad Cities Business News and Prescott Woman Magazine. With a standing ovation, the crowd honored Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) Regional Director Teri Drew as the 2022 Prescott-Area ATHENA.

In receiving the award, she recognized the support of her husband and high school sweetheart, Rick Drew, as well as her co-workers.

“The honor of being named the 2022 Athena Award winner has changed my perspective on my career, contributions and commitment to community,” she said. “The award has motivated me to seek out the good in all women and nominate them for this life-changing recognition. It has changed my life by being able to share more about me – my family, my career – with the community. I’ve received so many emails, calls and congratulations from the community. I’m grateful to share my story.”

The ATHENA Award is part of an international program that began in 1987. Its mission is to support, honor and develop women leaders and inspire women to reach their full potential. It recognizes women who achieve excellence in their work, support their community and mentor others. Astronauts, judges and elite athletes are among the ATHENA circle of sisterhood. Famous ATHENA Award recipients include Billy Jean King, Condoleezza Rice and Marlo Thomas. At the Prescott event on Sunday, Sept. 18, Aboost was the lead sponsor. Founder and owner Anita Farrelly, RN, says she loved being in a room full of women who were pushing themselves to the next level to be role models and leaders for the community. “I’ve always been an advocate for leadership, growth and development and to participate in an event that champions these skills is powerful, enlightening and motivating. It’s what I want my daughters to know and learn.”

Farrelly added that for nurses, the assumption is that they will always work for someone else, a hospital or a corporation. “The Prescott-Area ATHENA Awards is such a good fit for Aboost because we’re teaching nurses how to be owners of their own businesses, to have an entrepreneur mindset and to develop marketing and sales skills so that they may use their nursing skills to care for the community in a different way.

Through her work with NACOG across more than four decades, Drew has helped numerous job seekers receive career-path training and find employment. She is credited for NACOG’s local, state and national recognition in innovation, leadership and services. She is nationally known for her economic and workforce development strategies and has been named Prescott Area Leadership Woman of the Year. As executive director for the Yavapai County Workforce Development Board, Drew was honored in Washington, D.C. recently for successfully nominating Grant Quezada and Founding Fathers Collective for the W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award.

“I am blessed to say I have accomplished many successes in my career,” she said. “My greatest was my tenure of 45 years. I’ve learned so much and connected with so many people to make a significant difference for so many. I love it when someone says, ‘You helped me with school and now I am an RN,’ or ‘You placed me at the county, now I’m in management,’ or, ‘You taught me to be strong. Now I lead others.’ My greatest accomplishment is seeing others reach their potential.”

Drew says her parents and siblings were and continue to be her mentors. “They taught me what to and not to do growing up, and those strong ethics pay off.”

As a next achievement, Drew says she’d like to explore an elected position. “My hope for young women entering the workplace is for them to do what they love and love what they do.” QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Adult Day Center Celebrates Four Decades of Care

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This amazing day center has been the only adult day health program in Northern Arizona supporting caregivers for many of the past 40 years.

The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center (SJRC) celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. A boots-on-the-ground organization, SJRC is on the front line supporting family caregivers by offering the needed respite, education, resources and support through its medical/social model, Arizona Department of Health Services-licensed, adult day health program.

In acknowledging the spirit of caregiving on behalf of their late founding Executive Director Susan J. Rheem, Adult Care Services is proud to announce that the SJRC has been awarded the David Besst Award from the Arizona Caregiver Coalition. The award honors the awardees but also David Besst, who untiringly worked to establish resources and respite for family caregivers. Laura Dreibelbis, the director of the Susan J. Rheem Center, along with Yvonne Napolitano, executive director of Adult Care Services, were presented with the award on March 3, at the Family Caregiver Day at the capitol.

This amazing day center has been the only adult day health program in Northern Arizona supporting caregivers for many of the past 40 years. SJRC has been an affordable care option for families to stay together longer instead of premature placement in nursing homes, assisted living facilities or having to rely on in-home care. SJRC has been recognized as a leader across the United States because of its ability to maintain solid adult day programming in a rural area, whereas most adult day health programs are only successful in larger cities.

The center, located in Prescott Valley, serves its participants from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is unique in the fact that it has six buses that transport participants from Paulden, Cordes Lakes, Prescott and all the towns in between. The center was built with safety for its participants in mind and is a secure building.

Although the Susan J. Rheem Center specializes in serving those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementias, it does offer services to those 18 years of age and older with an array of illnesses and disabilities. Taking pride in the care they give to each and every person they serve, the center has a full-time in-house chef that prepares a nutritious breakfast, lunch and a snack each day. Being a medical/social model of care, there are two full-time nurses and several life enrichment specialists who create a wonderful program that includes exercise and socialization. The nurses monitor health conditions and conduct care meetings with family members and case managers.

The Susan J. Rheem Center is connected with Arizona Long Term Care, Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) and the Veterans Administration to help those participants who qualify with the cost of services. QCBN

By Candace Lea

If you are interested in learning more about this day program, please visit their website  at www.adultcareservices.org or call for a tour: 928-775-3563.

Candace Lea, MBA, is the community liaison for Adult Care Services.

NACOG Demonstrates Leadership

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I learned early on that real leaders invest in others, as many of my mentors invested in me and my success as a leader.

Having recently passed the 45-year milestone in my career at the Northern Arizona Council of Governments, I pause to reflect on the shaping of the leadership legacy that has brought me to my station in life today. I have enjoyed and had the great privilege of rubbing shoulders with great leaders on the national, state and local stage and have experienced many opportunities to lead and innovate to effect change in my community, region, state and country.

I learned early on that real leaders invest in others, as many of my mentors invested in me and my success as a leader. I am reminded of a quote from author Sally Koch, “Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.” I’ll tell you a story of a successful businessman right in our own city.

Grant Quezada started his career path as a hairdresser in a top salon in Springfield, Missouri. Three years later, Grant heard the patriotic call during the War on Terrorism and enlisted in the United States Army, spending the next eight years serving his country. After completing his tour of duty in the summer of 2014, he completed extended male barbering training and obtained his barber license. Grant, his wife, two sons and a daughter moved back to their hometown of Prescott in fall 2014. His plan was to open the best barbershop in town.

Grant began his business when he opened the John Hancock Barbershop in 2014, with a vision to create a work environment to benefit his fellow veterans and provide a unique, signature experience for his community at the same time. Prescott is home to a large U.S. Veterans Administration presence, as well as U.S. VETS, a non-profit organization established nationwide to serve those who served with career placements and housing, both of which Grant connected with to offer career opportunities to veterans needing to re-start in civilian life. Leveraging the “perfect storm” of a large veteran community and WIOA workforce training opportunities, Grant accomplished his goals through a partnership with the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) Yavapai County ARIZONA@WORK Title I Program, overseen by the Yavapai County Workforce Development Board (WDB), which assisted John Hancock Barbershop with recruitment and training of veterans as barbers and management staff.

Founding Fathers Collective (FFC) was born from its premier anchor business, John Hancock Barbershop, as a way to give back to the veteran community, contributing to the thriving hospitality and tourist destination that is Prescott. FFC continues its partnership with the Yavapai County WDB with at least 10 veteran placements and has been a leader within the Prescott community by delivering an outstanding shared experience through caring and connecting the citizens of our community.

Chairman Anita Payne of the Yavapai County WDB and I are going to accompany Grant in April to the National Association of Workforce Boards “The Forum,” an annual event held in Washington, D.C., where Grant and John Hancock Barbershop/Founding Fathers Collective will be receiving the prestigious W.O. Lawton Award. The award honors businesses and business organizations that have made the commitment of time, money and leadership to make their community’s workforce and economy more vibrant. Out of 550 workforce development areas, Grant and the WDB was singled out as the 2022 recipient. We are beyond thrilled that we partner in the success and are proud of our Prescott-based businesses.

So, that’s the story. Do you want to know what a leader is? Look no further. QCBN

By Teri Drew

Serving, Solving, Sustaining

Teri Drew is the regional director for Northern Arizona Council of Governments Economic/Workforce Development (NACOG-EWD).

Granite Creek Corridor Improvements Delayed

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Goodman said several groups and organizations have been involved in planning corridor improvements.

Long-anticipated improvements along the Granite Creek Corridor will be delayed for at least a year because bids for the requested construction came in substantially higher than what had been originally estimated.

Instead of beginning the improvement project last October, initial construction now likely won’t begin until October 2022, with completion anticipated in April 2023.

Only two bids were submitted, one by Asphalt Paving and Supply for $2.55 million, the other from Fann Contracting Inc., for $3.4 million. Both were significantly higher than the original $1.9 million cost estimate. Bids were received by the City of Prescott and presented to the City Council on Oct. 26.

Tyler Goodman, assistant to the city manager, told Quad Cities Business News that costs were higher because construction and materials costs and supply chain issues had increased dramatically during the past several months. City officials commented that higher estimates on many bid requests are not unusual at this time, and in some cases, costs had increased by as much as 30% to 40%, they said.

“We’ll have to go out to bid again,” Goodman said. “That most likely will take place in late spring or early summer 2022. We’ll be submitting this bid request again through the city’s budget process and will have to receive continued City Council support.”

Another complication is the $500,000 grant the city had applied for through the Land & Water Conservation Fund in 2021 will be delayed until the 2022 round for grants.

Goodman said he and City Recreation Services Director Joe Baynes will pursue that grant request opportunity again and believe they can ask for even more than a half-million dollars.ed

What Corridor Improvements Will Include

For years, city personnel and local groups have considered Granite Creek Corridor, the riverbed that runs through the center of downtown Prescott, as a potential destination in itself, like a miniature riverwalk, similar to the one in San Antonio.

When complete, it is expected to include better overhead lighting, new signage, Greenway Trails and improved trail surfaces, better access for those with physical disabilities and major improvements to creek channels.

Goodman said several groups and organizations have been involved in planning corridor improvements. They include the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Public Service, Sharlot Hall Museum, Prescott Creeks, City Tourism Advisory Committee, Northern Arizona Council of Governments, and the Planning and Zoning Commission. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Teacher Shortage Having Dramatic Impact on Schools, Students

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She emphasized that Arizona continues to rank 50th in the nation for teacher salaries, even after a 20% pay increase.

Yavapai County, just like the rest of Arizona, continues to have a shortage of classroom teachers. That is not just in public schools. The same shortages are affecting charter and private schools, as well.

And the teacher shortage is not getting better. Yavapai County Superintendent of Schools Tim Carter told Quad Citis Business News that at the first of this month, Yavapai County schools had 48 unfilled vacancies. Statewide, the number was 1,790, not counting the charter and private schools.

“I see things getting worse in the short term because of COVID,” he said. “However, there are two bright spots. First, funding has improved locally a bit but will always be in comparison to neighboring schools both within and without the state in Arizona schools without overrides because a governing board is hesitant to ask or because voters simply will not approve them. Those districts continue to lag. This is a fundamental inequity in the way our schools are funded.”

Carter cited results from a study recently released by the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association (ASPAA) that shows that for the sixth straight year, the teacher shortage is continuing in Arizona. Carter highlighted data provided by Becky O’Banion, a grant writer for the Yavapai County Education Service Agency (YCESA).

About 25.9 % of teacher vacancies across the state this year remained unfilled.

About 55.4 % of existing vacancies filled have been filled by teachers who do not meet the state’s standard teacher certification requirements.

Since 2016, when the school years started, at least 25 % of the jobs remain unfilled at least a month into the school year.

State Superintendent of Education Kathy Hoffman has said it is no surprise that vacancies continue. She emphasized that Arizona continues to rank 50th in the nation for teacher salaries, even after a 20% pay increase.

“In the past, a positive factor has been hiring ‘homegrown’ teachers,” said Carter. “But at some point, people who are working in other occupations – banking or customer service work who have an interest in entering the education profession – will diminish, especially in small, remote rural areas.”

Justin Wing, past president of the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association (ASPAA), said some people would like to become teachers but have yet to earn a college education and meet required certification requirements. He noted that included college and university students who need to complete their degrees, teachers brought to Arizona from other states or countries, and even those who have come here on special visa programs.

In just the immediate area, the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) is assisting schools in find teaching and support staff. Just last week, display ads paid for by NACOG in local daily newspapers advertised positions open in Head Start Programs as teachers, teacher aides, teacher aide substitutes and similar positions in Quad Cities communities. All involve multiple benefits, including paid health, dental and visual insurance, Arizona State Retirement (ASRS), holiday pay and paid college tuition and career benefits.

Beyond that, local organizations are encouraging aspiring teachers to apply for scholarships to certified college or university education programs. For instance, the Gardner Family Teacher Scholarships Endowment will soon be distributing applications for scholarships valued at a minimum of $2,000 annually to qualified applicants in Yavapai County, according to Danny Brown and Tara O’Neil, co-presidents for the non-profit organization.

Additionally, the Yavapai County Education Foundation (YCEF), in cooperation with a local auto dealer, partnered to give a cumulative $10,000 to 20 Yavapai County teachers drawn from a pool nominated within the county. Michael Ellegood, YCEF president, worked with Findlay Subaru Prescott General Manager David “Mac” Macfarlane, in publicizing the opportunity and selecting recipients. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Innovation Center Attracting High-Tech Firms, Funding

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Visionaries see future hub for incubation, talent retention.

In just the few short months since it was formally opened on July 13, the fledgling Center for the Future (CFF) has taken flight and is attracting international attention from major high-tech organizations.

In addition, it has received status as an official non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation from the IRS, which makes it available for tax-deductible contributions. “That also means we now have additional opportunities to work with governmental organizations and federal grant programs,” Jon C. Haass, CFF founder, president and director, told the Quad Cities Business News.

Haass, a professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said CFF is working with the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) in alignment with its five-year strategic plan to create innovation centers in key sectors within the Quad Cities area. Organizations such as NACOG, the Arizona Technology Council, Northern Arizona Technology Alliance and the Arizona Commerce Authority support the concept of such centers throughout the region, where local graduates can find good jobs. “Companies want the kinds of students we educate locally – business students, engineers, security and intelligence graduates,” Haass said.

CFF already has received a $60,000 matching grant through its Prescott Regional Opportunity Foundation (PROF) and its fiscal sponsor, the Prescott Chamber of Commerce.

The USDA funding is being matched by in-kind donations and other sources during the next 11 months. During that time, workshops, presentations, consulting and mentoring will assist companies in hiring additional employees and help in relocating workers to this region, Haass said.

“As a business incubator and accelerator-attractor, the CFF project of PROF now has initial funding to provide services for its first partner companies that are considering this area to open new or locate branch offices,” Haass said. “We already have four organizations utilizing space within the office space the CFF occupies, and others are going to be moving in in just days.”

Those currently occupying offices are SimpleWAN, SEG (an Axient subsidiary), CyberCore and GSIS.US. Businesses operating through space administered by the CFF are located at 220 S. Marina St., in a multi-storied 3,500-square-foot building that used to be the Prescott City Hall Annex. Those facilities are now dedicated to the CFF.

Currently, an architect is working on plans for a proposed 35,000-square-foot technologically sophisticated building. It will become the Phase III home for CFF, Haass said. Land for that structure has been selected near the recently constructed CP Technologies manufacturing complex just north of the Prescott Regional Airport (PRC). Mike McCormack, CEO of CP Technologies, is now a member of the CFF board of directors.

“We’re pleased that the CFF is also a participant in a state program that funded the Arizona Commerce Agency (ACA) as well as another USDA program called RISE – Rural Innovation Stronger Economy. This involves three-year funding, which will allow us to interact with organizations across the state to bolster Northern Arizona business,” Haass said. RISE programs offer grant assistance to create and augment high-wage jobs and accelerate the formation of new businesses.

Ultimately, Haass says an objective of the CFF is to be the major hub in Central and Northern Arizona for innovation, incubation, attraction, growth and retention of solid companies and talent in cutting-edge technology industries. “This area has been praised by the Milken Institute as a ‘Top 5 Best Metro in the Country for Job Creation.’ We’re also recognized by bestplaces/.net as ‘Best Emerging Places to Live.’ All of us affiliated with the Center are enthusiastic about what we see as a bright and prosperous future.” QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

For more information, visit CenterForTheFuturePrescott.com

Where Have All the Workers Gone?

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Industry by industry, we need to identify strategies to attract and retain workers to our beautiful towns and cities.

According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), the Yavapai County labor statistics demonstrate that in 2019, the total of Yavapai County’s labor force was 93,458, with a participation rate of 48% of individuals aged 16 and older. Participants aged 35-54 years represented the largest percentage of workers at 78.1%; with the second largest percentage being those individuals aged 25-34 years. If you follow the data, one would suppose we have a strong labor force to meet the growing demand for workers.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many have speculated about worker attraction variances. Unemployment insurance was a factor outpacing our local average wage; the pandemic, of course, played a huge role discouraging workers from returning to work for various reasons. Yavapai County responded with higher wages, now reported to average $20.98 per hour. Incentives were offered, such as paid tuition, sign-on bonuses, flexible hours and on-the-job training, with a current focus on skills-based hiring. Still, most industries are reporting anywhere from a 20-40% reduction in workers.

The math is simple: fewer workers = less production = less revenue. Some businesses struggle because of workforce shortages, while other employers are working on strategies to expand their capacity, allowing them to meet current demands for goods and services in order to achieve and maintain local demand.

I wish I had all the answers. I do not, but I do know that together we can make a difference. Industry by industry, we need to identify strategies to attract and retain workers to our beautiful towns and cities.

In Yavapai County, we have all the right ingredients for success – stellar public and private educational institutions, exceptional workforce development resources and, of course, location, location, location! Obstacles and challenges that affect the current labor market include:

  • Vaccination and mask requirements
  • Recreational cannabis
  • Daycare challenges
  • Transportation
  • Affordable housing

However, every obstacle is the soil for opportunity!

Yavapai County Workforce Development Board, together with NACOG-EWD, is currently focusing our efforts on the healthcare industry growth cluster, including all related healthcare occupations to attract additional funds and human capital for this primary industry.

Yavapai County has many opportunities today for Next Gen workers. There’s no better time than now to explore your options and begin building your future and make a contribution to what makes Yavapai County a great place to live and work! QCBN

By Teri Drew

Teri Drew is the regional director for the Northern Arizona Council of Governments – Economic/Workforce Development (NACOG-EWD).

Yavapai County Growing

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Challenges include water, broadband expansion and COVID-19 relief.

Yavapai County Supervisor for District 1 Harry Oberg says the population is growing. The latest data show a county population of 236,209 in 2020. In 2011, it was 212,033. Yavapai County, which in pre-statehood days was the “Mother County of Arizona,” had a population growth of 11.93 percent during the past 10 years, according to the most recent U.S. Census Data released. Final census data will be released Sept. 30.

The county has five districts, totaling 8,125 square miles. “Yavapai County is bigger in area than the combined states of Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island and New Jersey,” said Oberg. “It’s about the size of the state of Massachusetts – and is bigger than the country of Israel.”

The fastest growing district is Chino Valley, at more than 19%; the slowest growing is the Sedona area, with a growth rate of 4%. Here are the percentages for the five counties:

District 4, commonly thought of as Chino Valley and then west and north to Ash Fork and Seligman has experienced a growth rate of 19.34%, from 41,484 to 49,506 people in 10 years.

District 5, Prescott Valley and adjacent areas reports a growth rate of 16.42%, from 42,385 to 49,343 people.

District 2, Camp Verde and communities on the eastern edge of Yavapai County shows a growth rate of 12.06%, from a population of 41,441 to 46,438.

District 1, Prescott and communities west and south to the county line show a growth rate of 8.19%, from 42,134 to 45,586 people.

District 3, Sedona and nearby communities has a growth rate of 4.01%, with a population growth from 43,589 to 45,336.

Oberg doubts the population change will make a significant difference in future district boundaries. “We all need to acknowledge that population growth in Yavapai County was by leaps and bounds,” he said. “We don’t expect it to slow in the future.”

Oberg is careful to note that he and his fellow supervisors – James Gregory, District 2; Donna Michaels, District 3, Board Chair Craig Brown, District 4; and Mary Mallory, District 5 – have the primary responsibility of financing and administering county government projects. That includes final approval over all county budgets and county tax rates.

A major concern among supervisors is the growing issue of water shortages in Arizona. On Aug. 18, Oberg and other supervisors voted to spend $10 million of the nearly $46 million the county is to receive from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to improve water and sewer infrastructure within unincorporated areas of the county.

Oberg is adamant that residents need to conform to existing water regulations. “We must work with all the water interest groups, not just select ones. We need to act collectively, come up with functional plans and programs that will ensure continued water in the future.”

The funds available for water and sewer infrastructure require detailed applications and written proposals. Information is available at YavapaiAZ.gov under the board links section – ARPA Grant Application. The supervisors will approve the allocation of grant funds beginning Nov. 3.

Early September meetings found supervisors continuing their discussion of broadband program expansion throughout the county. Funds for that program, also to come from the ARPA monies, are to be directed at improving broadband for high-speed internet service in unserved and underserved communities countywide.

Several organizations within the county have endorsed broadband expansion, including the Chambers of Commerce, Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), and the Yavapai County Education Service Agency.

An estimated $20 million is cited as the figure for that project, Oberg said.

Consideration also is being given to using ARPA funds – as much as $5.7 million – to respond to challenges caused by the pandemic. Some of those dollars might go for additional employees needed to support COVID-19 relief programs.

Supervisors adopted the 2021-2022 budget in early August. Details are available at https://yavapaiaz.gov.

Information provide by Jack Fields, assistant county administrator, showed the general fund budget was $124,809. That is about a 5% increase above last year’s general fund budget. Fields also said among the biggest budget item increases for the coming year is for the criminal justice system, which includes the sheriff’s department, public defenders, probation, jail, juvenile justice and related county offices and agencies.

Oberg encourages citizens to remain interested and involved in county actions. “I hope people will continue to respond to our survey requests and take part in helping us develop comprehensive plans. We need to review and prioritize what is important and we need citizen input to do that effectively,” he said.

Oberg is a longtime resident of Prescott and attended Prescott schools. A career officer and pilot in the U.S. Army, he was honorably discharged in April 2000 as a colonel. He received a degree from Northern Arizona University and has other degrees from Salve Regina University and the U.S. Army War College. He and his wife, Jeanna, retired in Prescott in 2007. He was elected in 2015 as Prescott mayor. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Oberg can be reached in his office at the County Administration Building at 1015 Fair Street in Prescott, by telephone at 928-771-3206 and online at web.bos.district1@yavapaiaz.gov.

Survey to Evaluate Broadband Capabilities for Rural Populations

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As many as 42 million citizens may not have access to high-speed internet.

A direct consequence of the shutdowns and isolation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has been “front and center awareness of the criticality of broadband and its significance in issues such as emergency management, education, health care and work access – and many others,” according to Teri Drew, regional director for the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) in Prescott.

“The intensity for creating broadband awareness has prompted us with NACOG to sponsor a major survey throughout Yavapai, Coconino, Apache and Navajo Counties. That survey will help us develop a strategic blueprint for improving connectivity and digital equity among our citizens,” she explained.

Drew defined broadband infrastructure as the cabling and electrical systems that wire homes and businesses into local and regional telecommunication and cable companies. “Communications networks and the internet are linked together, making it possible to interconnect local users with internet, telephone, television and other similar services.”

Bandwidth describes how much information can be transmitted in a network. “The more bandwidth, the fewer bottlenecks to slow the flow of information,” she said.

Drew and her NACOG colleagues with the Economic and Workforce Development program have partnered with Magellan Advisors, an industry-leading broadband company, to assess broadband availability in the four counties that comprise NACOG.

“Our primary goal is to gather information from residents and organizations within our various communities – large and small – so we can better understand their unique needs. To do that, we’re asking residents and businesses in all the communities to participate by taking what we have called the ‘NACOG Broadband Survey,’” she said. “It takes about 10 to 15 minutes. It should be completed by the person in your residence or organization who chooses or uses and pays for services in that location.”

Julia Sawyer, Drew’s executive assistant, emphasized that data collected during surveys will not be used for any purpose other than developing the strategic plan. “If a person feels uncomfortable with a question, that question can be skipped. All we want is to gather demographic and statistical data so that we can compare information with census data and interpret the statistical relevance of responses. Privacy is absolutely assured.”

Participating in the survey will continue until probably the end of June, Sawyer said. The survey is totally online, so only those with access to the internet can participate.

Once survey data has been compiled, NACOG hopes to apply for state and federal grants, examine current and future infrastructure needs in the region, identify unserved and underserved areas, conduct a needs assessment, look for public-private partnership opportunities and design conceptional networks.

Part of a Bigger Scheme

What is happening in NACOG and the other regions in Arizona is part of a national effort. A recent announcement from the Federal Communications Commission indicates the FCC plans to provide low-income households across the nation with assistance to help them cover internet costs.

A $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) is available to households that participate in existing low income and pandemic relief programs offered by high-speed internet providers. The same is true of subscribers to the FCC Lifeline Program. That includes those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, Medicaid and support from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

A Pew Research Center study found that 53% of Americans believe the internet has been an essential tool during the pandemic. However, as many as 42 million citizens may not have access to high-speed internet.

NACOG is one of several organizations trying to help people by getting them connected, especially in rural areas. But the NACOG territory is diverse – from the northeastern borders of the state to Central Arizona. Officials say with nearly 48,000 square miles and 561,000 people, the use of broadband has become critically important.

“We are committed to the economic recovery and resilience of Northern Arizona. Please help us, through this survey, continue to be a vital resource to community resources, elder care, childcare, mobility and transportation planning and, certainly, economic and workforce development,” said Drew. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

For more information, call 928-778-1422 or visit nacog.org.