Apache County supervisors approve broadband grant, SRP donation, public-health contract

Apache County supervisors approved an SRP donation, multiple broadband contracts and a public-health consultant agreement at a meeting in St. Johns, but publicly available materials tied to the broadband award report three different totals for the investment: $9.7 million, $10 million and $10.2 million.

The board met in St. Johns on March 3, 2026 and conducted routine business with county manager, county clerk and public-health staff present. The meeting agenda and the limited action materials provided with the meeting list the SRP donation, broadband contracts and a public-health consultant agreement among approved items, but those county documents supplied to reporters did not include dollar amounts, vendor names or vote tallies for those agenda items.

State and private funding tied to the broadband effort were described in separate materials. An SRP excerpt states, "Under the direction of Governor Doug Ducey, the Arizona Commerce (ACA) has approved an Arizona Broadband Development grant for Apache County," while Wmicentral reported "a $9.7 million Arizona Department of Commerce grant." SRP-related materials alternatively used a $10 million headline and the economic study text referenced a "$10.2M investment in Apache County," creating the unresolved variance among $9.7M, $10M and $10.2M figures.

Utilities and private carriers committed specific sums in the materials provided. Salt River Project and Tucson Electric Power each committed $300,000 in matching contributions, a combined $600,000 match noted by Wmicentral, and SRP and TEP jointly funded an economic study by Rounds Consulting Group, Inc. Broadband carrier Commnet committed $1.5 million, according to Wmicentral.

The Rounds Consulting study, funded by SRP and TEP, supplied baseline and projection data. As of 2021 the study lists approximately 66,410 residents and 16,830 employed individuals in Apache County. The study projects a population decline by 2030 of about 1,210 residents, an average annual decrease of 0.2 percent, while employment is projected to increase by roughly 330 workers by 2030, an average annual rise of 0.2 percent. The study ties a reliable broadband network to fiscal outcomes: "If a reliable broadband network is established by the $10.2M investment in Apache County, by 2030, approximately $3.2M in additional annual tax revenues will be collected by the state and local governments (compared to the estimated $855,900 based on current projections)."

SRP framed its support as part of broader transition planning for coal-dependent communities. SRP materials note the utility owns and operates the Coronado Generating Station in St. Johns, which "is scheduled to retire no later than 2032," and that SRP's Coal Community Transition Team formed last year to partner with the city of St. Johns, Apache County and nearby impacted communities. Materials name Springerville and Eagar (also spelled Eager in some documents) and St. Johns as communities targeted for broadband improvements.

Speaking in SRP-provided remarks, Whiting said, "This grant means a lifeline that economic stability rests on. We appreciate the support from SRP and TEP to help us assess the anticipated value and economic considerations. We have more work ahead of us, but we are super excited about Apache County’s future due to the high-speed internet and Broadband available in Apache County."

County minutes, the Arizona Commerce award paperwork and written confirmations from SRP, TEP and Commnet will be needed to reconcile the differing $9.7M, $10M and $10.2M figures, confirm whether private commitments are included in the reported totals, and identify contract amounts and vendors for the SRP donation, broadband contracts and the public-health consultant agreement approved at the March 3 St. Johns meeting.