At 26, AZ's Youngest City Official Unveils Final Awardees of Half-Million Investment In Tucson

Tucson Council Member (far right) accompanied by Literacy Connects Executive Director and staff.

TUCSON, Ariz. — On Wednesday, Rocque Perez, Council Member representing Ward 5 in the City of Tucson, announced the final recipients of more than $520,000 in community investments made during his tenure as the youngest official across city and county government in Arizona.

“The Trump administration’s withdrawal of federal resources and economic decisions have severely harmed our most vulnerable populations,” Perez said. “In Tucson, these actions have deepened the urgent need to support small business, strengthen educational opportunities, stabilize families, expand access to culturally competent and accurate information, improve community spaces, and support direct services for residents.”

Perez partnered with Groundswell Capital, a local nonprofit, to launch two new competitive grant programs—one for small businesses and anot

her for nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. With the support of a selection committee composed of Tucson residents, 30 recipients were awarded $5,000 each and surprised at their respective locations, alongside $11,772 allocated to Groundswell Capital

Nonprofits include Sister Jose Women's Center, Tucson Juneteenth Festival Inc, The Drop Dance Studio, Homeless ID Project, Literacy Connects, Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee, Inc, Living Streets Alliance, Scholarships A-Z, Praxis Portal Institute, Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse, Old Pueblo Community Services, Calvary Evangelistic Center, Make Way for Books, Black and Brown Girl Wellness, and Mini Poderosas.

Small businesses include Sundown Arizona LLC, Regan Premier Properties AZ, LLC, Villa's Market, Belens Child Care ll Group Home, Pivot Produce, Millville Studios, Templo Fitness, Dobe Distribution Corporation, Lara Ruggles Music, LLC, Dirty Dawgs Pet Care of Tucson, Rocio's Hair Salon LLC, Little Monkey Exploring Day Care LLC, AZ Granite Masters LLC, Slow Body Beer Company, and Maico Restaurant.

On August 19, Perez asked Mayor and Council for approval to designate $291,851 in FY25 surplus funds from his office to support a range of programs and organizations, underscoring the urgent needs across his ward, which includes Tucson’s South Side, Historic Barrios, and Southeast, and Gateway Corridor.

Perez’s recent and slated investments reflect his broad commitment to the community—including support for local school infrastructure and programming, youth programming, neighborhood revitalization, Spanish-language community media, senior and family services, and improvements to Ward 5’s own community spaces. Partnerships include trusted organizations such as the Sunnyside Foundation, Education Enrichment Foundation, Metropolitan Education Commission, United Hearts of Arizona, Barrio Restoration, Second Sky, Tucson Spotlight’s El Foco de Tucson, as well as multiple City departments. Among those efforts is what came to be STAR Village, a collaborative pilot project operating a low-barrier, safe transitional space connecting unhoused residents with services and long-term housing.

In Perez’s first full meeting on Council, he led the reinstatement of the City’s investment in the Pima Early Education Program Scholarship (PEEPS), with an additional $50,000 from his office. Since that vote, Perez has invested $20,770 to support the El Pueblo 50 Exhibition, Tucson Young Professionals’ Local Advocacy Summit, Flowers & Bullets’ Wet Down Event, Scholarships A-Z’s Familia y Fuerza Festival, and the continuation of senior meal services at Quincie Douglas Center, sustaining the programs threatened by federal cuts.

Perez was unanimously appointed earlier this year to complete the term of longtime Council Member Richard Fimbres following his resignation, leaving his prior role as Executive Director of the Metro Education Commission, which he will return to as the organization evolves into the Southern Arizona Education Council. Not seeking a full term, Perez will conclude his service next month. His successor, Selina Barajas, will make history as the first Latina to represent Ward 5 following her unopposed election this November.