HOA Phoenix Management Firm Urges Arizona to Use It or Lose It

With a deadline approaching for Arizona to claim a piece of a $499 million dollars stimulus fund, real estate experts and environmentalists are rallying Arizona business owners to care for the environment and the cash before it's too late.

"I find it hard to believe that so much money is available for weatherizing and other energy projects but so few Arizona businesses have applied for the funds," said Trent O'Brien, Vice President of APM, a Phoenix-based homeowner's association management firm. "I know Arizona businesses and homeowners care about the environment. Now they have a cash-incentive to get involved so I hope they do before it's too late." With just 18 months left in the program, which is managed by the US Department of Energy, less than $10 million has been awarded to Phoenix companies and communities for renewable energy projects, such as solar panel installation, electric cars or home weatherization. This has left most of the stimulus fund, $480 million, unclaimed.

While some of the funds are anticipated for release once current Arizona companies see their grant applications approved, industry experts fear most of the fund and the opportunity it represents to improve the environment will disappear in the fall of 2012.

"At APM, we've implemented a variety of programs, including water and electricity conservations, which help the environment and help our HOA's," said O'Brien. "We urge all Arizona companies considering an energy-saving or recycling program to reach out to the EPA and apply for the cash before it's gone.

O'Brien wants businesses to realize that the renewable energy fund will do more than help the environment and help residents reduce their energy bills. The fund will also provide struggling Arizona companies with a steady stream of business that keeps workers employed.

Arizona has about 271,400 fewer jobs than it did when the recession began in December 2007. It's unlikely the stimulus will come close to replacing all those jobs, but business leaders like O'Brien believe it will help some families survive. "If more Arizona businesses with renewable energy programs apply for the grant, they'll save jobs and help save the environment. We have just 18 months to use that money before it goes away forever."