By Kevin Reagan | 12 News
PHOENIX — The city of Phoenix has proposed spending up to $12 million on purchasing a former Kmart store in an area of the Valley that’s in need of more community resources.
Public records show Phoenix wants to redevelop the empty building into an “innovation center” that could offer education, workforce training and job opportunities.
Phoenix intends to utilize funds allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act to buy and renovate the building, which is located near Northern and 27th avenues.
The city believes spending pandemic-relief funds on the project is appropriate since the future center could help local residents recover from the pandemic’s economic woes.
“Many area residents and their children face tremendous barriers to educational opportunities, with one of the most significant being that they do not have an easy means of transportation to other areas of the City for training, which was exacerbated by the reduction of ridership during the pandemic,” city documents state.
