11/22/2009 10:38:00 PM DES moves into new digs in Prescott Valley
The Daily Courier
The Arizona Department of Economic Security has moved into its new consolidated offices, 3274 Bob Drive, in Prescott Valley.
"We consolidated three separate offices into this building, and we envision this as an opportunity for a more holistic approach to providing services for the Prescott (area) community," said Steve Meissner, director of communications for DES in Phoenix.
Meissner said the new building, which covers 14,300 square feet, houses 47 employees and is saving the department at least $30,000 a year in rent. DES plans to add 10 employees next November.
The building houses staff and services from the Family Assistance Program; the Division of Children, Youth and Families, which includes Child Protective Services; Employment Administration, Rehabilitation Services; and Aging and Adult Services.
It will feature resource and interview rooms and an area in the lobby for children, Meissner said.
Meissner noted the building's presence on 7 acres of town-owned land that also will house the new headquarters of Prevent Child Abuse Arizona. DES and Prevent Child Abuse officials were on hand for a grand opening Wednesday.
Exterior work on Prevent Child Abuse's future home in an adjoining 14,000-square-foot building is complete, Executive Director Becky Ruffner said.
"The interior (work) is awaiting another half million (dollars)," she said. "We have raised $800,000, and we have $500,000 to go. We anticipate wrapping up the capital campaign by (next) June."
Meanwhile, the nine employees of Prevent Child Abuse have shared space in the nearby Yavapai Family Advocacy Center since March, Ruffner said. The nonprofit entity previously leased space at 125 E. Goodwin St. in Prescott since the late 1990s.
Noting the setting with buildings housing social service agencies, Ruffner said, "We have room on our campus to build two new buildings for child and family-oriented agencies, so we are looking for new tenants."
Ruffner described the arrangement of leasing town land as a public-private partnership. The town moved its offices from the location in 1999 after the Civic Center opened.
Ruffner's agency hired Malouff & Co. of Prescott to build its new headquarters. Prescott Building Co. of Prescott Valley built the DES building.
The contractors broke ground this past December.
Reader Comments
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
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DES, might be in for a rude awakening since the state just cut their budget by $150,000,000 today. Those 10 new staff members may be a long time coming and they really shouldn't be shocked by the news. Neither should our school districts.
But still the same rude workers. They really should be nicer to those that come in, it isnt easy for some as it is for most people who come in are put in that catergory.
