BEER BREWING TRAINING FACILITY TO BE LOCATED IN THE VERDE VALLEY APPROVED IN MAY 2022 APPEARS DEAD AS COMMUNITY COLLEGE REVIEWS PROPOSED 2024-2025 BUDGET AT FEBRUARY GOVERNING BOARD MEETING

Expenditure of $10 to $12 million for 14,000 foot commercial lab facility was initially not well received by some in Sedona and the Verde Valley as they questioned whether there was a far greater need to use the funds to expand CTE on the east side of Mingus in computerization, semi-conductor technician training, electric vehicle engine repair,  robotics, solar, nursing, and artificial intelligence. (Now, residents are receiving nothing.)

The $10 to $12 million, 14,000 square foot commercial lab facility intended to provide Sedona/Verde Valley students with brewing and distilling beer training was formally approved and included in the College budget by the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board in May 2022. Almost two years later, on February 20, 2024, at the Community College District Governing Board meeting, it was pronounced essentially dead as a project and removed from future consideration. It is anticipated that the final 2024-25 budget will be approved without the project or any replacement at the Board’s May meeting.

The project was among many pulled from current consideration due to a lack of funds. It was suggested during the February meeting that continuing with the project might necessitate an increase in the County property tax rate above the 4% currently being contemplated.

The timeline regarding the rise and fall of this project is as follows:

First, May 2022: The Governing Board approves the beer brewing training facility for Sedona/Verde Valley with a vote of 4-1. Board member Paul Chevalier opposes the project without more information, while Board member Ray Sigafoos laments not hearing the pros and cons but still votes to approve it. Price estimates range from $8 to $9.6 million.

It is noteworthy that following the May 2022 meeting, Third District Representative Paul Chevalier made several attempts to obtain additional information about the beer project from the Community College. However, its executives shut the door on him at every turn, with nodding approval from the Governing Board Chair. In frustration, Chevalier was forced to submit a Public Records Request to the Community College for details and data about the brewery project. In response to the formal legal request, the College finally provided him with more information about the project.

Second, October 2022: The College Facilities Management Newsletter of October 2022 briefly announces, without explanation, the postponement of the development of the Verde Valley beer brewery project.

Third, November 2022: The project is listed at the District Governing Board meeting among those with the highest priority for the Community College. During this meeting, newly elected Sedona Mayor Scott Jablow briefly speaks, stating that many Sedona voters he had met during his campaign for mayor had expressed little to no interest in seeing the College spend millions of dollars on a brewery on the east side of the County. (Note: Mayor may have modified his view later.)

It is noteworthy that residents appeared to believe the Community College should focus much more at the Verde Campus and the Sedona Center on advanced CTE for students in areas such as computerization, semi-conductor technician training, electric vehicle engine repair, robotics, solar, and artificial intelligence. And expand the nursing program. Areas it was felt now have and would have in the future a large number of job openings with substantial salaries and employment opportunities.

Fourth, March 2023: The College announces it was reformulating its plans for the beer brewing project, with the estimated price tag jumping from $9.6 million to around $12 million.

Fifth, February 20, 2024: Community College Vice President Clint Ewell informs the Board that the Sedona/Verde Valley brewing project will be removed from consideration as a future project and will no longer be pursued. There is no opposition (or specific discussion) by the Governing Board members to the suggested budget change. Students will continue to use existing facilities in Building G for beer brewing training on the Verde Valley Campus.