Valley officials celebrate grand opening of Surprise Community & Resource Center

County and city officials celebrated the grand opening of the Surprise Community & Resource Center on Thursday.

The 35,000-square-foot facility is meant to provide residents with a place to access critical services and resources.

“It’s been exciting to see Surprise develop into one of the fastest-growing communities in Maricopa County,” Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Debbie Lesko, who represents District 4 which includes Surprise, said in a news release. “With this growth comes the responsibility to ensure public services are expanding at an equal pace. The board’s investment in this new resource center is about giving families, seniors, veterans and other residents of this vibrant community the support they need to thrive.”

A total of $27 million was allocated for the facility though an Intergovernmental Agreement between the county and the city. This included $18 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds that were approved by the board of supervisor in 2022 for construction of the center.

The center not only centralizes but expands multiple programs that used to be offered in different facilities, like the Surprise Resource Center, Hollyhock Library and Surprise Senior Center.

The programs and services that are offered at the facility include:

• Library services
• Workforce development
• Health and wellness programs
• Housing and homelessness assistance
• Benefit assistance
• Veteran and senior services
• After-school and summer youth programs
• Three Head Start classrooms

The three Head Start classrooms mark the first in the Northwest Valley and create new early-learning opportunities for residents.

“By bringing together businesses, nonprofits and volunteers who share our passion for people, we are ensuring that everyone who walks through the doors of this new center will find the high-quality services, resources and support they need. When we can all come together like this, it provides a stronger community for everyone,” Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor said.

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