FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
US Forest Services Approves Appraisal for Proposed Campus Site
Payson, Arizona, September 20, 2014- The US Forest Service (USFS) Tonto National Forest has approved the recent appraisal of 250 acres of US Forest Service property that lies south of AZ Highway 260 on the eastern side of Payson. The site remains the preferred location for the university campus in Payson.
An independent appraiser retained by the USFS declared the value of the property to be $4.1 million. The appraiser followed a comprehensive Statement of Work developed by the Forest Service to establish his determination of the value.
Last summer, the USFS agreed to a direct sale process for the property. Now that the price has been finalized, the Rim Country Educational Alliance board needs to formally accept the appraised value. Then the USFS can move forward with preparation of a deed of sale.
Equally important, now that the price is determined, the Rim Country Educational Alliance board can engage in more substantive discussions to determine a financial model that will be acceptable to the Alliance, Arizona State University (the preferred educational partner), and the financial backers of the project.
“This is a significant milestone for the project, and one that has been a long time coming,” commented Steve Drury, president of the Rim Country Educational Alliance (RCEA). “Even though it’s felt like nothing has happened, we’ve laid a lot of groundwork and we are ready to move forward.”
About Rim Country Educational Alliance
Rim Country Educational Alliance (RCEA) is a Separate Legal Entity formed in 2011 by an intra-governmental agreement between the Towns of Payson and Star Valley, AZ for the specific purpose of engaging in activities that further the concept of higher or advanced education, and economic and workforce development in Arizona’s Rim Country. A Separate Legal Entity (SLE) is a stand-alone political subdivision of the State of Arizona. SLEs typically are formed for specific governmental functions and ordinarily include a county, city, town, or school district.
Contact for more information about Rim Country Educational Alliance:
Mary Kastner
Vice Chairperson
Rim Country Educational Alliance
(928) 595-2088
Email: kastner85541@gmail.com
http://www.universityinpayson.com/rim-country-educational-alliance/role-of-the-rcea/
Contact for more information about this press release:
Laura Ann Bartlett-Armstrong
Marketing and PR Committee Lead
Payson University Campus Volunteer Committee
928-468-0993
lxb59@yahoo.com
www.universityinpayson.com