An infusion of more than half a million dollars is helping the Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization and its partners to lay the foundations for several efforts that aim to improve access to medical-related transportation for those who most need it. Earlier this year, SEAGO was announced as one of several recipients of the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona’s first full strategic grant cycle. The agency was awarded $600,000 to be dispersed over three years. The first third of that allocation was provided earlier this year, allowing SEAGO to begin working toward the four goals outlined in its grant application: expanding public transportation within Cochise County cities in order to give riders access to medical facilities in Sierra Vista, providing expansion support for existing volunteer transportation services within the county, establishing a mini-grant program for nonprofit transportation program, and exploring possible solutions for the transportation needs of Willcox. Residents requiring non-emergency transportation to the hospital have since resorted to utilizing the Sunsites-Pearce Fire District’s ambulances, straining that rural district’s resources even further due to little chance of reimbursement from residents while also taking an ambulance out of service for other needs while in transport.