Washington, D.C.– The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (CIS) Office of Citizenship has awarded a $100,000 grant to Pima Community College to expand services for legal permanent residents seeking citizenship. The competitively awarded grant is part of a program in 27 states and the District of Columbia funded through the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010.

The money to Pima College will support a citizenship preparation and integration program. Pima is one of approximately 75 recipient organizations that will be announced later today at a formal ceremony in Washington, D.C.

“Offering this kind of assistance is a great and all-too-rare public service,” said Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva of Pima’s effort. “Navigating our lengthy naturalization process can be daunting at the best of times, and offering legal and educational information benefits not only the applicant but the entire community. This has always been a nation of immigrants, and Southern Arizona has always been an especially diverse community. I encourage anyone pursuing citizenship status to contact Pima College to learn more about the help they can receive when this grant goes into effect.”

The grant will go to Pima’s Community Campus at 401 N. Bonita Ave. in Tucson.

For more information, contact Pima College at (520) 206-3933.