Palm Springs International Airport has partnered with a local nonprofit organization to provide ground maintenance, landscaping and trash removal while offering job opportunities for adults with disabilities, city officials announced Wednesday.
The five-year agreement with Desert Arc aims to strengthen “the airport’s commitment to inclusivity and community stewardship,” according to a city statement.
Personnel from Desert Arc’s landscape maintenance division will do daily trash hauling, weed abatement, bush trimming and sprinkler repairs, officials said. A crew of three individuals with disabilities and one job coach will work year-round, seven days a week performing upkeep and maintenance work at the airport’s inner courtyard and surrounding areas.
“This partnership is a win for everyone — helping meet the airport’s operational needs while also supporting sustainable employment for people with disabilities,” Harry Barrett Jr., PSP’s executive director of aviation, said in a statement. “We’re proud to work with Desert Arc to build a more inclusive environment at the airport that benefits the entire community.”
The agreement allocates $320,000 each year for labor and gardening materials. Officials said that as with all PSP operations, the Desert Arc agreement is completely self-funded by the airport with no local taxpayer dollars spent.
In addition to improving the airport’s daily functions, the new partnership aligns with the airport’s goal of providing “unforgettable hospitality while honoring our values of diversity, responsibility, and integrity,” officials said.
Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte said in a statement, “This partnership with Desert Arc is a shining example of how we can create meaningful employment opportunities while ensuring our airport remains a welcoming gateway to our city.”
The City Council OK’d the agreement in September.
“The city of Palm Springs’ approval of a five-year contract with Desert Arc’s Landscape Maintenance Division to service the prestigious Palm Springs International Airport is markedly a monumental decision, and this partnership will have a profound impact on our nonprofit,” Desert Arc President and CEO Richard Balocco said in a statement. “It is a historic moment and an unprecedented financial opportunity for Desert Arc. Our Board of Directors, staff members, and the 700 people with disabilities served by our mission are grateful and thank former Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein and members of the city of Palm Springs’ City Council for their belief in our mission to enhance the quality of life and create opportunities for people with disabilities. I am proud to be part of an organization who has championed this cause since 1959, and it all began in Palm Springs.”
The PSP-Desert Arc partnership also is in line with the city’s broader vision to invest in both infrastructure and people, while helping to make sure that the airport remains a clean, inviting space for travelers and residents, officials said.
“The City of Palm Springs is absolutely thrilled to be working with the clients of Desert Arc on the landscape maintenance contract for the Palm Springs International Airport,” Palm Springs Councilman Jeffrey Bernstein, an early proponent of the partnership, said in a statement. “Through this program, we are able to direct well over $1 million of necessary maintenance project expenses to a local organization that also benefits so many deserving people in need. What’s more, it’s clear the work is being performed better, more efficiently, and more cost-effective than ever before. This is truly a win-win situation.”
Desert Arc was established in 1959 and serves 700 adults in several Riverside County locations, according to city officials. The organization works to enhance the quality of life and create opportunities for people with disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, epilepsy and other medical conditions.
