SAN LUIS, Ariz. (August 18, 2025) – Portable Practical Educational Preparation, Inc. (PPEP, Inc.), a Tucson-based nonprofit founded in 1967 by Dr. John David Arnold, has expanded its community impact with the purchase and redevelopment of a retail property at 683 N. Main Street in San Luis, Arizona, now complete.
PPEP acquired the 12,050-square-foot building on September 7, 2023, for $1.25 million ($104 per square foot). The rapid resale of the asset while still in escrow underscores the strong investor demand for high-visibility retail properties in established border trade areas.
The property will now serve as a regional hub for PPEP’s multiple service programs, including the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP), which provides workforce services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families. The facility will also house PMHDC, PPEP’s microfinance division, which offers small business loans across southern Arizona, including Yuma, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Pima, Pinal, Maricopa, Gila, and Graham counties.
With dual frontage on Main Street and Williams Brook Boulevard, the property features four retail storefronts with parking and a freestanding retail metal building with additional parking and storage. Located within walking distance of the San Luis Port of Entry—which sees more than 8 million crossings annually—the site benefits from high visibility and heavy traffic.
“This project was a labor of love for PPEP, Inc. and the San Luis community as we revitalized a 40-year-old building to bring it back to life on Main Street,” said Jacob Herrington, Chief Administrative Officer and Project Manager for PPEP, Inc.
Portions of the property are currently available for lease:
- 675 N. Main Street, Space 1: ±3,509 SF, $7,018/month (NNN)
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680 N. Williams Brooks Avenue, Space 2: ±4,016 SF, $8,032/month (NNN)
Regional Context
San Luis and greater Yuma County represent a dynamic cross-border trade and tourism hub:
- Population: ±207,842 (plus ±80,000 seasonal winter visitors)
- Agriculture: $3.4 billion industry; supplies 90% of the U.S. winter vegetables
- Military: Yuma Marine Corps Air Station (±12,000 population) and Yuma Proving Ground (±2,000 personnel), contributing a combined $1.12 billion in annual economic activity
- Tourism: $452 million annual impact
The project also aligns with broader regional investment. Just a few miles away, the Regional Center for Border Health (RCBH) has broken ground on a $75 million rural community hospital in San Luis, further strengthening health and economic infrastructure in south Yuma County.
Leasing is being handled by A.T. Pancrazi Real Estate Services, Inc., based in Yuma, Chase Panacrazi 928-246-7949 and Colin Panacrazi (928) -257-5548.