Coconino County continues to engage in common sense solutions to assist the community and local businesses with critical services and support as we navigate the new normal.
Last year was a story of economic resilience for our community. After a difficult year in 2020 responding and adapting to the pandemic, our business and non-profit community were focused on recovery.
According to Northern Arizona University’s Economic Policy Institute survey from April 2020, 54% of businesses had applied for aid, and half of the region’s businesses had laid off or furloughed employees.
More than a year and a half later, Flagstaff’s businesses have proven to be resilient. While the rest of the state has recovered almost all the jobs lost during the pandemic, Flagstaff’s recovery has been slower, recovering 84.9% of jobs. That doesn’t mean the region’s recovery hasn’t been promising.
NAU’s Economic Policy Institute business sentiment survey from November 2021 measured a 68% “very strong” or “strong” response from business respondents asked to rate the strength of their businesses, with 71% saying they expect their businesses to grow or remain steady.
Coconino County continues to engage in common sense solutions to assist the community and local businesses with critical services and support as we navigate the new normal. We hope to build on previous successful partnerships, such as the Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance small business assistance grants, in which the county contributed through CARES funding.
The new year will bring new opportunities for business development and growth, and with growth comes challenges for business. That’s where partnerships come in.
In 2022, the county hopes to continue its integral support of and partnership with community organizations and local businesses. In January, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors will consider how to allocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) business supports with input from the county’s Economic Development Manager Chris Pasterz.
The Board also will explore how to allocate community support funding that will help our local non-profits that partner with the county on critical programs and services. While no decisions or allocations have been made yet, the Board of Supervisors will explore new ways the county can partner with the community and with local business to grow, enhance and sustain economic resiliency in our local economy.
And, don’t forget about broadband, which is another focus for 2022. With new funding opportunities in the recently enacted Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, there may be exciting funding opportunities for broadband infrastructure and wildfire response and prevention for our region.
Coconino County will continue to develop an Equitable Economic Recovery Plan with technical support and guidance from the Brookings Institution and Aspen Institute awarded to the county in the $100,000 grant we received from the National Association of Counties (NACo). Check out our November 2021 FBN column about the grant.
County Economic Development, our expert staff, and elected leadership will work with the community to identify economic opportunities for those who haven’t recovered equitably, and who have important needs, including affordable housing, business loans and employee training programs, to generate equity and recovery. Stay tuned throughout 2022 for updates on the county’s efforts to deliver an Equitable Economic Recovery Plan that will diversify and vitalize our economy.
Under new leadership from Executive Director Billy Francis, Coconino County is also working with the Workforce Development Board to provide technical support and workforce solutions to the region.
While we’re on the topic of workforce, the county’s workforce is led by an elected board of supervisors through a district system. Another important goal for Coconino County is to successfully redistrict these supervisory districts as required by state law. The draft maps will be released later this month, and the county will announce them to media outlets and through our social media channels.
Since this impacts all citizens, the Board of Supervisors needs your input. For more information, visit coconino.az.gov/redistricting, and follow Coconino County on Twitter and Facebook for updates.
With this outlook for the year, what’s the vision for our community in 2022? Resiliency. It’s our way of life. FBN
By Trey Williams
Trey Williams serves as public affairs director for Coconino County. He leads the communications, economic development, government relations and community relations teams in the county manager’s office, while also helping to lead workforce development at the county. You may contact him at twilliams@coconino.az.gov or his staff/office at publicaffairs@coconino.az.gov. For questions, comments or to express interest in the funding opportunities mentioned in this column, please visit Coconino County’s Economic Development website at https://coconino.az.gov/2237/Economic-Development.
