I encourage us all to continue to take extra steps to support those that make our community so unique and strong!
Priorities that emerged included small business, tourism-related small business, non-profit housing, emergency shelter, victim services, education services, drinking water infrastructure, cybersecurity, public safety, aid to non-profits providing food, and aid to other non-profits affected by the pandemic.
Flagstaff’s Economic Vitality Division held a competitive grant process for local businesses – prioritizing businesses that didn’t receive previous COVID support. Forty-two businesses received support through $300,000 allocated for this purpose. Additionally, tourism-related business applicants split $150,000 and local event promoters received $85,000 to offset costs related to getting local festivals and events up and running again.
Housing and related programs received nearly $3.5 million and included: Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona to assist in rehabilitating the hotel they purchased and that will transform 44 former hotel rooms into transitional housing units; Habitat for Humanity for infrastructure work toward building 40 starter homes; Homeless Youth Connection for transitional housing for local youth aged 18 to 24 experiencing homelessness and enrolled in high school or college; Salvation Army for eviction prevention; DNA People’s Legal Services to provide housing-related legal services; and Flagstaff Shelter Services for emergency shelter including hotel rooms and care for health-compromised and COVID-positive individuals and housing case management.
This list isn’t exhaustive, but provides a glimpse into the immense community needs as we emerged from the worst of COVID. I’m proud of how our community addressed the pandemic, how we pulled together, and how resilient our small businesses and non-profits proved to be. I encourage us all to continue to take extra steps to support those that make our community so unique and strong! FBN
By Becky Daggett
Becky Daggett is the mayor of Flagstaff.