Last year was a good year to open a new business in Flagstaff. Despite the many challenges that have been highlighted in our local media, in 2018, more than 30 new companies made Flagstaff their home and created over 425 new jobs with everything from restaurants, boutiques, start-ups and new healthcare facilities.
Retail options will always be important to our mountain city. It’s a great source of tax revenue, provides jobs for our residents and shopping and dining options for Flagstaff citizens and visitors. Every year the city’s economic development staff participates in the International Council of Shopping Centers tradeshow. This event is an opportunity to meet one on one with business developers and retailers. Many new and expanded restaurants opened last year, including Culver’s, Whisk & Whisky, Overeasy, Lone Spur Café, Oregano’s, Your Pie, Ahi Poki, HuHat Mongolian Grill and Lotus Lounge. In downtown, two new boutiques opened their doors. Urban Homestead offers home décor options, while Bow Wow provides a variety of pet products.
The Biotech industry is a rapidly changing and targeted industry that we continue to pursue. The high-wage, low-impact jobs are the perfect fit for Flagstaff. Moonshot at NACET welcomed Pro Grow Tech and Axolotol Biologix. Pro Grow Tech is helping commercial horticulture and food production operations increase profitability with their state-of-the-art lighting solutions. Axolotol Biologix researches and develops biological products to foster regeneration and healing of conditions such as orthopedic, pain management wound care, cardiovascular and more. Poba Medical is a device company run by serial entrepreneur Dan Kaspryk. This biotech company specializes in angioplasty balloon development and has just graduated from Moonshot at NACET. We are so excited to see this growing company expand into commercial space in Flagstaff.
Healthcare companies exploded last year in Flagstaff. Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Arizona (RHNA) held their grand opening in 2018. RHNA provides specialized rehabilitative services including Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy to patients who are recovering from disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses and chronic medical conditions. RHNA provided 150 new high wage jobs to our community. Welbrook Senior Living held a soft opening at the end of last year. The company brought more than 125 new jobs in the areas of assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Welbrook is elevating health care through hospitality, compassionate care and dignity with exceptional service. Flagstaff Urgent Care opened another location in Flagstaff. There are more examples of health care growth in the community as well.
As you can see, there have been many new jobs added to our local economy in 2018. The City of Flagstaff Economic Development Team would like to publicly thank all new and existing businesses for choosing to invest in Flagstaff. We are grateful to have you as a part of our community. FBN
By Gail Jackson
Gail Jackson is the business attraction manager for the City of Flagstaff.
