During last night’s informative community meeting on the Tunnel Fire, it was the words of Coconino County Board of Supervisors Chair Patrice Horstman that stood out to us:
“This is a time for neighbors to help neighbors.”
United Way of Northern Arizona is currently raising money to help those impacted by the Tunnel Fire through the UWNA Crisis Response Fund. You can donate to the fund by texting UWNAZresponse to 41444. Donations can also be processed on our website here.
In This Issue:
F3 Supports Prop 438: Special Election May 17
Mayor and Council Elections
Join F3’s Election Committee
Coconino County Redistricting
Become an Election Poll Worker
Thorpe Park Annex Design Meeting
Earth Day: April 23rd
Coconino Community College student Kayla Witzig moved to Flagstaff from Scottsdale to continue her education and achieve her goal of getting her associate degree in psychology. She chose CCC because of the beautiful weather in Flagstaff and because she was not sure what she wanted to do after high school graduation. She wanted to start slow at a community college.
Witzig is a CCC2NAU student, and she said that “I have my own CCC2NAU advisor,” adding that they help her figure out the courses she needs to complete at CCC to receive her associate degree and transfer to NAU.
The CCC2NAU program helps students save money and accomplish their educational goals both at CCC and NAU. The program offers a seamless transition process that will help transferring students.
We hope that you’ll join us for Arizona Gives Day, a 24-hour, statewide celebration of charitable organizations that starts at noon today. It’s a special time that unites supporters of big and small nonprofits to increase philanthropy in Arizona through online giving.
Many thanks to those of you who have already donated to United Way of Northern Arizona as part of this year’s #AZGIves campaign. If you haven’t had a chance to give yet, you can do so by clicking HERE.
Coconino County has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to community partners to gather information on services and projects needed as the Board of Supervisors allocates American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to address COVID-19 pandemic impacts.
Please note that this is a Request for Information, NOT a Request for Proposals. Click here to access and download the Request for Information (RFI).
Preparing to file your taxes is stressful for us all but it’s also when we’re most aware of our yearly giving. As a loyal follower of the Flagstaff Festival of Science you understand the value of bringing the excitement of STEAM and joy of discovery to Northern Arizona. Why not plan ahead to help both the 2022 Festival and your taxes? (If you’ve recently made a donation to the Festival’s Spring Campaign, THANK YOU!)
Creative Flagstaff is seeking volunteers to serve on the grantmaking panels for our upcoming General Operating Support grant program. This is an important and highly valued volunteer opportunity. Volunteers have the opportunity to learn more about the grantmaking process and to have a high impact of Flagstaff’s creative community. Volunteers can sign up for either short-term or long-term commitments.
It is the end of one era – and the beginning of a new one.
Chris Bavasi, who was instrumental in the formation of the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona and served as the Chairman of its Executive Board since it began in 2010, stepped down from this post earlier this month. He will remain on the board, however, as a lifetime emeritus member.
Joshua Maher, Northern Arizona University’s Associate Vice President for Community Relations, has now stepped into the chairman’s role with Heidi Hansen, the City of Flagstaff’s Economic Vitality Director, serving as vice chair. Joe Barba, Director of Government Relations at Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona is our Secretary, while Steve Eiss, Vice President, Construction & Real Estate Development for Northern Arizona Healthcare is our Treasurer.
The City of Flagstaff is conducting a Community Bond Survey to gather feedback from Flagstaff residents on which potential bond packages are most important to them for the 2022 election. The survey will be available online from March 17 through March 31. If members of the public need help accessing the internet to complete the online survey, they can visit the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library Downtown location (300 West Aspen Ave.) or East Flagstaff Community Library (3000 N 4th Street, Ste 5). Paper copies are available at City Hall and both libraries.
Housing costs in Flagstaff continue to increase, making housing affordability a greater challenge for households in our community. According to Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona’s annual Rental Attainability Report, the average cost of a 2-bedroom apartment in our community is now $1,758/mo. In order to afford the average 2-bedroom apartment without paying more than 30% of gross income on housing, a household must earn approximately $5,837 a month or $70,040 annually. That is a 13.7% increase from the average cost of a 2-bedroom apartment when HSNA did its survey in 2020-2021.
For low-income households, the challenge of affordable housing is more severe. A full-time, minimum-wage earner, making $15.50/hr. would need to work more than two full-time jobs (86.9 hours per week), to afford a two-bedroom apartment at the average rental rate.
NAU’s Department of Women’s and Gender Studies has crowd-sourced a list of outstanding historical and contemporary figures who advocated for women’s rights and human rights across all conceivable fields of intellectual, political, medical and artistic endeavors from different geographical locations. From artists to authors to protestors, these women are recognized for their contribution to human history.
He was tired of chasing after a big paycheck and wanted to do something more for his community.
That’s why Coconino Community College student Frank Stucjus decided to return to school a bit later in life.
“I really like the idea of helping people get the tools to solve their problems,” Stucjus said, adding that he’s had a tumultuous life and would like to help navigate through the tough spots in their own lives as a counselor or a teacher. “I wanted to do something that gives back to the people around me.”
Con este programa iniciamos el tema del Crédito. Dialogaremos sobre varios conceptos crediticios.
***
With this program we start the topic of Credit. We will be talking about various credit concepts.
Two Coconino Community College students have been recognized for the esteemed 2022 All-Arizona Academic Team Scholarship.
The scholarship provides free tuition for 60 credit hours at the recipient’s choice of one of the three state universities – Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University.
This year, Frank Stucjus and Andrea Clayton received the news from CCC that they were selected for the All-Arizona Academic Team.
“It means I don’t have to worry about the tuition coming out of the money we use to pay bills,” Stucjus said. “There is no question now that I’m going to stick it out to the end.”
We enter 2022 with much hope for the future–and a refreshed look for this newsletter. Do you like it?
Since the Government of Mexico has dedicated this year to Ricardo Flores Magón, a trained journalist who is considered one of the most influential thinkers of the Mexican Revolution, we have included his image on our nameplate for this year. The main sections will remain the same and will continue to bring you relevant information in three sections:
#Choose Mexico,
#Arizona Thrives and
#Discover Mexico.
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools, Cheryl Mango-Paget, announced (Feb. 15) kindergarten through 12th grade students and families impacted by COVID-19 can now request wraparound support services, such as groceries, lodging, and laundry.
The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) (on Feb. 14) announced $40 million to provide up to 500 transitional homes for Arizonans in rural communities who are experiencing homelessness.
“Today’s targeted, one-time investment will help Arizonans who’ve fallen on hard times get back on their feet,” said Governor Ducey. “Additional transitional housing in rural communities will help struggling families and individuals get access to safe housing in their own community as they transition to a permanent, reliable home. My thanks go to the team at the Department of Housing and Director Tom Simplot for their work to support fellow Arizonans and ensure they have access to resources that put them on the path to success.
The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) (on Jan. 31) launched an advertising campaign to spread the word that financial help is available to struggling Arizona homeowners through the state’s Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). The print, radio, digital, and social media ads, in English and Spanish, will concentrate in rural Arizona and encourage homeowners facing foreclosure to apply for assistance.
“The HAF is open to eligible homeowners statewide and the word has spread in many urban areas about the program,” ADOH Director Tom Simplot said. “This ad campaign aims to reach those rural communities where there may be low-income homeowners in need and there are limited other resources available to keep them in their homes.”
When we look at the outcomes, the past year was a powerful reminder of all that we can do when we work together.
Because you Stepped Up for Our Community either as a donor, an advocate or a volunteer, we collectively did more than ever before to advance:
Early childhood education
Positive youth development
Basic services that strengthened our social safety net.
But that leaves us with a very important question:
How can we make 2022 even better?
In this edition…
Message from Sup. Vasquez
Siren Instillation in Museum Flood Area
Museum Flood Area Crisis Response Funding
Sheriff’s Office Tour
Redistricting Update
Services and Programs
And more!
Message from Supervisor Vasquez
They all arrive as if they are arriving for work – on time. They are all smiles as they meet Jen Green-Vance, president and CEO of Strides 2 Thrive and Elevated Shredding.
“With these guys and girls, it’s amazing,” Green-Vance said, after hugging or talking with each one of her clients. “And our job is to help them grow and thrive and achieve their best life possible.”
Green-Vance and her husband Joe Vance specialize in offering services to people with disabilities in the Flagstaff area. From assisted-living and day services to job training and skills acquisition, they offer opportunity to people with a range of disabilities.
And with the help of the Coconino Small Business Development Center, Green-Vance secured the funding to build facilities for their growing businesses – Strides 2 Thrive and Elevated Shredding.
There’s no doubt that Northern Arizona University plays a huge role in our community. In addition to being Flagstaff’s largest employer, it is the home of thousands of students who live, work and study here.
NAU is also a major player in local philanthropic efforts, including its annual workplace campaign to support United Way of Northern Arizona.
This year, NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera successfully challenged the university’s community to boost its contributions to UWNA, increasing their campaign goal from $25,000 to $35,000.
“NAU stepped up for community and for that I’m grateful,” he said.
Because NAU met the new goal, President Cruz Rivera authorized another $10,000 donation from the Office of the President, making NAU’s total contribution this year $45,000.
The Coconino Community College District Governing Board voted to move forward with an election to reset the primary property tax rate for the community college district.
The issue was voted on by the board members during the board’s Dec. 8 meeting.
The special election is scheduled for May 17, 2022. The election was made possible by the Arizona Legislature in 2018 with the amended Arizona Revised Statute 42-17056 to permit CCC to resubmit a proposed property tax levy for approval by the voters in an amount less than or equal to two times the otherwise authorized levy amount.
Coconino County’s Finance Department recently received the
Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation
Award.
The award represents a significant achievement for the Coconino County Finance Department, reflecting the commitment to meeting the highest principles of 7governmental budgeting.
One in five students at Coconino Community College is Native American.
Often, the Native American students who arrive at CCC are the first in their family to pursue a college education and may also come from challenging economic situations. As a result, they may face barriers in obtaining a college degree.
In an effort to increase Native American student course success, completion rates and a sense of belonging in the college community, CCC has received a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Called the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution (NASNTI) grant, the funds will be distributed over a five-year period.
“CCC values the sacred land on which we live and serve and the indigenous peoples who have inhabited it for centuries,” said CCC Provost Dr. Nate Southerland. “One in five students at CCC is Native American, and we look forward to providing these students with culturally responsive teaching, enhanced support, and interpersonal connections to help them be successful in their studies.”
Below is the schedule for all of Goodwill’s classes in January. As a reminder, Digital Literacy, and now Financial Literacy, can be taken online at your own pace. For details on signing up, please call 928-556-5096 or come in the Career Center to register. Select courses and additional career webinars are also offered on My Career Advisor.
I am now taking registration for all classes. Registration is required beforehand.
The City of Flagstaff will provide public comment opportunities for final 10-year Housing Plan on Jan. 27 at the City Housing Commission Meeting and Feb. 15, 2022 at the City Council Meeting.
The Draft 10-Year Housing Plan’s public comment period has officially closed. The community forum garnered 327 responses. Coupling these with the comments received through the presentations and community outreach, there are more than 600 written comments. Housing and Comprehensive Planners are working to review and categorize the comments.
Coconino County’s next Building Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BBE) business plan development Zoom-based training will run 6-9pm, Tuesdays for 9-week running through March 8th. If you are eligible, our Individual Development Accounts (IDA) match saving grant opportunity is also available. This email has information, below and attached, on the benefits of each program and how to sign-up.
To enroll in BBE please reply attaching a completed application and other documentation.
Goodwill of Central and Northern AZ will hold an in-person job fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 12 at its new second location on Switzer Canyon Road across from Frys.
Interviewing for Donation Attendants, Retail Merchandise Processors, Retail Sales Associates, and Retail Management, both full time and part time!
Goodwill of Central and Northern AZ will hold a virtual job fair at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 13.
Coconino County’s next Building Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BBE) business plan development Zoom-based training will run 6-9pm, Tuesdays for 9-week running March 29th and go through May 24th. If you are eligible, our Individual Development Accounts (IDA) match saving grant opportunity is also available. This email has information, below and attached, on the benefits of each program and how to sign-up.
Coconino County voters have a critical decision to make on their ballot on Election Day, November 8. Proposition 445 asks voters whether to extend the existing half-cent Jail District Sales Tax (JDST) for an additional 25 years. There will be a series of live-streamed virtual town hall meetings in the coming weeks in an effort to inform the public about the importance of the JDST to the operations of County Detention Facilities and the many in-custody and reentry programs the County provides.
Since 2007, over 600 local residents have enrolled in Coconino County’s Building Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BBE) business plan development training. Now we’ve added BBE Support Services Group (BBESSG) presentations, plus new cash assistance and referral incentives each worth up to $500. It’s been said 70% of the U.S. population has dreamed of starting a business but only 10% do, mostly for lack of know-how and capital. BBE training is for those starting and/or expanding a home-based or other micro-business (five or less employees).
Those enrolled for our next BBE training also can participate in noon-hour, Wednesday, June BBESSG presentation via Zoom:
Hi Everyone,
Wishing everyone a safe holiday season! As we approach the end
of the year its a time to reflect on the successes of 2021. District 2
has been very busy this year working on various items outlined
below.
American Rescue Plan Funding Process
Redistricting Process
Museum Flood Area Response and Mitigation
COVID Impacts and programs
County Budget Process
Despite lingering concerns due to multiple variants of the coronavirus, supply chain issues, and fears that inflation might dampen the recovery, our region had a fair bit of good economic news this past year.
Consider the fact that in 2021, the number of leads that we fielded for businesses interested in locating in northern Arizona increased by 15% over the last calendar year. At the same time, ECoNA’s Business Retention team reports that few businesses closed in the past 12 months and many are looking to expand.
That’s the macro view on our local economy. Zoom in a bit, however, and you’ll see a lot of exciting developments that made 2021 an excellent year for northern Arizona and indicate that 2022 might be even better.
During this season of giving, we’d like to ask you to consider donating your time (and maybe a few non-perishable items) to the Flagstaff Family Food Center (FFFC), a UWNA partner that has served thousands of our neighbors when they were at their most vulnerable.
The organization, which opened its doors on Christmas Day exactly 30 years ago, has provided meals through its daily hot dinner and sack lunches at its kitchen on North 2nd Street, or through its Food Bank on Huntington Drive.
Explicamos el programa del Seguro Social, sus fondos, sus beneficios y sus beneficiarios.
Shop CCC Scarves for Scholarships at the Annual Fine Craft & Decorative Art Market and in the CCC Lone Tree Campus Commons this Saturday & Sunday; and Monday – Thursday.
Visit the Coconino Community College Foundation booth for festive holiday gifts.
The Scarves for Scholarships fundraiser supports Nursing Student Scholarships at CCC.
Why not stay warm and cozy this year while helping to support a good cause all at the same time?
NAU 4 All club president, Transfer Jack, internship, job and honor society: They’ve all kept psychology major Shaelynn Cauthen busy. Being that involved has allowed her the opportunity to narrow down what she wants to do in the future that’s waiting after commencement on Dec. 10.
Welcome to #GivingTuesday.
Can we count on you to be part of today’s international movement?
When you give to United Way of Northern Arizona, you are investing in the future of our community and local programs to help our friends and neighbors in Coconino, Navajo and Apache counties.
Please Step Up for Our Community today – and thank you for donating!
You can make a difference today, when you give to the Festival of Science! Donors like you make our impactful STEAM programs happen right here in Flagstaff.
Established in 1990, The Festival of Science is the longest, continuously running, entirely free science festival in the world. On Giving Tuesday, consider making a gift of any size to the Festival of Science and help keep this excellent community event FREE!
During our GivingTuesday campaign, your donation is doubled when you give! A generous donor is willing to match up to $1000 in donations during the campaign, allowing your contribution to go further. However, it is critical that we reach our goal of $1000 to unlock the funds in this match!
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s #GivingTuesday will take place on November 30 and will kick off the giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back.
Support student success at Coconino Community College by giving to the CCC Foundation on Giving Tuesday – a global, online generosity movement designed to transform communities this Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
For more than 30 years, CCC has been putting “Students First”. This year, your gift on Giving Tuesday will go towards the CCC Foundation Greatest Needs Fund, which supports the immediate financial needs of CCC students.
She wants to be a surgeon.
To that end, Page resident Ryan Thomas, 18, is doing her best, through Coconino Community College, to get as many college credits out of the way before she ever leaves Page High School.
“I’ve always been focused on helping people and giving back to them,” Thomas said.
High school students in Coconino County have three options if they are interested in receiving college credits. Dual Enrollment students take college-level courses at a significantly reduced cost at their high schools. Concurrent Enrollment students take college-level courses at regular tuition costs at one of CCC’s campuses. Finally, Coconino Association for Vocations, Industry and Technology (CAVIAT) students take college level, vocational-based courses, leading to an industry or CCC certification, at no cost to the student, at one of CCC’s campuses.
As part of our celebration of Manufacturing Month, ECoNA’s Business Retention and Expansion Team had a special guest at its October meeting – Scott Reynolds, Director of Engineering at Electric Torque Machines.
In its 13-year history, this producer of direct drive motors has gone from a garage-based startup to being acquired last year by a major manufacturing company.
It began in 2008 under the name Motor Excellence. Started by engineer Tom Janecek and David Calley (founder of Southwest Windpower), the company’s goal was to create an improved design for direct drive motors.
These motors eliminate the need for transmissions such as gearboxes and belts, are lighter and more efficient than traditional motors and are used in numerous applications that require high continuous torque at low to moderate speeds, such as conveyor belts, pumps and fans. In fact, you can see ETM’s work if you go to the Flagstaff Airport, where ETM motors power the high volume, low speed ceiling fans in the terminal.
Giving Tuesday, November 30, is a global generosity movement, one to which you can contribute meaningfully. This popular day of giving back has grown to inspire millions of people to make a contribution during the holiday season.
How can YOU make an impact on GivingTuesday? Donate to the Flagstaff Festival of Science!
The U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore (on Nov. 10) pledged to provide $3.5 million toward Coconino County Flood Control District’s request for federal funding for on-forest watershed restoration measures in the Museum Flood Area. The funds will be used to design and construct watershed restoration measures on Forest Service land between the Museum Fire burn scar and the City of Flagstaff. Watershed restoration measures include restoration and stabilization of alluvial fans and stabilization of channels, which are done to reduce the level of sediment leaving the burn area and impacting the Mt. Elden Estates area and the Paradise, Grandview, and Sunnyside neighborhoods in Flagstaff. Reducing the level of sediment is a prerequisite for more effective existing and future flood mitigation within the City of Flagstaff.
“Coconino County is extremely grateful for the Chief’s commitment to partner with the Flood Control District to reduce the impacts of the post-wildfire flooding from the Museum Fire on our communities” stated Supervisor Patrice Horstman.
The City of Flagstaff Housing Section is asking all Flagstaff residents to read the Draft 10-Year Housing Plan and assist with prioritizing the policy initiatives and strategies. The Draft 10-Year Housing Plan can be found here.
Provide your feedback by participating in the following Policy Initiative and Strategy Prioritization Survey. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes. Your feedback is appreciated.
This public comment period ends November 5, 2021.
Members of the public are invited to join the City of Flagstaff’s Sustainability Section for this year’s Make a Difference Day on Saturday, October 16. This year, participants will have the opportunity to assist residents affected by flooding resulting from the Museum Fire in 2019.
Volunteers will be assigned to work crews to remove flood debris from properties. Accordingly, volunteers are asked to wear closed-toe shoes, sun protection, long pants, and gloves and bring a refillable water bottle, as well as a rake or shovel if they have them.
The Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library has announced that it is resuming technology tutoring and resume help services this week after a long pandemic hiatus.
Earlier Oct. 11 – and after a hearing held on October 4 – Judge James Smith of the Maricopa County Superior Court entered a preliminary injunction (attached) precluding the State of Arizona from collecting a $1.1 million “assessment” that the Arizona Legislature said should be collected from the City of Flagstaff.
That “assessment” arises out of legislation passed several years ago (HB 2756) in direct response to Proposition 414, under which the City’s voters recognized the needs of the community and adopted a minimum wage higher than that of the State at large. In July of this year, the City filed a lawsuit against the State challenging the constitutionality of a recently passed law that, for the first time, authorized an “assessment” against the City in connection with its minimum wage.
Good morning, and Happy Manufacturing Day, the kickoff to a month-long nationwide celebration of this sector, which has grown dramatically in northern Arizona over the past few years.
In fact, manufacturing is now one of the five top business clusters in our region (the others are health care/social services, food service/accommodations, education and retail.) Manufacturing pulled us through the pandemic as one of the few industries that grew during the past 18 months. This past year alone, our office has fielded more than 35 different inquiries about establishing manufacturing operations in northern Arizona.
Below is the schedule of upcoming Goodwill Workshops! For details on signing up, please call 928-556-5096 or come in the Career Center to register. Note that our classes and workshops will be offered only Virtually until further notice, and space is limited.
Monsoon season returned with a vengeance this year, pounding the Museum Fire burn scar and resulted in extensive damage to our community. Just look at the headlines from the past few weeks:
Historic Arizona flooding damages homes, leaves trail of debris
Flagstaff school closed due to flash flood damage
Ducey issues 2nd emergency declaration for Coconino County
In addition to the estimated $1 million in public infrastructure damage (not to mention the Killip Elementary School building being shuttered), much of the burden of this season has been shouldered by residential areas. Many homes were hard hit by flood waters – not once but multiple times – and now have extensive interior damage.
Please consider helping these neighbors by donating to the Crisis Response Fund.
We are very excited to welcome you to another issue of the Consular Newsletter on Economic and Tourism Affairs. We strive with each issue to provide readers with relevant and useful information related to economic and tourism topics for the business and political community on both sides of the Arizona–Mexico border.
In this issue, the #ChooseMexico section offers valuable information about the mining industry in Mexico. In addition, José Antonio Larios Ponce, the Consul of Mexico in Yuma, explains the collaboration between authorities in San Luis, Arizona, and in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, to organize free cross-border vaccination campaigns.
Nicholas Villas-Fletcher sat in the office filling out the paperwork to graduate from Northern Arizona University.
He will be the first generation in his family to complete a college degree, and the journey was made possible with the help of TRIO Student Support Services at Coconino Community College.
“I desperately needed help,” Villas-Fletcher said. “They made a difference. TRIO is a vital service for students who don’t have support like others.”
Coconino County and the Workforce Development Board are leading the way in helping dislocated workers and students explore new careers through virtual reality.
Using a workforce development platform called Transfr VR, the program allows job seekers to experience working in a warehouse, a manufacturing plant, an auto repair shop and even the hospitality industry.
These short simulations are hands-on, allowing people to “work” in the space using motion controllers similar to ones available in V/R gaming devices. Therefore, in the automotive simulation, you don’t just observe what it’s like to change the oil in a car, you actually are doing that job in the virtual space.
“It’s great because a lot of times, people don’t know what they want to do professionally unless they already know someone in that industry,” said Ali Applin, Virtual Reality Program Manager for the County. “A lot of today’s youth are visual or experiential learners, and this is perfect for them because they can picture what a job actually entails.”
Flagstaff resident Judith Crum knows first-hand how a college education can open doors.
“Education is important, and to many, it’s not affordable without help,” Crum said.
So, she put her money where her mouth is. Not only is she a board member of the Coconino Community College Foundation, she recently established the Crum Family Scholarship at CCC to help CCC students afford an education.
“I felt very strongly about helping out the community college and the students who go there,” Crum said. “I was raised to believe education was important. It was important in my life.”
Our Tuba City office is open but operating remotely, with limited in-person services. When possible, please conduct business by phone or email.
Office Hours:
Monday to Thursday | 10 am to 4 pm
Closed Fridays
If you need assistance, please call: 928-283-4518 or email Miranda at mmorales@coconino.az.gov
