Coconino County Community Development was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $920,000 from the Office of Economic Adjustment through the Department of Defense.
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Community Development was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $920,000 from the Office of Economic Adjustment through the Department of Defense. This grant will allow for the implementation of key strategies to protect the missions of military installations at Camp Navajo and the Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (NOFS), and will promote awareness of its activities in the community. These strategies were identified as priorities from a Joint Land Use Study that was concluded approximately one year ago.
Through this grant and in partnership with the City of Flagstaff, Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station, Arizona State Land Department, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (AZDEMA), Camp Navajo and the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment, Coconino County will promote compatibility between local jurisdictions, NOFS and Camp Navajo, and awareness of its missions. This is important to keep residents of the County informed of activities occurring at the military installations and ensure that they are aware of proposed encroachment of the installation, and potential impacts associated with encroachment. The grant will also ensure that the community is aware of regional dark sky initiatives and impacts, allows for a feasibility study and analysis of the potential for forest restoration industries sited on Camp Navajo, supports wildfire mitigation efforts within Camp Navajo and will fund a review of the impact that a potential wildfire would have on Camp Navajo’s mission, among other initiatives.
“Coconino County is proud to partner closely with Camp Navajo, the Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station and local jurisdictions to ensure the safety of the community and our residents, as well as support the critical missions taking place at our local federal military installations. The grant awarded invests in this important collaboration,” said Matt Ryan, County Supervisor, District 3.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved the acceptance of the grant on August 25, 2020 and the County will begin work in the coming weeks on the initiatives mentioned.