Business, Education, Finance, Local, News

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) board meets with Sen. Mark Kelly

by Community Contributor • February 27, 2024 • Comments Off

Good afternoon,

The Board of ECoNA had a robust, wide-ranging conversation with Senator Mark Kelly recently that covered infrastructure improvements in northern Arizona, possible strategies for addressing our chronic housing shortage here, and the senator’s profound disappointment that the border security bill that was negotiated in Congress did not garner enough support to pass.

Earlier in the day, Senator Kelly had presided over a field hearing of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee at City Hall, which focused on a progress report from local officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Rio de Flag Flood Control project.

“Once that project is completed, it’s going to take most people and about 1500 structures out of the 100-year floodplain,” he told the ECoNA Board. “That’s going to promote a lot of business opportunities and growth for Flagstaff.”

The senator also heard from Board members about the lack of workforce housing and how that is impacting economic vitality in northern Arizona. Senator Kelly and board members discussed how a lack of infrastructure has stymied investment in affordable housing, despite the availability of low-income housing tax credits.

Senator Kelly noted that housing is part of a larger workforce issue.

“Every single company I talk with, every industry, is short of people right now,” he said. And unemployment isn’t at record lows, but it’s getting close. They can’t find the workforce.”

We are so grateful for the senator’s time and insights, and look forward to working with him and his office as we address critical economic needs in northern Arizona.