Tag: Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA)

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Flagstaff Technology Park Poised for Development

by Community Contributor • April 25, 2024 • Comments Off

Work has begun to transform a 31.45-acre parcel just west of Flagstaff Pulliam Airport into a technology park focusing on cutting-edge businesses and research.

Genterra Enterprises, the master developer of the Northern Arizona Technology Park, recently completed negotiations with the City of Flagstaff to secure a long-term ground lease for the parcel, which was originally granted to the City by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The development is one of the largest shovel ready projects in northern Arizona and the only one dedicated to technology enterprises. It’s zoned Highway Commercial and the land is fully entitled, streamlining the approval process for interested companies, said Tim Kinney, President & CEO at Genterra.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Bioscience Roadmap Update

by Community Contributor • March 29, 2024 • Comments Off

We are all aware of the crucial role the bioscience sector plays in driving innovation, economic growth, and improving healthcare outcomes in Arizona. We hope you will join us next month for a virtual update on Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap.

The Flinn Foundation, which originally commissioned this long-term strategic plan more than two decades ago, will host the free Zoom session from 12 – 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22. You can register to attend HERE.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Nurturing Talent Through Apprenticeships

by Community Contributor • March 19, 2024 • Comments Off

It is hard to overstate the importance of apprenticeship programs in today’s economy, where numerous industries have identified a persistent “skills gap” in the workforce.

The State of Arizona’s Office of Economic Opportunity recently announced it is working to expand registered construction and trade apprenticeship programs with grants from its BuildItAZ initiative, but time is running out to apply for these funds.

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

by Community Contributor • February 27, 2024 • Comments Off

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.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — The Home Rental Landscape in Flagstaff

by Community Contributor • January 29, 2024 • Comments Off

According to statistics from the Northern Arizona Association of Realtors, the surge in home prices in Flagstaff slowed down dramatically in 2023. After increases of 11.8% in 2020, 25.2% in 2021, and 13.6% in 2022, the median sales price for a residential home grew 1.3% in the past year – from $618,697 in 2022 to $626,500 last year.

Although the latest figures may indicate that the price to buy a home has reached a plateau, rental property prices are still climbing.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — 2023 Recap, Plus Remembering Amanda and Dennis

by Community Contributor • December 29, 2023 • Comments Off

This year has been pivotal for the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona not only for what was accomplished, but also for the roadmap we are developing for the future.

Our top story for 2023 was the creation of our 5-year Strategic Plan (which you can download here) as we contemplated the most critical issues we must address to ensure continued economic vitality for our region.

One of the important aspects for our economic health is trade, and we were pleased to host the Consul General of Mexico, Jorge Mendoza Yescas, and Glenn Williamson, the founder and CEO of the Canada Arizona Business Council in Flagstaff. We opened up our Advisory Council meeting to the entire business community so everyone could benefit from the insights of these two representatives of Arizona’s largest two trading partners.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — The Advantages of a Thriving Economy

by Community Contributor • November 16, 2023 • Comments Off

As Ioanna Morfessis, President & CEO of IO, Inc., recently put it: “Economies don’t remain static; there is no stasis. They either grow and progress or they regress.”

Morfessis and Danny Court of Elliott Pollack & Co. co-authored the recently released Strategic Plan created on behalf of ECoNA to outline a roadmap for the region’s economic future.

Their reporting indicates that Northern Arizona faces a major decision: whether the region’s economy will continue to remain competitive or if anti-growth sentiment will lead to stagnation and possible economic erosion.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) Holds Manufacturing Tours for High School Students

by Community Contributor • October 26, 2023 • Comments Off

As part of our celebration of Manufacturing Month, the ECoNA Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) team recently organized a tour of three local manufacturers for 17 juniors and seniors from Flagstaff and Coconino high schools to show the rewarding work – and excellent pay – available in this sector.

The Arizona Office of Economic Security projects that between 2022 and 2024, there will be an 8.2% increase in manufacturing jobs in Coconino, Navajo, and Yavapai counties. This equates to more than 100 new jobs.

“Our intent is to have more of these educational tours throughout the northern Arizona region,” said Cynthia Hudspeth, the newly named Director of Operations at ECoNA who attended the tours with the students. “The message is to show students the possible careers right here in their backyard and that they can work, live and stay in northern Arizona.”

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Join Us (Oct. 11) for a Webinar on Prop 480

by Community Contributor • October 10, 2023 • Comments Off

You are cordially invited to join us tomorrow for a special webinar on Prop. 480, the citizens of Flagstaff’s referendum on the re-zoning of the proposed Northern Arizona Hospital site. The re-zoning of the site was approved by the Flagstaff City Council earlier this year.

This Arizona Civic Exchange (CivEx) event, which will be held from 2 – 3 p.m. (MST), is being sponsored by the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership, a part of the Flinn Foundation. The webinar is being presented in conjunction with the Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance Community Civility Project.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — View Webinars Providing Insights to 5-Year Strategic Plan

by Community Contributor • September 28, 2023 • Comments Off

Good afternoon,

Late last month, we released our comprehensive 5-year Strategic Plan, a roadmap for economic growth in northern Arizona that was created for ECoNA by Elliott D. Pollack & Co. and IO, Inc.

Over the past few weeks, representatives of those companies have been leading a series of webinars that drill down on three key aspects of the plan: housing challenges, the local labor shed, and sectors that northern Arizona should be targeting for greater prosperity.

What’s made these webinars fascinating is not only the in-depth analysis provided by Danny Court and Ioanna Morfessis, the principal authors of the roadmap, but also the insightful questions from webinar participants as we study where northern Arizona is now – and where we want to be headed.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — 5-Year Strategic Plan Released

by Community Contributor • August 31, 2023 • Comments Off

Earlier this week, representatives from Elliott D. Pollack & Co. and IO Inc. presented an overview of their comprehensive 5-year Stategic Plan for economic growth in northern Arizona, including a SWOT analysis, comparisons to similar areas, and six overarching goals needed to sustain and increase the economic vitality of the region.

The strategic plan, commissioned by ECoNA, identified the workforce housing gap, slow population growth in the region, and anti-growth sentiment as the biggest challenges facing our area.

“No economy remains static; it either progresses or regresses,” said Ioanna Morfessis, President and Chief Strategist for IO Inc., who added that strategic plans like the one created for ECoNA were not about “growth for growth sake” but preserving the assets of the region while creating opportunities for the next generations to live and work here.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Busy Summer at Northern Arizona’s Regional Airports

by Community Contributor • August 17, 2023 • Comments Off

It’s been a busy summer at northern Arizona’s three local airports, with changes in personnel, new facilities and extensive improvement work to enable these facilities to better serve our region.

At Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Brian Gall became the new Airport Director in late April. He had previously been the airport’s Program Manager and his career has included serving as a Development Engineering Project Manager for the City of Flagstaff and being an engineer for both the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Last Chance to RSVP for Advisory Council Meeting with Mexico & Canada Consuls

by Community Contributor • August 11, 2023 • Comments Off

Time is running out to RSVP for next week’s meeting of the ECoNA Advisory Council, which will feature conversation with the Consul General of Mexico in Phoenix, Jorge Mendoza Yescas, and Glenn Williamson, former Honorary Consul of Canada for Arizona and the founder and CEO of the Canada Arizona Business Council.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Business Community, Please RSVP today for Aug. 16 meeting with Mexico & Canada Consuls

by Community Contributor • August 4, 2023 • Comments Off

You are cordially invited to the next meeting of the ECoNA Advisory Council, where our featured speakers will be the Consul General of Mexico in Phoenix, Jorge Mendoza Yescas, and Glenn Williamson, former Honorary Consul of Canada for Arizona and the founder and CEO of the Canada Arizona Business Council.
We are extending this invitation to the entire business community because of the importance of these two countries to our state and regional economy.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA)’s Gail Jackson to be part of the 15th cohort of the Flinn-Brown Fellowship

by Community Contributor • July 27, 2023 • Comments Off

Typically, my e-newsletters to you are reserved to talk about our region and the work that the diverse leadership of the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona is doing to maintain and expand economic vitality here.
Today, however, I want to share a little bit of personal news that I think will also benefit our efforts.
I’m honored to announce that starting next month, I will be part of the 15th cohort of the Flinn-Brown Fellowship. This is an extraordinary opportunity to connect with 27 other civic leaders throughout the state and gain a deeper understanding of policies as we work to address Arizona’s long-term issues.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Save the Date: Mexico & Canada Consuls in Flagstaff on Aug. 16

by Community Contributor • July 21, 2023 • Comments Off

The Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona is pleased to announce that the featured speakers for its August 16 Advisory Council meeting will be the Consul General of Mexico, Jorge Mendoza Yescas, and Glenn Williamson, the founder and CEO of the Canada Arizona Business Council.

Both men have decades of diplomatic service between them and are uniquely versed in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which created one of the world’s largest free trade zones.

We are extending this invitation to the entire business community because of the importance of these two countries to our state and regional economy. The meeting will be held from 1-2:30 pm in the City of Flagstaff Council Chambers, 211 W. Aspen Ave.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — July 4th Festivities in Northern Arizona

by Community Contributor • June 29, 2023 • Comments Off

All across northern Arizona, there will be lots of celebrations this Independence Day. Here is a sampling of what’s happening in the region as you make your holiday plans.

In Flagstaff, July 4th will get off to a patriotic start with the annual Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce 4th of July Parade through Historic Downtown. The parade starts at 9 am, but you’ll want to arrive early to secure a good viewing spot; this is one of Flagstaff’s biggest events all year.

Later that day, the festivities take a musical turn with A Flag Fourth at the Pepsi Amphitheater in Fort Tuthill County Park. The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra will take the stage at 3 pm for its annual pops concert. This event is perfect for all ages and free! Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and sunscreen. Doors open at 2 pm.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — APS Business Tools to Lower Energy Costs

by Community Contributor • June 15, 2023 • Comments Off

As temperatures heat up, it’s important for businesses to explore ways to save on their energy bills. Fortunately, APS offers a whole suite of services and programs to help businesses manage energy usage.

“Small business owners are still trying to catch up from the pandemic and now they’re dealing with inflation,” said Trevor Swanson, Energy Innovation Advisor for APS. “Whether it’s an energy assessment, rebate or special program, there are countless ways for small businesses to save on their monthly energy bills.”

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — The Booming BioScience Sector

by Community Contributor • May 11, 2023 • Comments Off

The biosciences continue to be one of the most dynamic sectors in our state’s economy, and northern Arizona had many highlights to share in the latest Arizona Bioscience Roadmap progress report.

The roadmap is a long-term strategic plan originally commissioned by the Flinn Foundation in 2002 and updated in 2014 with the goal of Arizona becoming globally competitive and a national leader in select areas of the biosciences by 2025.

In fields such as precision medicine, neuroscience, bioengineering, agricultural biotechnology and more, Arizona has become globally competitive because of its deep talent base, the ability to turn research and discoveries into commercial products, and the critical mass of entrepreneurship to turn those products into enterprises.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Events & Opportunities for Economic Development Week

by Community Contributor • May 4, 2023 • Comments Off

Next week is the 8th annual Economic Development Week, created by the International Economic Development Council in 2016 to increase awareness of local efforts to promote economic vitality and highlight programs that create jobs and opportunities for individuals and businesses.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Arizona Commerce Authority Tours Northern Arizona

by Community Contributor • April 13, 2023 • Comments Off

It is always a joy showing off all that northern Arizona has to offer – and what new things are on the horizon – to visitors who appreciate the power of economic development in keeping a community vibrant.

So it was with great pleasure that ECoNA recently hosted the business development team from the Arizona Commerce Authority on a whirlwind two-day tour of our region.

We packed a lot into those 48 hours, and our guests could not have been more positive and engaged as they learned more about the strides we are making to improve economic vitality in Flagstaff, Winslow, Sedona, and Camp Verde.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Save the Date: BioScience Roadmap Update

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2023 • Comments Off

As the Bioscience Roadmap enters its third decade, we hope you will join us next month for the annual update on the growth and progress of Arizona’s bioscience sector.

The Flinn Foundation, which originally commissioned this long-term strategic plan more than two decades ago, will be hosting the free Zoom session from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19. You can register to attend HERE.

The event will feature presentations by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero on the capacity of municipalities to drive growth in this sector.

The Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) Q&A: Coconino County Manager Steve Peru

by Community Contributor • March 10, 2023 • Comments Off

Steve Peru became Coconino County Manager for a second time in 2021. He was originally hired by the County after graduating from Northern Arizona University in 1979 and had a storied 32-year career that culminated in becoming County Manager in 2006. He retired in 2011 and went on to positions at W.L. Gore & Associates, United Way of Northern Arizona and Coconino Community College before returning to County Government in 2021. Below is an excerpt from our recent interview with him. You can see the full conversation here.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Celebrating Education in Northern Arizona

by Community Contributor • February 28, 2023 • Comments Off

Workforce development is a topic we often turn to when we talk about the critical needs of northern Arizona businesses, but often that discussion focuses on post-secondary education, internships, and job training.

The fact is that creating tomorrow’s workforce goes back much further, starting in elementary, middle, and high school. Which is why we are so happy that there are several upcoming events that celebrate our local educators.

It starts this Thursday with the annual STEMMY Awards being given out by Flagstaff STEM City to honor students, teachers and organizations who are STEM leaders in the greater Flagstaff community. Last year, Audrey Baird of Flagstaff Arts & Leadership Academy took top honors for STEM educator.

Thursday’s ceremony will be from 6 to 7 pm at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA)

by Community Contributor • February 13, 2023 • Comments Off

While northern Arizona is home to many festivals throughout the year, the month of February tends to be a little slower, with much of the region’s tourism dollars coming from out-of-towners looking to ski and play in the snow.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, however.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Small Business Grants & Assistance Opportunities

by Community Contributor • January 19, 2023 • Comments Off

Several local government agencies are offering grants and programs to help small business in 2023, but deadlines to apply for many of these funds are coming up soon.

The City of Flagstaff has allocated $300,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act package to help small businesses offset the fiscal challenges due to the pandemic, including staffing shortages, decreased revenues, and modification that were required due to Covid-19.

The awards, ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, can be used for a wide array of purposes, including marketing to overcome losses in revenue due to the pandemic, attracting and retaining employees, or purchasing business equipment. The business must be locally owned and operated, within the Flagstaff City limits, and have fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees. Deadline to apply is January 31 and details can be found here.

Sept. 19 — Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) to present Targeted Sector Analysis Webinar

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2023 • Comments Off

The last in a series of webinars on “Forging the Future,” the recently released 5-year strategic plan for northern Arizona’s economy, will be held on Tuesday, September 19 at 10 am.

Based on an economic roadmap developed for ECoNA by Elliott D. Pollack & Co. and IO, Inc., this webinar will focus on the plan’s targeted sector analysis.

Please join us for this informative session as we work together on pursuing greater economic vitality for northern Arizona. You can attend the webinar using this link.

Dec. 13 — Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Join Us for Our Open House

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2023 • Comments Off

Join us on Wednesday, Dec. 13 for a morning Holiday Mixer at the ECoNA office in downtown Flagstaff.
Enjoy beverages from Noble Ground Coffee and cinnamon rolls from Honey Pie Bakery as we celebrate the successes of 2023 and the joy of this special season.
We look forward to seeing you! Please RSVP by Friday, Dec. 8.
WHAT: ECoNA Holiday Mixer
WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 13, 8 – 10 am
WHERE: 201 E. Birch Ave., Suite 12, Flagstaff

Please RSVP via email HERE.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — [Video] Looking Back on 2022

by Community Contributor • December 29, 2022 • Comments Off

The past year had its challenges for businesses locally and nationwide – from inflation to labor shortages to continued supply chain disruptions. Yet we still saw progress in northern Arizona, from the opening of businesses and facilities to plans for future growth in Flagstaff, Camp Verde, Sedona, and Winslow.

Among the highlights this year were:

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — TGen Grows with Diagnostic Lab

by Community Contributor • December 8, 2022 • Comments Off

Among the many changes that came out of the era of Covid-19 was the dramatic growth of one of the pillars of our local biosciences sector, the TGen Pathogen and Microbiome Division, better known as TGen North.

TGen North was on the front lines very early on in the crisis, using genomics to analyze the structure of the coronavirus and develop one of the first tests to detect it. The pandemic also prompted the nonprofit to build its own CLIA-certified diagnostics lab. (CLIA, which stands for Clinical Lab Improvement Amendments, is the federal certification needed before a lab can accept human samples for diagnostic testing.)

“That allowed us to test patient samples and return the results to patients and clinicians, which we hadn’t done before,” said Dave Engelthaler, PhD, the director of TGen North. “It had been a long-term goal for us to develop a diagnostics lab, but there’s nothing like an emergency to put things into place.”

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA)’s open house rescheduled to Dec. 9

by Community Contributor • December 5, 2022 • Comments Off

We are so excited! Our Open House is back on, now for 2-4 pm on Friday, December 9.

We will still be offering lattes and hot cocoa from Honey Pie and we’ll have a photographer on hand (available on a first-come first served basis) so you can update your headshot for 2023.

Don’t worry about sending an RSVP, just mark your calendar and plan to join us on Dec. 9. We look forward to seeing you!

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — omorrow’s Open House POSTPONED

by Community Contributor • November 30, 2022 • Comments Off

Illness has struck at ECoNA and, as a result, we must regretfully postpone our Open House and Holiday Celebration, which had been scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at the ECoNA office.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

As soon as these flu-like symptoms pass, our party will be rescheduled so we can celebrate the season and this year’s accomplishments with you.

Stay Tuned

and Thank You for your patience.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Happy Thanksgiving from ECoNA

by Community Contributor • November 22, 2022 • Comments Off

As we prepare to spend time with family and friends, sharing love and thoughts of gratitude, we wanted to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and let you know how grateful we are for all of you.

We also are looking forward to seeing you next week at our Holiday Open House from 3 – 5 pm on Thursday, December 1. If you haven’t had a chance to RSVP yet, click here for more information and to register.

Until then, we wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Gail Jackson

President & CEO

ECoNA

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) announces Open House on Dec. 1

by Community Contributor • November 17, 2022 • Comments Off

Join us for an Open House and Holiday Celebration at the ECoNA office in the Historic Ice House in downtown Flagstaff.

Check out the new conference room, warm up at the hot cocoa bar, and celebrate the accomplishments of 2022!

Plus, update your headshot for the New Year. We’ll have a photographer on site taking photos on a first come, first serve basis, so wear your business best.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — What CHIPS Could Mean for Northern Arizona

by Community Contributor • October 27, 2022 • Comments Off

Earlier this month, ECoNA’s Advisory Council heard a presentation from Joe Russell, Legislative Assistant to Senator Mark Kelly, about the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, which was signed into law this past August.

For more than a year, Sen. Kelly had championed the underlying pieces of legislation that formed the act, and served as the Arizona representative on the conference committee to reconcile the Senate and House versions of the bill.

The Act includes a $52 billion plan to boost domestic microchip manufacturing; a four-year, 25% investment tax credit to provide long-term incentives for semiconductor manufacturers and suppliers to construct or expand facilities in the United States; and $13.2 billion for research and development and workforce development.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Celebrating Small Manufacturers: Chocolita

by Community Contributor • October 13, 2022 • Comments Off

October is National Manufacturing Month, a time when we celebrate a sector that, according to McKinsey & Company, generates $2.3 trillion of the U.S. gross domestic product, employs 12 million people, and accounts for 70% of R&D investment.

But those outsized statistics are mostly fueled by small companies; the Small Business Administration estimates that three out of every four manufacturers in the U.S. have 20 employees or less.

Companies like Chocolita, maker of botanical, organic chocolates, which recently moved from a cooperative kitchen in Sedona to open a combined manufacturing/retail outlet in Kachina Square in Flagstaff.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — NAU Holds Master Plan Open House on Oct. 6

by Community Contributor • September 29, 2022 • Comments Off

Northern Arizona University will hold a Community Open House on Thursday, October 6 to discuss the development of its Smart, Sustainable, Comprehensive Campus Master Plan, which will provide a framework for land use, open space and facility development at NAU.

NAU is asking that you register for the session, which will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the High Country Conference Center.

The master plan will emphasize “smart campus” capabilities to drive new efficiencies, reduce carbon emissions, and effectively manage resources. NAU is working with DLR Group, a nationally recognized design firm, in developing the master plan.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Communities to Provide Analytics for Businesses

by Community Contributor • September 15, 2022 • Comments Off

Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.

That’s why ECoNA and the municipalities of Flagstaff, Winslow, Sedona and Camp Verde have collaborated to provide Buxton analytics to help local businesses and organizations with information that can guide their decisions.

For almost 30 years, the Fort Worth-based company has offered insights that have helped dozens of businesses and communities understand their customers more precisely. Buxton’s software-as-a-service platform is focused on multiple sectors, including retail, restaurants, automotive, healthcare, hospitality, tourism, and general economic development.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Providing an Alternative Route to Homeownership

by Community Contributor • August 4, 2022 • Comments Off

Becoming a homeowner in Flagstaff has never been easy, but this year the barriers have been particularly high, with the median average price of a single-family home well above $700,000 by this summer.

Combine that with hikes in mortgage rates and overall inflation pressures, and it was a triple whammy that dashed the dream of homeownership for many who live and work in northern Arizona.

Public, nonprofit, and private entities are working together to give some relief by producing starter homes through Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona (HFHNA) that are small-scale, affordable, and meant to create equity quickly for homeowners.

The group is currently building the first of these homes in Flagstaff’s South Side, but it is likely the effort will grow exponentially in the next five years under a plan to build at least 40 of the units at the new Timber Sky development on West Route 66.

“The escalation of home prices has closed the window for a huge amount of middle-class people,” said Eric Wolverton, Executive Director of HFHNA. “This isn’t about serving the poorest of the poor. We are looking to create workforce housing.”

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Lean Manufacturing Workshop at NACET July 29

by Community Contributor • July 7, 2022 • Comments Off

The various philosophies behind more efficient manufacturing methods have gone by many names over the years – the Toyota Production System or “The Toyota Way,” just-in-time production, and more recently, lean manufacturing.

All have similar principals – that by applying certain tools, manufacturers can implement a systematic approach to reduce “waste,” which is defined as non-value-added activities.

In fact, lean manufacturing identifies eight potential areas of waste that can be reduced in ways that will not only streamline production, but also improve working conditions.

The ECoNA Q&A: NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera

by Community Contributor • June 24, 2022 • Comments Off

José Luis Cruz Rivera recently completed his first year as the 17th President of Northern Arizona University (NAU). To mark this anniversary, we asked him about key initiatives during his first year, NAU’s niche in the higher ed marketplace, what local restaurants he’s discovered, and his upcoming formal installation in September. You can see the full interview here.

Q: What do you feel your biggest success has been this first year?
A: Well, that’s an easy answer. The fact that I survived the Running of the Freshman at the first home football game!

In all seriousness, while there have been many success stories, I think my biggest success has been learning about and connecting with the people and organizations who live and work at NAU, in Flagstaff and throughout northern Arizona. It has been important to me from day one to understand the values here. Time will be the judge of my success leading and supporting the efforts of our awesome university community, but I have truly enjoyed listening and learning and still feel it is a privilege to serve as the President of NAU and live is this amazing and beautiful community.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Summer of Festivals

by Community Contributor • June 9, 2022 • Comments Off

…Here’s just a small sample of the festivals and events coming up this month that will help bring visitors (and their dollars) to our region.

Flagstaff Blues & Brews (tomorrow and Saturday, June 11). In just a few short years, this event has grown to become the state’s largest blues festival. Two days of terrific music, plus local and regional microbrews, as well as wine and hard cider. Food vendors and arts and craft tents round out the event, returning this year to the grounds of Continental Country Club.
Made in the Shade Festival (Saturday, June 11) – Another popular festival that features music and scores of different brands of beer. Proceeds from this day-long festival at the Pepsi Amphitheater go towards helping Sun Sounds of Arizona provide reading and information access services to those with disabilities.
Pride in the Pines (Saturday, June 18) – For more than 20 years, Pride in the Pines has been a party with a purpose, a celebration of the LGBTQ2S community that promotes cultural diversity and human rights for all by fighting discrimination of any kind. This year’s headliners are Brita Filter from RuPaul’s Drag Race and Grammy-nominated Latin artist Gina Chavez.
Flagstaff Folk Festival (Saturday, June 18 & Sunday, June 19) – The Museum Club will showcase the best in folk and acoustic music with more than 70 acts on two stages.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Remote Workers Meet Today (May 25) at 928NOW

by Community Contributor • May 25, 2022 • Comments Off

Are you a free lancer, contractor, or corporate employee working remotely? You are cordially invited to the first meeting of 928NOW, open to any online worker who lives in Northern Arizona.

This networking event will take place TODAY from 4:30 pm – 6 pm at Mother Road Brewing (7 S. Mikes Pike St., Flagstaff).

This will be an opportunity to get to know other online workers and identify what this segment of our workforce needs to be successful. We look forward to seeing you!

DATE: Today, Wednesday, May 25

TIME: 4:30 to 6 pm

LOCATION: Mother Road Brewery

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Milestones, Workforce Program Focus of Economic Development Week

by Community Contributor • May 12, 2022 • Comments Off

This is Economic Development Week, an annual event created by the International Economic Development Council to increase awareness of local efforts to promote economic vitality, highlight programs that create jobs, and celebrate entities that improve the quality of life in communities everywhere.

Which makes this the perfect week to note some important milestones being reached by northern Arizona businesses and organizations. In Flagstaff, this year is the 10th anniversary of two very popular businesses, Flagstaff Xtreme and Mother Road Brewing Co. It’s also the 20th anniversary of the latest iteration of The Orpheum as a entertainment venue.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Sustainability on the Ground and in the Skies

by Community Contributor • April 28, 2022 • Comments Off

With Earth Day just behind us and Arbor Day tomorrow, it seemed like a good time to discuss the myriad of sustainability initiatives in northern Arizona, which are both on the ground and in the skies.

In Flagstaff, many of these green efforts are centered around Flagstaff Pulliam Airport.

Both commercial airlines that operate at the airport – American and United – are working towards reducing their carbon footprint through the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which has the potential of providing the power of traditional jet fuel but without being refined from petroleum.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — BioScience Roadmap Update Coming Next Week

by Community Contributor • April 14, 2022 • Comments Off

This year the Bioscience Roadmap turns 20 and we hope you will join us next week and attend a special virtual event that will focus on how far we’ve come – with an overview of what still needs to be done – to make our state a national leader in this sector by 2025.

The Flinn Foundation, which originally commissioned this long-term strategic plan two decades ago, will be hosting the free Zoom session from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20. You can register to attend HERE.

The event will feature a presentation by Mitch Horowitz and Ryan Helwig, principals of TEConomy Partners, who will reveal new performance metrics, including comparisons to 20 years ago when the Roadmap was launched.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — A Changing of the Guard

by Community Contributor • March 22, 2022 • Comments Off

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.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Winslow Levee Project Wins Federal Support

by Community Contributor • February 24, 2022 • Comments Off

The City of Winslow and several regional communities along the Little Colorado River are facing a more secure, prosperous, and drier future with the announcement of almost $66 million in federal funding for the Winslow Levee project.

The project is critical for the region’s economic development, but also has implications for the national economy as well. More than 100 BNSF trains double stacked with cargo containers cross over the Little Colorado River in Winslow every day, and the City serves as a critical link in the movement of billions of dollars in goods between the port of Long Beach and Chicago.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — NAH Expansion: Better Health Services & A Stronger Economy

by Community Contributor • February 4, 2022 • Comments Off

The ambitious plans of Northern Arizona Healthcare to build a new hospital and a ‘Health and Wellness Village’ on land just north of Fort Tuthill County Park is a bold vision that goes well beyond the traditional healthcare model.

For those not familiar with the expansion proposal, which was the subject of two virtual public neighborhood meetings last month, it would begin with the construction of a new hospital to replace the current Flagstaff Medical Center. Subsequent phases on the 180-acre parcel would include almost 200 units of housing, mixed used retail (with an emphasis on health-focused retailers and restaurants), and ultimately a medical research and development zone.

NAH is currently working with the City of Flagstaff to refine the plan in advance of NAH applying for a rezoning of the property.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Finding Your Workforce in 2022

by Community Contributor • January 18, 2022 • Comments Off

Whether you call it the Great Resignation, the Big Quit, or the American Job Reshuffle, the challenge is real for companies trying to attract and retain employees. The tumultuous changes due to Covid resulted in a restless workforce that is redefining what they are looking for in their place of employment.

And if they don’t find it – either in their current job or when they apply for a new position – they will move on to the next opportunity.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — 2021 Economic Highlights

by Community Contributor • December 22, 2021 • Comments Off

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.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — The Lynn Hagen Business Library at ECoNA

by Community Contributor • December 9, 2021 • Comments Off

This past April, we lost a man whose unique talents, fearless entrepreneurial spirit and insatiable curiosity left both our community and the business sector a better place. Now, thanks to his family, his impressive collection of business books is available to the public through The Lynn Hagen Business Library at ECoNA.

George “Lynn” Hagen was a serial entrepreneur, the named inventor of 29 patents, and the founder or executive of several notable and pioneering companies. You’ll probably recognize many of the businesses he was associated with: Osborne Computer, creator of the first commercially successful portable computer; Upper Deck® trading cards; and Tagworks®, maker of laser-engraved pet identification tags.

Happy Thanksgiving from ECoNA

by Community Contributor • November 24, 2021 • Comments Off

As we prepare to spend time with family and friends, sharing love and thoughts of gratitude, we wanted to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and express some of what has made us grateful this year.

On the top of that list is you. Your support, insights, collaboration and drive to see a more economically vibrant region are what fuel our mission.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Innovation Powering ETM Success

by Community Contributor • November 16, 2021 • Comments Off

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.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Flagstaff Revives Sister Cities Program

by Community Contributor • October 14, 2021 • Comments Off

Flagstaff is reviving its Sister Cities program and looking for input from the community as it determines which municipalities it will reach out to in order to forge these unique international relationships.

The Sister Cities program was created in the 1950s, spurred by President Eisenhower’s White House Conference on Citizen Diplomacy. The goal was simple for the man who had led the Allied Forces during World War II: Create a way to encourage people from different countries to learn about each other as a means of avoiding future wars.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Happy Manufacturing Day!

by Community Contributor • October 1, 2021 • Comments Off

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.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Transportation, Trees and Our Local Economy

by Community Contributor • September 14, 2021 • Comments Off

The recent ECoNA Advisory Council meeting was proof positive that many of our community’s efforts to make our environment cleaner and safer also serve the needs of our local economy.

The Council heard from representatives of the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Transportation Authority (NAIPTA), which operates the Mountain Line bus system; the regional MetroPlan organization and a professor with the Ecology Restoration Institute (ERI), an independent research branch of Northern Arizona University.

Voters have always been supportive of NAIPTA and its environmental goals. Back in 2008, NAIPTA received voter approval to begin transitioning from diesel to hybrid buses and now the entire fleet of 29 fixed route buses are hybrid. In 2016, voters renewed extending the transit tax that helps support NAIPTA with an impressive 71% voting in favor of the measure.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Using Virtual Reality for Workforce Development

by Community Contributor • August 26, 2021 • Comments Off

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.”

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Meeting the Challenge of the Delta Variant

by Community Contributor • August 12, 2021 • Comments Off

As the Delta variant causes a surge in new infections and hospitalizations, the public and private sectors are scrambling to keep up with rapidly shifting recommendations on how to deal with the highly transmissible fourth wave of Covid-19.

Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff both reinstated requirements for masks while in City or County buildings, regardless of vaccination status. Yesterday, Northern Arizona University announced that masks will be required in classrooms and labs. Meanwhile, the Flagstaff Unified School District is requiring masks until at least September 29, in spite of current state law forbidding mask mandates in K-12 schools. (Requirements are evolving all the time; check an institution’s website for the latest information on their mask protocols.)

Leading the way in the response to the Delta variant, however, has been the business community. Large companies like Ford Motors, Walmart, United Airlines, and Target have recently enacted mask and/or vaccine requirements for workers. Some are also trying to coax vaccine hesitant workers to get their shots with cash bonuses.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Q&A with Flagstaff City Manager Greg Clifton

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Two years ago next month, Greg Clifton became Flagstaff’s City Manager after a search that took almost a year and half.

Greg, who also serves as a member of the ECoNA Executive Board, brought more than three decades of experience from several Colorado cities and towns, including stints as the Town Manager of Telluride and Vail.

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