FLAGSTAFF, Ariz — Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and eligible nonprofit organizations operating within the City of Flagstaff are invited to apply for the Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Incentive, a competitive grant program designed to support the growth, stability, and resilience of existing local businesses.
The City of Flagstaff has allocated $45,000 for the BR&E Incentive in FY27, with individual awards ranging from $2,500 to $30,000. Up to $15,000 of the total allocation may be awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations with a focus on economic development activities. The program also requires a 1-to-1 cash match; the amount requested must be matched by the applicant.
While all small businesses located within the Flagstaff municipal boundary are welcome to apply, the program prioritizes businesses in food processing, biosciences, medical devices, research and development, health care, clean energy, forestry, software development and education. Applicants are encouraged to focus on projects that create or retain low environmental impact, high-wage jobs.
Tracie Hansen, Owner of Minuteman Press, received a BR&E award after an unplanned business relocation collided with a major equipment investment. “The BRE Incentive helped offset some of those expenses, giving us some financial breathing room,” she said. “I found it helpful to reach out to the city’s economic development team to get a better sense of what could help us be successful in our proposal. They were generous with their time, helpful with their information and invested in our success. It was clear to me that they truly wanted to help us.”
Applications will be accepted through Oct. 31, 2026. Interested applicants should submit their proposal by email to Creag Znetko, Economic Development Administrator, at cznetko@flagstaffaz.gov, with the subject line “BR&E Grant Application.”
For more information and to learn what is required to be included with an application, visithttps://www.chooseflagstaff.com/business-retention-expansion-incentive/