United Way of Northern Arizona — Tusayan Latest Focus of Our Safety & Security Efforts

Last week, the gateway to the Grand Canyon became the latest community in northern Arizona to be severely impacted by flooding.

After about three inches of rain fell on Tusayan, flooding ensued, causing a temporary closure of State Highway 64 and evacuations. The flood waters have receded, but many residents who live in employer housing in the town are dealing with damages to their dwellings.

United Way of Northern Arizona and its partners, along with the residents’ employers, are assisting during this time with resources so the residents can store their items and replace items that were lost while their homes are being repaired.

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

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.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 2023

Volunteer Cleanup Day slated for Tusayan this Saturday

While the recent flooding in Tusayan was short-lived, residents are still cleaning up the aftermath.  But Tusayan is not just a town – it’s a community.  And members of a community take care of each other.  So on Saturday, September 2, the town is planning a Volunteer Day.

If you’re willing and able to help neighbors and residents rebuild and repair their property, come to the Tusayan Sports Complex at 8 a.m. on Saturday, September 2.  If you need help with a project, contact the Town of Tusayan.

You can also apply for emergency assistance through Coconino County online.  Please apply before Friday September 1. 

There is still food and clothing available until Tuesday, September 4 at Tusayan Townhall.

Sedona Arts Center — NEW featured artists in our shop and a Special Exhibition!

Come see what’s new in our Shop!

NOW FEATURING:
Carrie Clayden, Christine Debrosky, and Karen Puckett

Our Gallery showcases the largest selection in Sedona of artwork by local artists. If you are seeking a rare piece of fine art, a gift of exquisite jewelry, appreciate stunning photography, or looking for a lovely keepsake from your visit to Sedona, the Arts Center has it all and more. The Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax – almost a 10% savings.

Flagstaff Festival of Science — Keynote Tickets are now on sale!

On September 22nd, Dr. Beth Shapiro will share her research on the astonishing and controversial process of de-extinction, from sequencing ancient genomes to anticipating how revived populations might be overseen in the wild. In the W. L. Gore & Associates Keynote Presentation, How to Clone a Mammoth, Shapiro explores the technical, ethical and ecological challenges of bringing extinct species back to life. 

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y Board member discusses access to quality, reliable child care in First Things First’s ‘Voices from Community Leaders’ forum video

Editor’s note: Laura Rosensweet, Community Impact Manager for Education Forward AZ, is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board for the Coconino Coaltion for Children & Youth. She appeared in the forum’s “Voices from Community Leaders” video along with Coconino Community College President Eric Heiser and Window Rock Unified School District Superintendent Shannon Goodsell.

By First Things First

First Things First recently gathered community members from northern Arizona to discuss how the child care crisis is impacting their local communities.

The Aug. 15 forum at Twin Arrows conference center outside of Flagstaff was the second of a planned set of quarterly forums to be held throughout the state on Strengthening the Child Care Workforce. The first forum was in Thatcher in eastern Arizona. …

Listen to Laura Rosensweet from Education Forward Arizona talk about brain development and how access to quality, reliable care makes a difference for early childhood learning, as well as its importance for working families.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Coalition for Energy Retrofits & Remembering Jack Welch

The City Sustainability Office will soon be launching the Flagstaff Home Energy Retrofit Program with a substantial grant award. The program provides home energy retrofits to low income residents, helping them reduce energy costs, increase the comfort of their homes, strengthen community participation towards greater climate resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to our community’s Carbon Neutrality Plan.

City of Flagstaff Labor Day closures

FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff’s City Hall offices at 211 W. Aspen Ave. will be closed on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 in observance of Labor Day. City Hall offices will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023.

City of Flagstaff facilities that are also closed on Labor Day include:

East Flagstaff Community Library (3000 N. Fourth St.)
Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library (300 W. Aspen Ave.)
Hal Jensen Recreation Center (2403 N. Izabel St.)
Joe C. Montoya Community and Senior Center (245 N. Thorpe Rd.)

The NAU Review — Welcome back, Jacks! Meet the new VP of inclusive excellence and discover some surprising good news about biodiversity

President Cruz Rivera welcomed students to campus in his annual first-day-of-class video message yesterday, and although Monday was the first day of school at NAU throughout Arizona and online, the Flagstaff campus has been humming with activity for a week as students moved into residence halls, got to know their classmates at Welcome Week activities, went to their first sporting events and donned blue and gold T-shirts for the Class of 2027’s Letters photo. It’s an especially exciting time at NAU, as the implementation of Access2Excellence has contributed to the most diverse, most accomplished and most Arizonan class NAU has ever welcomed. Take a look at the numbers for this class of Lumberjacks and find yourself and your friends in photos.

Sedona Arts Center — Upcoming Art Workshops in Sedona!

UPCOMING School Offerings
Taking Classes and Workshops on our campus in Uptown Sedona affords the opportunity not only to explore the arts, but also to meet new people and immerse yourself in the Sedona arts community.

Besides what you see in this email, there are more offerings on our website.
Click here to see all of our classes and workshops.

North Country HealthCare ‘2023 Cultural Competency Report’

As we head into the final months of 2023, North Country HealthCare is pleased to provide our 2023 Cultural Competency Report. This report provides insight into our cultural competency, diversity, equity and inclusion-related efforts for the year prior. It gives our employees, patients, and community members a snapshot of where we have been, where we are now, and what we have in store for the future.

Coconino County Board of Supervisors Meets In-Person to Elect New Chair (District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez) and Vice-Chair (District 4 Supervisor Judy Begay)

COCONINO COUNTY — In their return to regular in-person meetings on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors (Board) began by electing a new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson to lead the Board through the remainder of their current session.

In two unanimous votes, Supervisor Judy Begay from District 4 was elected Vice-Chairwoman and Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez from District 2 was elected to serve as Chairman. This will be each Supervisor’s first term serving in these leadership roles. 

Coconino County Board of Supervisors Issues Emergency Resolution Regarding Tusayan Flooding

COCONINO COUNTY — Chairman Jeronimo Vasquez has authorized an official emergency resolution regarding the flooding in the community of Tusayan that occurred on Tuesday of this week.

In adopting this resolution, the Board is authorizing County Emergency Management and the Sheriff’s Office to issue further shelter in place or evacuation orders should another significant rainfall event affect this community. It also assists with requests for State and Federal assistance to aid in the clean up and repairs to public infrastructure.

Tuesday’s storm produced an estimated three inches of rainfall in less than one hour, concentrated over a wash east of Tusayan. The wash was soon overwhelmed, flooding the Grand Canyon gateway community with up to three feet of water by 5 p.m. that evening. Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management, and Flood Control District staff arrived soon after to assess the situation and assist the Town of Tusayan in setting up a local incident command center. A temporary order to boil tap water for drinking has been lifted after testing confirmed no bacterial contamination present. 

City of Flagstaff Neighborhood Sustainability Grants Open September 1-30th

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office and Sustainability Commission is pleased to announce that the annual application period for the Neighborhood Sustainability Grants Program is open from September 1st – 30th. The program inspires projects that enhance sustainability and foster community partnerships.

Grant awards of up to $7,500 are available. Groups, nonprofits, individuals, and businesses with sustainability-related projects within Flagstaff city limits are invited to apply. Specifically, the Sustainability Commission is seeking community-centered projects in the categories of food, waste, climate action, resilience, transportation, building energy, and public health. The Flagstaff Sustainability Commission made up of seven Flagstaff residents, will review and determine awardees.

Discover Flagstaff — Hopi Arts and Cultural Festival, Continental Country Club Driving Range Aug. 26-27 and more events

Hopi Arts and Cultural Festival, Continental Country Club Driving Range

The festival will have a variety of talented Hopi artists, showcasing contemporary and traditional artwork, and don’t forget Hopi social dance groups and soloists performing throughout the two day event! 9 a.m.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Join Us for ‘Brews & Views’ Community Fundraiser on Sept. 9

Join us at the Sky Bar at Agassiz Lodge on September 9 for Brews & Views, Snowbowl’s 2nd Annual Community Fundraiser to benefit United Way of Northern Arizona.

This full day of fun in the mountains will include delicious craft brews from more than 15 local and nationally known breweries; live music; lots of giveaway prizes; and much more.

Tickets are $40 and all proceeds will be donated to UWNA to help fund programs that promote early childhood development, positive youth development, and safety and security for residents of Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.

“Arizona Snowbowl is beyond proud to partner with United Way of Northern Arizona on Brews & Views in order to improve lives and community conditions for people in Northern Arizona,” said Angie Grubb, Marketing Coordinator at Arizona Snowbowl.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-Up Week of August 21, 2023

On Tuesday, August 22, emergency personnel from Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Tusayan Fire Department, and Grand Canyon National Park responded to the town of Tusayan for a report of flooding due to heavy rainfall in the area.

Water levels up to three feet deep prompted officials to close a section of Highway 64 for safety.  Over 100 residents and visitors in Tusayan were relocated, and about 70 students from the Grand Canyon Unified School District sheltered in place until it was safe for them to return home.  No injuries were reported and crews will continue working to clean up the aftermath.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y provides variety of free online training including ‘Thriving Families’

COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth provides a variety of free online training programs for parents, caregivers and all community members.

Our free Thriving Families webinar is a great starting place for parents, caregivers and community members brand new to the topics such as brain development, adverse childhood experiences, resilience and mindfulness. It is a great jumping off place to go deeper in knowledge and support through the rest of our library of webinars.

With thousands of views across our various topics, we are sure there is something for all community members and professionals. Whether you are seeking the best info for your family, your community or a program you work for, get a taste for our research supported prevention and community work.

The NAU Review — Recapping the University Convocation, an inside look at the diamond industry, space research and why we should be concerned for future rainforests

In the annual University Convocation, President Cruz Rivera reflected on NAU’s long history of championing student access and success, welcomed new faculty to campus, shared highlights from last year and set some big goals for the future, anchored by a bold challenge to structure and prioritize work across the university to improve retention, persistence and graduation to facilitate students’ academic momentum. Students should also keep an eye on the course catalog for the spring—Cruz Rivera announced that he’d be teaching a class.

Flooding Impacts Communities of Tusayan and Grand Canyon Village

TUSAYAN — A significant rainfall event has impacted the Coconino Wash east of the Town of Tusayan, just south of the entrance to Grand Canyon National Park.

Due to a reported two to three inches of rainfall in a short amount of time this afternoon, water up to three feet in depth has reached State Route 64 and most of the gateway community. 

City of Flagstaff announces Call-to-Artists for Temporary 3D Artwork(s)

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff seeks proposals for large-scale, three-dimensional (3D) sculptures for a temporary outdoor exhibition May-October 2024.

The exhibition will feature five artworks, existing or newly created, that reflect and make visible aspects of Indigenous and other diverse cultural representation, including Black and Latinx art. Selected artworks can advance essential perspectives and narratives through a myriad of ways and will prompt appreciation, conversation, and interaction.

Tourism to Grand Canyon National Park contributed $759 million to local economy in 2022

GRAND CANYON — A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 4.7 million visitors to Grand Canyon National Park in 2022 spent an estimated $759 million in gateway regions near the park. This spending supported a total of 9,990 jobs, $346 million in labor income, $576 million in value added, and $1.0 billion in economic output in local gateway economies surrounding Grand Canyon National Park.

“Grand Canyon National Park continues to be an economic linchpin for local communities and the region surrounding the park,” said Superintendent Ed Keable. “We continue to heavily rely on the support of our neighbors and are proud to be able to help sustain local communities for many years to come.”

City of Flagstaff announces Westbound University Drive from NAU Lane Closure

FLAGSTAFF — Welcome back NAU students, parents, faculty, and staff!

The City of Flagstaff is currently constructing the Beulah/University Realignment Project. This two-and half-year project began in April 2023 and will continue through fall 2025.

In the current phase of the project, the westbound lane of University Drive is closed, between Knoles Drive and the western driveway entrance to Target, due to extensive underground construction and roadway demolition.

Board of Supervisors Adopts Final Tax Rate Schedule for Fiscal Year 2024

COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors (Board) unanimously approved and adopted the tax rate schedule for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 24) and Tax Year 2023 for all special taxing jurisdictions for which Coconino County has authority to collect taxes.

Arizona Revised Statues mandate that an ordinance levying taxes for FY 24 be adopted no later than the third Monday in August 2023, and with this administrative action the Board has concluded the 2023-24 budget process.

Special taxing jurisdictions, often referred to as special districts, are created to fill a need and to enable the provision of services in an area that might otherwise be limited from receiving those services for various reasons, including size, location, financial limitations or unavailability of other government support. The formation of a special taxing district creates a funding stream to pay for the desired or necessary services by placing the responsibility on those who benefit from that service.