Business Incentives Archives | Choose Flagstaff

Adaptive Reuse Program

Admin — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 20:25:00 +0000

Adaptive Reuse Program

The Adaptive Reuse Program guides small growing businesses to the right resources at the right time.

The program provides $5,000 to cover the development fees as they occur allowing you to spend your money where you need to most: on getting your business up and running.

A Pre-Application Meeting is required prior to submitting Adaptive Reuse an application.

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Business Retention & Expansion Incentive

Admin — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 20:18:13 +0000

City of Flagstaff’s Economic Development Program Mission

Enhancing prosperity, long-
term viability, and resilience of our community.

Applications close on October 31

The City of Flagstaff recognizes that resilient communities have high percentages of small businesses including startups and other entrepreneurial ventures. As the City of Flagstaff works to facilitate an increase in small independent businesses, supporting existing businesses in need is of growing importance. Additionally, supporting existing and growing sectors is of equal importance.

Grants may be awarded to businesses that meet the following criteria:

Businesses related to the following targeted industries

Research and Development
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport Airside
Research and Development
Health Care
Clean Energy
Biosciences
Software Development
Medical Devices
Forest
Food Processing
Requirements:
- Businesses are actively working to preserve existing or create full-time positions that are high-wage relative to the targeted industry sector, low environmental impact such as low water or power usage or the like. These ventures should retain and expand an existing business and work to increase wages and benefits.
- Businesses are physically located within the City of Flagstaff municipal boundary.

Applying

Any business interested in applying for the limited available funds must submit the following information to the Business Retention and Expansion Office at the City of Flagstaff between September 1 and Octobert 31:

Written narrative of the venture which includes:
- A description of the business and how it benefits the local community;
- The current business challenge(s);
- The proposed solution(s) to address the challenge(s) and direct correlation between a grant award and the proposed solution;
- Specific outcomes relative to job retention or growth.
Budget and general schedule of the venture;
Current business plan which will be reviewed and returned to the applicant;
A comparison of the wages of the applicant’s business jobs being retained or created relative to the Coconino County median wage and relative to the average sector.
A narrative of the impact of the applicant’s businesses relative to water and energy usage, and to the community waste stream (this does not need to be elaborate);
A description of any proposed direct benefits to the community (not just applicant’s business) such as infrastructure, workforce development opportunities for residents or students, volunteer work, or some other benefit that the business is able to offer to the community (this does not need to be elaborate).
An accounting of the applicant’s private investment relative to the requested grant.

Download Application Form (PDF)

Submission

Please submit all proposals for incentive requests by email to: Jeff McCormick at jeff.mccormick@flagstaffaz.gov.

The subject title should be listed as: Business REIP Grant Application.

Review and Ranking

Economic Vitality staff and various city offices will review and rank applications. Each complete application will be ranked based upon an overall tally of available points for four separate criteria:

Wages (25pts): A comparison of the wages of the jobs being retained or created relative to the Greater Flagstaff Metropolitan Area median wage and relative to the average sector wage.

Environmental Impact (25pts): A narrative of the impact of the applicant’s businesses relative impacts to water and energy usage, and to the community waste stream;

Direct Community Benefit (40pts): A description of any proposed direct benefits to the community (not just the applicant’s business) such as infrastructure, workforce development opportunities for residents or students, volunteer work, or some other benefit that the business is able to offer to the community;

Match (10pts): An accounting of the applicant’s private investment relative to the requested grant.

Funding

The range of awarded grant amounts is $5,000 to $30,000; therefore, it is possible that only one application may be awarded or six applications may be awarded. The review team will determine the number of awards based upon the final rank and consideration of each application. Any unused program funds will be carried forward into the next budget year. This could create a fund balance over time which could provide the opportunity to fund more ventures at the
maximum award level.

Number of Awards

A single Business may be awarded a grant up to three times, but will not be awarded a grant in any successive fiscal year. For example, if a grant is awarded in FY21-22, the business is not eligible for another grant until FY23-24.

Successful Applicants

Successful applicants will provide annual updates for three years after a grant award. Successful applicants will meet with City of Flagstaff Economic Development staff quarterly during the first year, then every six months for the next two years. One of the primary purposes of this program is to provide ongoing support to local businesses. Even if a grant is not awarded, an applicant may choose to meet with City of Flagstaff Economic Development staff quarterly or on a more frequent basis to discuss ways to help the business succeed. Successful applicants may be included in future marketing efforts for the program and for the economic development efforts of the City of Flagstaff in general.

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Brownfield Assessment EPA Grant

Admin — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 23:26:20 +0000

Brownfield Assessment grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency

In 2019, the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) was awarded a $600,000 Brownfield Assessment grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency to transform underutilized properties from liabilities into assets that revitalize our communities and bring neighborhoods back to life. The grant expires in September 2023, so get your nominations in quickly!!

The grant is managed by NACOG with assistance from an environmental consulting team led by Stantec Consulting Services Inc. (Stantec).

Site Reuse & Revitalization Route 66 Coalition

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Assessment Grant funding is available to parties interested in completing environmental site assessments, hazardous/regulated building materials surveys, and cleanup/reuse planning activities. Property owners, businesses, developers and community stakeholders are encouraged to take advantage of this funding opportunity to further economic development initiatives, protect public health, and restore the environment.

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Job Creation Incentive

Admin — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 19:00:29 +0000

Incentive

The City may allocate up to $25,000 to a new business that meets the below criteria. Awards are subject to available fund balance and review of the submittal packet.

Businesses may apply for this incentive to receive reimbursement for the following qualifying expenses, but are not limited to:

Employee Relocation Expenses
Job Related Training
Workforce Development
Site improvements that provide public benefit: Beautification improvements, energy efficiency items, public roads and lighting, code required landscaping, public water and wastewater, etc.

The maximum awarded amount per business is $25,000.

Criteria

All submittals will be reviewed by staff to determine if the business meets the minimum criteria to be eligible for City incentives:

Must be locating this business within City limits. New businesses may apply for this incentive if they located to Flagstaff within the last 90 days.
Must be one of the key industries identified by the City.
Must create a minimum of ten (10) new permanent full- time jobs, where the new position’s salary exceeds the Coconino County median wage of $20.04 per hour.

City of Flagstaff’s Economic Development Program Mission: Enhancing prosperity, long-term viability, and resilience of our community.

The City of Flagstaff is interested in attracting sustainable companies that will provide high quality, career oriented, opportunities for its residents that further commerce in the region. As part of these efforts, the City is providing economic incentives to meet its goal of attracting businesses to the following key industries:

Astronomy
Bioscience & Healthcare
Education
Environmental Technology
Manufacturing
Research and Development
Software and Information Based Technology

Business Attraction Job Creation Incentive – The City may allocate up to $25,000 to a new business that meets the below criteria. Awards are subject to available fund balance and review of the submittal packet. Businesses may apply for this incentive to receive reimbursement for the following qualifying expenses:

The reimbursement is limited to expenses that provide direct community benefit and may include:

Employee Relocation Expenses
Job Related Training
Workforce Development
Various site improvements: Beautification improvements, energy efficiency items, public roads and lighting, code required land scaping, public water, and wastewater.

The annual funding for this policy is $75,000. The maximum awarded amount per business is $25,000.

Submissions

Any potential employer that is interested in applying for this incentive may submit the following information to the Business Attraction Office at the City of Flagstaff between June 1st and June 30th, 2021. If all funds are not awarded in this initial time frame, the City will open another submittal timeframe for potential employers to apply. Each new submittal window will begin on the first of every subsequent month and close on the last day of that month until all funds have been awarded.

Written narrative of the venture which includes:
- Explanation of how all necessary criteria will be met.
- What City incentives you are applying for and how these incentives will be used to strengthen your ability to locate to Flagstaff.
- General proposal of how incentive funds will be used.
- If incentive is not received how will this impact your ability to locate to Flagstaff.
Budget, schedule, and business plan for the potential venture.
A narrative of the impact of the applicant’s businesses relative to water and energy usage, and to the community waste stream (this does not need to be elaborate).
A detailed description of any proposed direct benefits to the community (not just applicant’s business) such as infrastructure, workforce development opportunities for residents or students, volunteer work, or some other benefit that the business is able to offer to the community.
An accounting of the applicant’s private investment relative to the requested grant (Can be submitted confidentially).
Please submit all proposals for incentive requests to Jeff McCormick at jeff.mccormick@flagstaffaz.gov.
Scoring: Economic Vitality staff and various city offices will review and rank applications. Each complete application will be ranked based upon an overall tally of available points for three separate criteria:
Wages (20pts): A comparison of the wages of the jobs being created relative to the Coconino County median wage and relative to the average sector wage.
Environmental Impact (30pts): A narrative of the impact of the applicant’s businesses relative impacts to water and energy usage, and to the community waste stream.
Direct Community Benefit (50pts): A description of any proposed direct benefits to the community (not just the applicant’s business) such as infrastructure, workforce development opportunities for residents or students, volunteer work, or some other direct benefit that the business is providing to the community.
The review team will determine awards after considering each submitted application and final scores. Successful applicants may then request reimbursement for approved uses. A successful applicant may be reimbursed for a variety of approved uses but will not exceed the $25,000 limit.
Any unused program funds may be carried forward into the next budget year to fund additional ventures.

Successful applicants will provide a final report if an incentive is awarded, describing in detail any items related to section four of the submittal requirements and how the incentive was used. Successful applicants will meet with City of Flagstaff economic development staff quarterly during the first year. Successful applicants may be included in future marketing efforts for the program and for the economic development efforts of the City of Flagstaff in general.

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Development Reinvestment Incentive

Admin — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 19:15:00 +0000

Incentive

A new business in Flagstaff may receive a reimbursement for local construction contracting taxes paid for constructing new improvements or renovations. This reimbursement must be used to pay for specified uses.

The amount of the reimbursement will be up to the amount of a 0.5% local sales tax rate on construction contracting for improvements for the new business locating in Flagstaff. The local sales tax rate is currently 2.281%. The construction contracting tax is found in Sections 3-05-004-0415, and 0417 of the City Code, as amended by state laws.

Employee Relocation Expenses
Job Related Training
Workforce Development
Site improvements that provide public benefit: Beautification improvements, energy efficiency items, public roads and lighting, code required landscaping, public water and wastewater, etc.

Criteria

All submittals will be reviewed by staff to determine if potential employers meet the minimum criteria to be eligible for City incentives:

Must be performing referenced construction within City limits.
Must be one of the key industries identified by the City.
Must create a minimum of ten (10) new permanent full- time jobs, where the new position’s salary exceeds the Coconino County median wage of $20.04 per hour.

City of Flagstaff’s Economic Development Program Mission

Enhancing prosperity, long-term viability, and resilience of our community.

Astronomy
Bioscience & Healthcare
Education
Environmental Technology
Manufacturing
Research and Development
Software and Information Based Technology

Development Reinvestment Incentive – A new business in Flagstaff may receive a reimbursement for local construction contracting taxes paid for constructing new improvements or developments. This reimbursement must be used to pay for specified uses. This incentive is available for up to five years from when
the application is approved to enable phased construction.

For example: A $1,000,000 million-dollar taxable value project, net of deductions, will create a reimbursable amount of up to $5,000 of construction contracting taxes that may be used for the below qualifying expenses.

The reimbursement is limited to expenses that provide direct community benefit and may include:

Employee Relocation Expenses
Job Related Training
Workforce Development
Various site improvements: Beautification improvements, energy efficiency items, public roads and lighting, code required land scaping, public water, and wastewater.

Submissions

Any applicant that is interested in applying for this available incentive must submit the following information.

Written narrative of the venture which includes:
- Explanation of how all necessary criteria will be met.
- What City incentives you are applying for and how these incentives will be used to strengthen your ability to locate to Flagstaff.
- General proposal of how incentive funds will be used.
- If incentive is not received how will this impact your ability to locate to Flagstaff.
Budget, schedule, and business plan for the potential venture.
A narrative of the impact of the applicant’s businesses relative to water and energy usage, and to the community waste stream (this does not need to be elaborate).
A detailed description of any proposed direct benefits to the community (not just applicant’s business) such as infrastructure, workforce development opportunities for residents or students, volunteer work, or some other benefit that the business is able to offer to the community.
An accounting of the applicant’s private investment relative to the requested grant (Can be submitted confidentially).

Please submit all proposals for incentive requests to Creag Znetko at cznetko@flagstaffaz.gov.

Scoring

Wages (20pts): A comparison of the wages of the jobs being created relative to the Coconino County median wage and relative to the average sector wage.

Environmental Impact (30pts): A narrative of the impact of the applicant’s businesses relative impacts to water and energy usage, and to the community waste stream.

Direct Community Benefit (50pts): A description of any proposed direct benefits to the community (not just the applicant’s business) such as infrastructure, workforce development opportunities for residents or students, volunteer work, or some other direct benefit that the business is providing to the community.

The review team will determine awards after considering the submitted application and final score. Successful applicants may then request reimbursement for approved uses. A successful applicant may be reimbursed for a variety of approved uses but will not exceed the 0.5% generated by the local sales tax rate on construction contracting.

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