Council will hear a brief presentation from staff that offers background on efforts to engage with our business community.

The business environment is experiencing a time of great change with disruptions from new technologies, policies, market conditions and changing consumer preferences and demographics.  Flagstaff's business community continues to innovate and expand, but also faces challenges.

While individual businesses, owners, and employees may reach out to specific Councilmembers; there are limited instances where a dialogue with the business community is the main focus of Council discussion.  A discussion has been requested on a  Business Community Listening Tour which could provide staff guidance on ways to assist with tours and/or other methods of facilitating the greater conversation about economic policy and the local economic environment.

On August 15, 2017, Councilmember Odegaard brought forward a Future Agenda Item Request to discuss having a listening tour with the business community. At that time, another councilmember agreed and it has been placed on this agenda to determine if there are four councilmembers interested in further direction.  

Whether small or large, our businesses provide jobs, revenue, resources, quality of life and more to our community.  And, as mentioned above, we are in a time of great change and disruption for the business community from a wide variety of sources. 

To provide greater familiarity with some of these dynamics, staff began having Business Community Quarterly Updates on August 29, 2017.  The three updates so far have included presentations from the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECONA), the Native American Business Incubator (NABI), Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, Local First of Northern Arizona, Northern Arizona University (NAU), Coconino County, the Chamber of Commerce, Mother Road Brewing Company, Little America and business owner Karan Patel.  These updates allow for brief presentations and a question and answer opportunity.  Additionally, staff has supported tours of Joy Cone and Swire Coca-cola to assist Council in familiarizing themselves with specific businesses and facilities.  Also, Council is often invited to ribbon-cuttings and award ceremonies held by the Chamber of Commerce, monthly mixers with Local First of Northern Arizona, and events like Shark Tank, business open houses, and Moonshot Monday from the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET). 

Staff is available for questions and to receive guidance regarding Council's preferences in this area.