Economic Development Update: Updates from the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) and the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET), along with a video viewing of the Flagstaff Bioscience Roadmap 2017.

Council is provided information regarding the current and future accomplishments of these two organizations that partner with the City of Flagstaff on economic development efforts.  Additionally, Council is provided information regarding the growth of the bioscience sector in the community.

The City of Flagstaff, concurrent with its direct efforts, partners with numerous organizations in the community to ensure the economy stays vibrant and people have an opportunity to thrive and support their families.  Two of the partners the City works with and supports are the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) and the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET).  This presentation is to inform the Council and the public about the efforts, successes, and challenges faced by these two organizations.  Additionally, the Flagstaff Bioscience Roadmap 2017 Update will showcase the impressive bioscience activities going on in the community.

ECoNA is a collaborative organization that works to benefit the economy and enhance prosperity throughout the region.  They work on attraction, retention and expansion efforts in the City itself, and also focus attention on the surrounding area.  As Flagstaff is the hub for northern Arizona, there is great benefit to having the economies of the surrounding communities flourish alongside our own.  These benefits include, but are not limited to, generating incomes for residents that may be spent in Flagstaff and enhancing the workforce pipeline.  Our region is very interconnected.  Much of ECoNA's focus is in Flagstaff, communities in Coconino County, Winslow, and other areas. 

NACET is an organization that provides support for local businesses and creates environments where they thrive.  NACET manages the City's Business Incubator and Business Accelerator and provides education, tools, techniques and support to businesses who are starting, locating, expanding, and growing here in Flagstaff. 

The Flagstaff Bioscience Roadmap 2017 video assists in informing the Council and the public about the great work going on here in Flagstaff and the momentum building in these sectors.  It was produced by NAU, ECoNA and NACET.  The City of Flagstaff has played a direct role in growing the bioscience sector through its work to build and develop the Innovation Mesa Business Incubator and Accelerator, by helping to fund NACET, being an active member and collaborator with the community and ECoNA, and through our work with bioscience company attraction, expansion, start-up and retention.  Also, the City's role in building the utility and transportation infrastructure is critical to future growth of the bioscience sector.