USDA Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grant Update: Phase 2 Community Conversations
 

In September 2022, the Sustainability Division received a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grant for Assessing and Growing a Sustainable Community Food System project. The grant funds the development of a comprehensive food systems assessment, innovative food business feasibility study, and Food Action Plan in three respective phases.This informational presentation will share key findings from Phase 2: Community Conversations. 

In September 2022, the Sustainability Division received a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grant for Assessing and Growing a Sustainable Community Food System project. The grant funds the development of a comprehensive food systems assessment, innovative food business feasibility study, and Food Action Plan in three respective phases.   

Phase 1 was completed in July 2024 with the publication of the Community Food Systems Assessment (CFSA). Phase 2 started in the fall of 2024, which focused on community conversations around the CFSA. Phase 2 was led by Pinnacle Prevention, in collaboration with the Sustainability Division and Flagstaff Foodlink. The purpose of this phase was to engage community members and stakeholders to share reflections on the information from the CFSA, to understand perspectives on overall needs, gaps, and barriers, and identify priority focus areas. Information from these sessions will be used to inform the third and final phase of this grant funded project, to develop a Food Action Plan. 

This informational presentation will share key findings from Phase 2: Community Conversations. 

Food Action Plan Development Recommendations 

• Priority Focus Areas 

• Food Access 

• Agricultural landscape and food production 

• Food retail environment 

• Food system infrastructure 

• Food waste and recovery 

• Food consumption and health 

• Integrate culturally-relevant cross-cutting strategies that center Indigenous food ways across all priority areas. 

• Integrate climate-smart infrastructure to support food production. 

• Conduct a deeper analysis of city zoning regulations. 

• Align the Food Action Plan with existing plans and community health improvement plans. 

• Center youth and student-led development opportunities to engage the next generation. 

 

Financial Impact: 

There is no financial impact. 

 

Policy Impact: 

These activities support strategies identified in the Carbon Neutrality Plan targeting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from Flagstaff’s food distribution, encouraging sustainable consumption, building community resilience, improving food security, and implementing climate actions that are equitable. 

 

City Council and PBB Goals 

• Sustainable, innovative infrastructure – Utilize existing long-range plans that identify the community’s future infrastructure needs and all associated costs.  

• Environmental stewardship – Strengthen Flagstaff’s resilience to climate change impacts on built, natural, economic, health, & social systems 

• Robust Resilient Community - Attract employers that provide high quality jobs & have a low impact on infrastructure & natural resources. 

 

Regional Plan 

Goal E&C.2: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

 

Carbon Neutrality Plan  

SC-2: Encourage sustainable consumption. 

SC-3: Divert more waste from the landfill. 

SC-4: Reduce organic waste going to the landfill and reduce food insecurity. 

CR-2: Strengthen existing community systems to create resilience to both short-term shocks and long-term change. 

ES-2: Proactively engage community members on an ongoing basis. 

ES-3: Design targeted climate policies and programs to serve disproportionately impacted communities first. 

ES-4: Actively seek to recognize past harms, repair trust, and build deeper relationships with community members. 

Housing, Neighborhoods & Equity: “Research has shown that neighborhoods can be a good predictor of health. Therefore, it is imperative to place housing in areas of opportunity, such as community spaces, open spaces, quality schools, food, and transportation.”