Neighborhood Sustainability Grants

The Neighborhood Sustainability Grant program was created to inspire creative projects that enhance community sustainability efforts and foster community partnerships that promote sustainable and healthy lifestyles. The Neighborhood Sustainability Grant is funded through the Environmental Management Fee. Individuals, groups of individuals, community groups, educational groups, and not-for-profit organizations (501 C-3) whose projects are within Flagstaff city limits are eligible for awards up to $5,000.

Each year, the Sustainability Commission invites local community groups and residents to apply for funding. Neighborhood Sustainability Grants can help launch or continue community sustainability projects. Successful projects will further sustainability or water conservation goals, include education and outreach to the broader community, and will involve volunteer engagement or building community partnerships. Projects in the below areas are encouraged.

Climate Action
Food
Resilience
Waste
Building Energy
Public Health
Transportation

2022 to 2023 Grant Cycle Awardees

The Arboretum at Flagstaff plans to expand its propagation of native and edible plants to increase resilience, ecological diversity, and pollinator habitat.
Arizona 4H Youth Foundation will implement a Community Horticultural Therapy program on the Killip Elementary School campus to provide plant-focused educational opportunities for students.
Flagstaff Disc Golf Club’s project includes the installation of bike racks at both Thorpe Park and McPherson Park disc golf courses to encourage bike transportation.
Flagstaff Foodlink will launch the “Building Community Through Food Series” with several workshops, and educational events focused on sustainable local food production.
Flagstaff Youth Riders will expand upon the recently completed trail and bike park at Puente de Hózhó with a shaded picnic area.
Harbert Chapel AME Church was funded to make energy-efficient lighting improvements to support ongoing community services.
Killip Elementary plans to expand on their community greenhouse food production project with equipment for a hydroponic growing system.
Marco Alatorre will purchase a chipper to support community members through the collection and diversion of pine needles and small branches to create biochar.
Sunnyside Neighborhood Association will utilize grant funds to assist with completing the Market of Dreams remodel.
Townsite Urban Farm plans to maximize community food production by installing raised garden beds, rainwater catchment barrels, and educational signage.

Submit a Neighborhood Sustainability Grant application

Applications for the 2022 to 2023 grant cycle are now closed. Applications are open annually from September 1st through September 30th. All applications must be submitted using the SurveyMonkey Application Form no later than 11:59 pm. Arizona Time on September 30th.

We strongly recommend that you complete application questions in an offline platform such as Microsoft Word to avoid loss of information due to potential internet connection issues. PDF Applications (PDF) and Word Applications (DOCX) versions are available with detailed instructions and requirements. Please copy and paste your responses into SurveyMonkey.

Grant Categories

The Sustainability Commission is seeking projects in the following five categories. Criteria for each category is included as follows to provide guidance, and will be used in grant evaluations. The best projects will meet all three criteria.

Food

Improve access to and education on healthy, sustainably-grown food including gardens and backyard livestock.
Increase food recovery efforts that redirect access food to food insecure populations.
Increase pollinator habitat.

Example of Food Grant Application

Waste

Educate and promote proper recycling and waste prevention behavior.
Increase recycling and composting opportunities and infrastructure.
Increase access to sharing economy and reuse opportunities.

Example of Waste Grant Application

Climate Action

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use in buildings, transportation, or consumption.
Educate participants or community members on impacts of climate change in Flagstaff.
Encourage participants or community members to take local climate action through behavior change or community actions.

Example of Climate Action Grant Application

Resilience

Provide learning opportunities for community members on resilience and adaptation concepts.
Provide opportunities for community members to connect with each other, and/or share knowledge and skill sets.
Strengthen community systems, improving community preparation for or response to extreme weather, economic uncertainty, natural disasters, or other events.

Example of Resilience Grant Application

Building Energy

Educates and promotes the conservation of energy in buildings.
Increases access to clean energy in community buildings
Reduces building energy use

Public Health

Educates community members on public health as it relates to environmental issues
Increases accessibility to public health resources
Improves social environmental conditions in ways that are likely to result in improved public health, or improved preparation against public health emergencies.

Transportation

Educates community members on how to walk, bike, roll and take transit more often
Increases access to walking, biking, rolling, and transit options
Improves neighborhood mobility or transportation systems

Application Review & Disbursement Process

The Sustainability Commission in partnership with the Sustainability Office will review grant applications and determine awards.

The Commission reviewed all grant applications and determines awards during the November 17th, 2022 meeting.
Sustainability Commission meetings are held from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm over Microsoft Teams and in person.
Please refer to the Sustainability Commission webpage for meeting dates and agendas.

Grant Recipient Requirements & Reporting

If selected for a grant, applicants are required to:

Submit a W-9 tax form to Sustainability@flagstaffaz.gov. Once submitted, applicants will receive grant funds in the form of a check between six and eight weeks.
Meet with Commission grant liaison or City staff within the first month of the project start date to review the project timeline and goals.
Within 30 days of completing the project, grant recipients must provide a final report through SurveyMonkey.
Recipients must also provide a presentation to the Sustainability Commission during a Community Presentation Event on the second Thursday of February from 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm the following year after receiving funding. Presentations must highlight project accomplishments, new partnerships, project sustainability, and challenges/difficulties faced.