Flagstaff Sustainability Grant Program celebrates 13 community projects for fiscal year 2024

The Flagstaff City Council held a regular meeting on July 1, 2025, focusing on the fiscal year 2024 Neighborhood Sustainability Grant report. The meeting began with a presentation by Nicole Antonopoulos, the Sustainability Director, who introduced Tia Hatten Henney and Kenzie Marino, who would present the details of the grant projects. Antonopoulos took a moment to acknowledge Hatten Henney's contributions to the city before she leaves to pursue her graduate degree.

Hatten Henney and Marino provided an overview of the Neighborhood Sustainability Grant Program, which funds community-led sustainability projects. Over the past decade, the program has supported over 80 projects, impacting more than a thousand residents. For fiscal year 2024, the program allocated $75,000 to 13 top-scoring projects, selected from a record 31 applications.

The presentation highlighted several projects funded by the grant:

1. **Bushmaster Park Community Fruit Orchard**: Funded with $7,500, this project involved planting 29 trees to support pollinators and provide public food access, engaging 20 to 30 volunteers.

2. **Olivia White Garden Expansion**: Northland Hospice received $5,000 to enhance their gardens, resulting in double the number of visitors and extensive volunteer involvement.

3. **Indigenous Bible College Community Garden**: With just over $2,100, this project educated students on sustainable food practices and composting, successfully reducing waste.

4. **Eastside Gardeners Market**: Funded with $2,400, this initiative increased access to locally grown food and provided free workshops, attracting over 500 community members.

5. **Farm to Food Center Project**: This project, receiving $6,700, supported local growers by purchasing leftover produce, benefiting hundreds of community members.

6. **Forest Garden Foray**: Flagstaff Junior Academy's project aims to create an educational space for students to learn about local plants, despite construction delays.

7. **Peaceful Valley Permaculture**: This project, awarded $7,500, focuses on educating the community about permaculture and reconnecting with nature.

8. **Healthy Soils and Thriving Gardens**: Restoration Soils received $6,000 to transform food waste into compost, benefiting local schools and community gardens.

9. **CATS Workshop**: This project, funded with $7,500, aims to create a workshop for repurposing materials destined for landfills, fostering community relationships.

10. **Kitchen Composting Program**: The Flagstaff Family Food Center received $7,500 to educate the community about food waste and composting, diverting thousands of pounds of food scraps from landfills.

The meeting concluded with a celebration of the projects' accomplishments and their positive impact on the Flagstaff community. The council expressed gratitude for the efforts of all involved and emphasized the importance of sustainability initiatives moving forward.