Flagstaff Approves New Investments In Community Programs

The Flagstaff City Council has approved the City’s 2026 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, authorizing approximately $881,000 in federal funding for projects and programs that support homelessness response, neighborhood improvements, and community resilience. The funding allocations include investments in shelter operations, domestic violence services, park reconstruction, resilience hub improvements, and ADA accessibility upgrades that will benefit low- and moderate-income residents throughout Flagstaff.

Projects approved for funding include:

• $500,000 for reconstruction of Ponderosa Park in the Sunnyside neighborhood following damage caused by post-wildfire flooding. Improvements will include new playground equipment, gathering spaces, pedestrian lighting, accessibility upgrades, and other neighborhood amenities.
• $77,000 for improvements to the Murdoch Center Resilience Hub in the Southside neighborhood, including upgrades that will support emergency response, improve indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events, and expand the facility’s ability to serve residents during extreme weather and community emergencies.
• $49,196 for ADA accessibility improvements at the City’s Sustainability Office to improve access to public programs and services.
• $54,500 for Flagstaff Shelter Services operations at The Lantern, a hotel-to-housing project serving individuals experiencing homelessness.
• $54,500 for Northland Family Help Center domestic violence shelter case management services.

The Community Development Block Grant program is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is intended to support affordable housing, public infrastructure, public services, and economic opportunity for low- and moderate-income residents. The approved Annual Action Plan also reflects priorities identified through the City’s newly adopted 2026–2030 Consolidated Plan, a five-year strategic plan developed through community surveys, public meetings, stakeholder engagement, and housing needs analysis.

Recent CDBG investments in Flagstaff have included construction and rehabilitation work at Flagstaff Shelter Services’ The Crown supportive housing project, improvements at Cleo Murdoch Park, and the acquisition of six condominium units that were preserved as permanently affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income households.

“These projects represent targeted investments in neighborhood infrastructure, housing stability, accessibility, and services for vulnerable residents,” said Kristine Pavlik, the City of Flagstaff Housing and Grants Administrator. “The City’s CDBG program allows federal resources to be directed toward projects that respond directly to community-identified needs.”

For additional information about the Community Development Block Grant program, visit the City of Flagstaff Housing Division webpage or contact Kristine Pavlik at Kristine.Pavlik@flagstaffaz.gov

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