Our History

The Coconino County Sustainable Economic Development Initiative (SEDI) was formed in September of 2005 to implement a county-wide collaborative sustainable development effort between Coconino County and all incorporated, unincorporated and Native American communities; state and federal agencies; economic and workforce development entities; educational institutions; and the business sector. The effort was in part a response to Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano’s Moving Arizona Forward initiative that identified emerging sustainability and technology-based industries as critical to building Arizona’s innovation and technology capacity.

Working teams were organized to develop goals and strategies for six focus areas:

Resource based sustainable economic development
Energy efficiency and renewable energy
Sustainable materials and products
Sustainability based tourism
Cottage industry and enabling mechanisms
Policy and planning

The work of the focus teams struck a cord with community leaders. In September 2006, over 150 individuals representing over 70 organizations attended a one-day Summit to contribute to the work of SEDI. A Steering Team with broad representation was formed to coordinate the work of the focus teams and to develop and implement an Action Plan. A smaller Mobilization Team was created to expand funding-raising capacity by incorporation as a non-profit 501-(c)-3 educational organization. The Action Plan was completed by the Steering Team in February and went on-line in the form of this Web site in April of 2007. In May SEDI's first Board of Directors was elected and John Grahame was hired full-time as Project Coordinator.

Financial support for SEDI has been provided by the APS Focused Future II Strategic Plan for Economic Development, Coconino County Manager Steve Peru and Supervisor Carl Taylor, The Greater Flagstaff Economic Council, the Center for Sustainable Environments at Northern Arizona University, Kinney Construction Services, Architectural & Environmental Associates, Southwest Windpower, W.L. Gore, Inc., the Northern Arizona Building Association, Unisource Energy Services, and Northern Arizona University.

SEDI wishes to express its particular thanks to City of Flagstaff Sustainability Manager Nicole Woodman for her outstanding work as Program Manager during SEDI's first year, and to Coconino County employees Lucinda Andreani and Holly Yeager for their continuing support for the organization.

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