The Arizona Sustainable Economic Development Learning Lab, a first-in-the-nation initiative to help communities integrate sustainability practices and natural resource considerations into economic development, has been recognized with an Arizona Environmental Excellence Award.
The effort, organized by the Flinn Foundation, supported by the Arizona Community Foundation and implemented by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), earned the Crescordia award for Community Resilience at Arizona Forward’s Environmental Excellence Awards event on Saturday, March 21.
The Lab brought together economic developers, community leaders, Tribal representatives, businesses, and nonprofit partners to explore how sustainability can be embedded into business attraction, retention, and growth strategies. For several months in 2025, participants collaborated on real-world projects that address climate challenges while strengthening local economies.
The initiative is the first program of its kind in the United States to focus specifically on integrating sustainability into economic development practice. Its core goal: help practitioners rethink traditional recruitment and development strategies through a sustainability lens, particularly in the face of extreme heat, drought, and flooding.
“The Arizona Sustainable Economic Development Learning Laboratory demonstrates what is possible when local governments, state agencies, nonprofits, foundations and corporations choose to align around a common purpose,” Flinn Foundation President and CEO Tammy McLeod, Ph.D., said during her acceptance remarks.
“This award reflects the commitment of many funding partners and many more contributors who believe in a different model – one rooted in collaboration, curiosity and long-term thinking.”
Learning Lab participants engaged in peer learning, technical assistance, and applied project development. The initiative culminated in a “Solutions Showcase” of capstone projects.
The Lab was made possible through a coalition of philanthropic, government, and private-sector partners, reflecting one of the key criteria of the Community Resilience category in which it was recognized: collaboration. Utilities, local governments, philanthropic organizations and economic development groups contributed funding, expertise, and leadership.
Arizona Forward’s annual Environmental Excellence Awards is the state’s premier sustainability event, celebrating individuals, businesses, and organizations making a lasting impact on Arizona’s environment and economy.
“The Flinn Foundation’s selection reflects its meaningful contributions to advancing sustainability, innovation, and community impact across Arizona,” said Lori Singleton, Arizona Forward president and CEO. “Through strategic partnerships and forward-thinking initiatives, the Foundation continues to play an important role in convening leaders to create solutions that strengthen Arizona’s environmental and economic future.”
Learning Lab participants developed capstone projects to address local challenges and opportunities. The projects collectively advanced community health, urban resilience, sustainable planning, and adaptive reuse:
- Community gardens in Yuma that improved food access, support youth engagement, and build workforce pipelines in agriculture.
- A statewide sustainability “navigator” tool to help small businesses adopt greener practices and access resources.
- Ecotourism strategies in Superior that balance economic development with conservation and cultural preservation.
- Adaptive reuse of historic buildings in Miami to create workforce housing in a flood-impacted rural community.
- Coal community transition strategies to retrain workers and repurpose infrastructure for clean energy and emerging industries in Apache County.
- Urban heat mitigation projects, including a demonstration garden designed to serve as a cooling hub and educational resource in Midtown Phoenix.
Additional projects address renewable energy access, small business resilience planning, green infrastructure, and workforce development in heritage conservation and sustainability fields.
As McLeod noted, “This work doesn’t end with the Lab. It continues in the communities that are now better equipped to lead, innovate, and thrive in a changing climate.”
Learning Lab sponsors
The Learning Lab was made possible through a coalition of philanthropic, government, and private-sector partners. Sponsors included the Flinn Foundation, Arizona Community Foundation, Arizona Public Service (APS), Arizona Governor’s Office of Resiliency, Choose Flagstaff, City of Flagstaff, City of Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department, City of Tucson Economic Initiatives, Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, Freeport-McMoRan, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Local First Arizona Foundation, The Nature Conservancy-Arizona, Prescott College, Salt River Project (SRP) and the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and others.
About the Flinn Foundation
The Flinn Foundation is a Phoenix-based privately endowed, philanthropic grantmaking organization established in 1965 by Dr. Robert S. and Irene P. Flinn that awards grants and operates programs in four areas: the biosciences, the Flinn Scholars, arts and culture, and the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership and its Flinn-Brown Fellowship. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations.
About Arizona Forward
Arizona Forward is the state’s leading sustainability nonprofit, working since 1969 to drive sustainable economic growth, environmental stewardship, and community resilience. With a membership of over 150 public and private sector organizations, Arizona Forward brings together business leaders, policymakers, and community advocates to shape a cleaner, healthier, and more vibrant Arizona. The Crescordia Award is Arizona Forward’s best-in-category recognition for standout sustainability and environmental excellence projects in Arizona.
About the IEDC
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is the largest non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers across the globe. With a network of more than 5,000 members from public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors, IEDC drives forward-thinking economic development practice. Through convenings, communities of practice, technical assistance, research, and training, IEDC equips economic development professionals to foster inclusive and resilient economies and drive systems-level change.