34%
lack time or staff capacity
A Statewide Initiative
Navigation, not innovation.
Arizona has the sustainability resources. Small businesses and nonprofits can't find them. The Navigator is how they do.
The Problem
Arizona isn't short on resources. It's short on navigation.
A 2025 statewide survey of 125 organizations and 12 stakeholder interviews revealed a clear pattern. Small businesses and nonprofits across Arizona are surrounded by sustainability tools, funding, and support — and can't act on any of it.
33%
unclear ROI or too expensive
33%
unsure what applies to their organization
24%
don't know where to start
Source: Arizona Sustainability Navigator statewide survey, October 2025. n=125.
The fix isn't another program. The fix is navigation.
The Solution
A routing website. Five steps.
The Navigator doesn't create new programs. It surfaces what already exists — 30+ tools, 50+ funding sources, dozens of trusted partners — and routes each user to the resources that match their organization, their goals, and their constraints.
1
Who are you?
Small business, nonprofit, tribal-affiliated, or community organization
2
What matters?
Energy, water, waste, transportation, partnerships, workforce, community health
3
Here's help.
A curated list of tools, funding, and trusted partners for your situation
4
Next steps.
Clear action paths, ROI context, funding deadlines
5
Connect.
Optional warm introduction to a real partner who can help
Scope note: Expanded at IEDC's request to include both hard sustainability (energy, water, waste) and soft sustainability (cross-sector partnerships, workforce development, community health).
These screens illustrate what the Navigator could feel like. They are not approved designs.
Phase 2 Preview
A walkthrough of the user flow.
Four screens showing how a user moves from "who I am" to "what I can do next." Rendered as concept UI — the final design will emerge from Phase 1 user research.
arizonasustainabilitynavigator.com
Arizona Sustainability Navigator
HardSoftFundingPartnersEvents
Find the sustainability resources that match your work.
A routing engine for Arizona small businesses and nonprofits.
Start Here
I'm a small business →
Route me to energy, water, or workforce resources that fit my size and sector.
I'm a nonprofit →
Help me find funding, partnerships, and community-oriented sustainability tools.
Hard sustainability·Soft sustainability·Funding sources·Trusted partners·Events & deadlines
arizonasustainabilitynavigator.com/focus
Which areas matter most?
Pick any combination. Results update live.
Energy Efficiency
Water Conservation
Waste & Circularity
Transportation
Cross-Sector Partnerships
Workforce Development
Community Health
All of the above
arizonasustainabilitynavigator.com/results
Showing Energy Efficiency resources for a Phoenix small business, under 10 employees.
APS Going Green & Going Smart
Rebates for energy-efficient lighting, HVAC, and refrigeration upgrades. Eligibility: APS service territory, commercial account.
USDA REAP — Rural Energy for America
Grants for renewable energy and efficiency improvements. Eligibility: rural small businesses, agricultural producers.
SRP PowerWise
Free energy audits and rebates for SRP business customers. Tailored recommendations on lighting, cooling, and equipment.
Local First Arizona — Green Business Bootcamp
Cohort-based sustainability training for Arizona small businesses. Ends with a customized action plan.
arizonasustainabilitynavigator.com/usda-reap
USDA REAP — Rural Energy for America Program
Federal grant + loan program · Up to 50% of project cost · Next deadline: March 31
Overview
Grants and guaranteed loans for renewable energy systems and energy-efficiency improvements for rural small businesses and agricultural producers.
Why it matters
Can cover up to 50% of project cost. Stacks with state and utility incentives. One of the largest non-utility energy programs for rural Arizona.
Local resources
Arizona Clean Energy Hub, Maricopa SBDC, and ASU Energy Efficiency Center can help with applications and technical scoping.
Partner organizations
Local First Arizona, Arizona Commerce Authority, Circular Arizona — each offers complementary support for eligible projects.
Tools & templates
Application checklist · Energy assessment worksheet · ROI calculator · Sample project narrative.
Related events
REAP application workshop (Flagstaff, June 12) · Office hours with ASU (monthly) · Funder info session (virtual).
Who's Behind It
A coalition, not a startup.
The Navigator emerged from the IEDC Arizona Sustainable Economic Development Learning Lab, funded in part by Flinn Foundation and the Arizona Community Foundation, with project leadership from Collaboration for Good, the City of Phoenix, and the City of Surprise.
Project team
Tyler Butler
Collaboration for Good — project lead
Amanda Jordan
City of Phoenix
Jeanine Jerkovic
City of Surprise
Institutional backers
IEDC
International Economic Development Council
Flinn Foundation
Arizona-based philanthropic partner
Arizona Community Foundation
Statewide funding partner
Featured in IEDC's EDNow — April 2026 · Read the article →
Internship Partnership
Build it with UAT.
The Arizona Sustainability Navigator is partnering with the University of Advancing Technology to deliver the Navigator's design and planning work as a structured, cross-disciplinary internship — with learning objectives, deliverable rubrics, and faculty oversight aligned to UAT's graduation requirements.
Phase 1 — Discovery & Design Framework
May – July 2026
Translate existing research into personas, journey maps, information architecture, and content framework. Ground every downstream decision in evidence.
Phase 2 — Mockup & User Feedback
July – September 2026 · Milestone: August 2026
Low-fidelity through high-fidelity mockups. Structured user feedback sessions with Arizona small businesses and nonprofits. Funder-ready final package.
Phase 3 — Technical Requirements & Handoff
October – December 2026 · Milestone: December 2026
Functional and technical requirements documentation, development roadmap, and a clean 2027 handoff package for the build team.
Apply
Apply as a student intern.
UAT students — submit your interest below. Applications are reviewed by the project sponsor and forwarded to UAT Career Services for placement. Rolling review; no deadline.
Thanks — we received your application.
Tyler Butler, the project sponsor, will review your submission and respond within a week.
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