Nicole’s Birthday Fundraiser

UNLEASHING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY!

Since 2003, Local First Arizona has been fiercely dedicated to driving inclusive community and economic development throughout Arizona.

We have created a movement that champions a thriving and diverse economy, fostering community support and an unwavering sense of local pride and purpose in every Arizonan.

Our work shapes the future of Arizona by advocating that every individual and community deserves the opportunity to thrive, and that entrepreneurship is at the core of any lasting economy.

In rural, Tribal, suburban and urban communities across our great state, Local First is delivering resources to ensure a future focused on economic opportunity for all.

Local First serves Arizona in a variety of ways:

• Offering small business education and mentorship programs in English and Spanish that foster entrepreneurship and increase access to capital - In 2024 we provided 17,000 business owners with one-on-one support giving them the skills, knowledge and tools to successfully meet challenges and seize opportunities.

• Strengthening the Arizona food system through our kitchen incubator and farm–to-fork programs, delivering technical assistance and connection to markets for food purveyors and small and mid-sized farms across Arizona. This past year we ramped up the Good Food Fund to offer much needed capital to support food processing and distribution that will expand opportunities for locally grown foods to reach diverse markets. 

• Harnessing the collective power of the largest local business coalition in the U.S. to advocate for the local business community.

• Assisting cities, towns and tribal nations to secure resources and increase access to capital and financial power to build self-reliant local economies — including the Rooted Relative Fund, which provides character-based low-interest loans to Indigenous entrepreneurs.

• Helping businesses identify solutions and funding to reduce their environmental impacts.

• Educating consumers about the profound impact of their spending choices on the local economy.

Our work building thriving, entrepreneurial & environmentally regenerative communities would not be possible without your incredible partnership and support! 

Whether you've been with us since the beginning or just connected with us this year, thank you for helping Local First accomplish so much, in service to the people of our great state of Arizona.

We believe that each and every person can effect change in their community, and our collective strength has power. Thank you for putting local first!