Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates Black freedom, resilience, culture and community. Across Arizona, communities are marking the holiday with festivals, educational programs, business celebrations, music, food and family-friendly events.

Whether you're looking for a large community festival, a cultural experience or an opportunity to support Black-owned businesses, here are some of the ways Arizonans can celebrate Juneteenth in 2026.

With limited water, intense heat, sandy soils and unpredictable rainfall, the crops that thrive here are often the ones that have spent centuries learning how to survive in the desert.

Over the past several years, Local First Arizona has had the opportunity to provide space for Nika Forte and ABC Mobile Education Center to build programming, community connections, and educational opportunities at the garden. We are grateful for the energy, expertise, and dedication that Nika has contributed to the space and to the broader conversation around food systems, composting, and community agriculture.

The Best Arizona Gifts for Fathers Day 2026

Shopping locally for Father's Day supports Arizona’s regional makers, independent artists, and homegrown businesses. Excellent local gift ideas from Northern, Central, and Southern Arizona.

People often think being local means shopping local, eating local or attending local events.

Those things matter.

But being local is bigger than that.

It's creating opportunities for entrepreneurs. It's investing in locally owned businesses. It's strengthening food systems, supporting workforce development and helping communities access the resources they need to thrive.

At its heart, being local means building an economy where opportunity stays closer to home and more people have the chance to participate in it.

That's the story behind Local First Arizona's 2025 Annual Report.

I SPEAK AZ LLC: empoderando la confianza a través del idioma, la comunidad y el crecimiento empresarial

En un mundo donde el idioma puede ser una barrera o una puerta de oportunidad, una mujer vio la posibilidad de transformar vidas a través de la comunicación.

Lo que comenzó como una pasión por ayudar a otros hoy se ha convertido en I SPEAK AZ LLC, una academia de inglés diseñada especialmente para la comunidad hispana.

Ever wonder why you so often hear the phrase “family farm”? 

There is good reason for it. Farming is deeply tied to stewardship — of soil, water, ecosystems and community — and families who work the same land across generations often make decisions with the future in mind. The health of the land is personal because it is tied to memory, livelihood and legacy.

Inclusive local businesses do more than serve customers — they help shape communities where people feel welcomed, valued and connected. Across Arizona, LGBTQ+-friendly businesses and organizations are building spaces rooted in belonging, advocacy and local resilience.

During National Small Business Week (May 3–9), communities across the country recognize the 36 million small businesses that power the U.S. economy, and represent 99.9% of all firms and more than 45% of the workforce.

At Local First Arizona, that work isn’t confined to a single week. We work year-round to support, and shine a light on, the 650,000 small businesses operating in Arizona who make up 99.5% of total businesses in the state and employ 1.1 million people. Most of them are small businesses, illustrating yet again that entrepreneurs are the vital engines fueling the state’s economy. While Arizona is ranked nationally for its startup-friendly landscape, less attention is paid to the journey entrepreneurs experience in the months and years that follow the ubiquitous ribbon cutting ceremony.

PHOENIX, May 1, 2025 — Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. and Local First Arizona are partnering on a round-up campaign from May 12–31 to raise funds and awareness for Keep Arizona Beautiful, a Local First Arizona initiative driving community cleanups, waste reduction and environmental stewardship across the state.

Creative events that showcase the character of small communities across Arizona allow towns to celebrate what makes them unique. At the same time, these events are welcoming out-of-town visitors who then patronize restaurants, gas stations and hotels, pumping money directly into the local economy. While festivals and events do act as introductions for small towns to non-locals, they also provide seasonal stability for the small businesses that support those towns year round. 

Amor Fashion Shop: donde el arte mexicano inspira el camino emprendedor

Lo que comenzó como un sueño impulsado por la pasión por la cultura mexicana es hoy un negocio que conecta comunidades a través del arte.

Amor Fashion Shop (AFS) nació en medio de la incertidumbre en 2021, cuando el mundo enfrentaba los desafíos del COVID-19. Aun así, esta idea comenzó a tomar forma.

Phoenix, AZ — April 22, 2026 — Arizona’s independent restaurants have always been more than just places to eat. They are the heartbeats of our neighborhoods, the creative outlets of passionate chefs, and gathering spaces where stories unfold over shared plates. This summer, you are invited to support the Valley’s vibrant dining community by taking part in a unique and meaningful culinary journey: The 2026 Devour Summer Chef Series.

At Local First Arizona, we have spent more than two decades making the case that strong, resilient communities are built from the inside out. The businesses, farms, nonprofits and neighborhoods that make Arizona worth living in don’t just happen, they require intentional investment, thoughtful policy and leadership willing to bring everyone to the table.

Governor Katie Hobbs’ Arizona Energy Promise Taskforce has done exactly that.

The resulting report is a significant milestone, one that Local First Arizona helped shape. Its 31 consensus-driven recommendations reflect input from 36 members, including private-sector leaders, consumer advocates, tribal representatives, nonprofits, utilities, and state agencies. Kimber Lanning, Founder & CEO served on the Governor's Arizona Energy Promise Taskforce, and Vice President of Resiliency Programs Ginger Sykes Torres contributed to one of its working committees. Such rare and broad agreement among typically divergent stakeholders is a point of serious consideration, and one we are proud to support.

Arizona is home to 22 federally-recognized tribes, which ranks the state among the highest in the nation for its concentration of indigenous people. That significant tribal influence not only adds vibrancy to the state’s culture, but it contributes heavily to Arizona’s economic engine. 

By some estimates, more than half of the state’s agricultural land is managed by indigenous farmers and ranchers, meaning native-owned operations have a healthy stake in Arizona’s entrepreneurial community. And that’s just one industry.

At Local First Arizona, we recognized not only the contributions that indigenous entrepreneurs have on the state’s economy, but also the very specific challenges that native-owned businesses may encounter. To address those issues head on, we developed the Rooted Native Business Accelerator, a boot camp designed specifically for native business owners. The first cohort graduated earlier this year. 

Since new businesses are consistently stymied by key challenges related to finances, Local First Arizona recently launched a new Loan Readiness Boot Camp that prepares entrepreneurs for the lending process by equipping them with informed, real world decision-making strategies.

Rising energy costs in Arizona are putting increasing pressure on businesses, with projections estimating rates could climb up to 47% by 2050. For companies operating on tight margins, this volatility threatens both profitability and long-term sustainability. Obodo Energy offers a solution through commercial and industrial clean energy systems, including solar, battery storage and energy efficiency upgrades, helping businesses reduce costs and gain more control over their energy future. By investing in scalable solar solutions—the fastest and most cost-effective clean energy option—Arizona businesses can hedge against rising utility rates, improve operational predictability and strengthen their commitment to sustainable practices.

Are you dreaming about the next steps for your business to grow, but don’t know where to start?

For advice about how to set yourself up for success, we reached out to Nina Gruber, the senior manager for Local First’s Arizona Economic Resource Center, which has helped bring over $140 million to Arizona communities.

PHOENIX (Mar. 31 2026) — Local First Arizona is now accepting applications for its next virtual Green Business Boot Camp beginning April 21, 2026. The award-winning, seven-week program guides 10 to 15 locally owned businesses and nonprofits through an Arizona-focused sustainability curriculum. Participants leave with a project plan targeting a projected 20% reduction in resource use and emissions.

PHOENIX (March 23, 2026) — Local First Arizona will celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Garden Education Center at Heart & Soil People’s Garden on Tuesday, March 31, at 11 a.m., marking the culmination of a historic $1 million investment from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The event will bring together Arizona Department of Agriculture Director Paul Brierley, philanthropists Bob and Renee Parsons, State Conservationist for USDA-NRCS Keisha Tatem, and Local First Arizona Founder & CEO Kimber Lanning to honor a milestone year in the making — and a community that made it possible.