Northern Arizona News

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

Where your business banks isn’t just a financial decision — it shapes who gets access to capital in your community. Across Arizona, local businesses are often shut out of lending by the same institutions holding their deposits. Community banks and credit unions flip that model, reinvesting locally and building the relationships businesses need to grow. If you’re thinking about your next money move, building a relationship with a local banker now can open doors when it matters most.