6 Ways to Leverage Your Localness in 2021
The New Year is always used as a time to resolve ourselves to do something different; whether that be to start a new hobby, pick up a new habit, or change something in our lives. As January first comes and goes, we hope that you make supporting local a part of your new year's resolutions and keep up with it all year long! With the ramifications of COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to support Arizona small business owners. Check out this easy, 6-step guide to help you live like a ”Localist”. You can do one or all of them; even the smallest changes make a huge difference.
Become a Localist
Being a part of systems change is rarely because of top-down decisions. True change is built by the resourcefulness and thoughtful collaboration of local leaders, often innovating out of necessity, and the people who support the programs created. When you become a Local First Localist, you help support programs across the state that are dedicated to social justice, the environment, food equity and access, building rural and urban Arizona, and local entrepreneurship. All of these things help Arizona become stronger and a better place for everyone to live.
When you are a localist for Local First, you agree to donate monthly as an investment in communities across Arizona. You could donate from $5 to as much as you would like. The contribution is tax-deductible and as a localist, you will have access to benefits like early bird purchasing and invitations to specially curated events such as Dining For Dreams and Devour.
Shop at a Farmers Market
In our opinion, there are few feelings that are as good as shopping at a farmers market. Fresh produce, bread, jams, pies and other goodies create a colorful and delicious backdrop to the other locally made treasures that you can find. It’s the closest thing we have to a french market or bazaar and it’s so fun to walk each aisle and see all the goodness that the vendors have to offer. This is one of the easiest ways to help support local. Just move 10%, or more if you’re feeling it, of your grocery spending to farmers markets and you’re helping to support local farms and entrepreneurs. You can find the farmers markets near you here.
Move Your Money
Are you looking for a better way to support and promote social justice and support for small business? Moving your money to a local bank or credit union is one of the best ways to support local business owners of color and woman entrepreneurs. Mega-banks have historically made it much harder for communities of color and small business owners to access capital and wealth through practices such as denying access to services through raising prices selectively or creating fraudulent accounts. Removing your money from these large banks sends the message that their practices will not be tolerated. Local banks are historically more socially responsible and, when they make it easier for people of color to access credit, they help shrink the wealth gap. MariSol Federal Credit Union is committed to financial inclusion and empowerment. They are the bank connected to the Fuerza Local program. Gateway Bank is dedicated to working with entrepreneurs and volunteers with organizations across Arizona. OneAZ and Arizona Federal both do extensive work with local organizations and nonprofits to help make Arizona a better place for everyone to live. You can find more local banks at https://www.localfirstaz.com/local-banking.
Local banks and credit unions also invest in Arizona, while big banks move Arizonan's money out of the state. Keeping money in Arizona helps create a more sustainable, diverse and competitive economy. Local banks invest in local businesses and causes; big banks invest in private, profitable prisons, coal, oil and contribute to many societal issues today such as global warming. Big banks also provide less than 20 percent of all small business lending. When you move your money to a community bank or credit union, you are providing greater capital for them to reinvest in small businesses and build a stronger local Arizona economy.
Sustainability
Sustainability and environmental protection are issues that are closely related to local businesses. Local businesses are rooted in the communities they serve, so they tend to be more conscious about their own impacts on the environment much like the local economy. Additionally, shopping with local businesses that source their products locally can lead to a smaller footprint on the environment. The sustainability arm of Local First Arizona is dedicated to empowering citizens to help put Arizona first and keep her beautiful for generations to come. It’s easy to support sustainable businesses. Each month, you can find a blog about businesses that became certified green on the Local First Arizona blog. You can also learn about the best ways to discard food waste in your home and how you can help reduce how much food is wasted. Whether you’re composting, using a recyclable tote, supporting green businesses or using products that can be recycled, you can take small steps that make a big difference for our planet.
Become a Member of Local First Arizona
Are you a local business owner or thinking about starting your own? Then consider joining the Local First Arizona family! Here at Local First, we believe that Arizona can only thrive with a diverse economy full of local businesses. Our goal is to elevate the voices of independent, locally-owned businesses. We provide you with top-notch education, expand your network, and help drive more business — helping small businesses reach the right audiences, at the right time, on the right platforms. During COVID, Local First has helped distribute over $10 million in funds and highlighted our members in blogs, social media, TV spots and more. Learn more about the benefits of Local First membership and the different kinds of memberships.
Last but Not Least, Shop Local
The easiest way to better support local is to shop local! With the Shop Arizona Marketplace and the Local First Directory, it’s easy to find a local option for whatever you need. As you shop locally, you will help to create community pride and a profound sense of place. When people are proud of their hometown, they tend to care more, volunteer more, vote more, and give more. When you shop local, you also help to create jobs. For example, when you buy your morning coffee at Starbucks, your money goes to their corporation that is located outside of Arizona, so the money doesn't stay and help your community. And when more people shop at Starbucks, there is less room for local coffee shops. While Starbucks is a great company, their thousands of locations are supported by a small team that isn’t really in Arizona; their graphic designer, marketers, etc. But when you buy your coffee at a local coffee shop, more of your money stays in Arizona and each local coffee shop you purchase from is supported by its own local team. More local coffee shops mean more local jobs. These are just a few of the reasons why shopping local is important! And shopping local is easy! You can even shop locally at Walmart, Fry’s or any other grocery chain. Just look for the stickers that say “I’m Local!” or ask an associate.
The ease of online shopping has taken over the world and became quite the past-time during COVID-19. During COVID, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos made $90.1 billion dollars and he is likely to pay $0 in income taxes. Amazon also treats its employees notoriously unwell. A great way to combat this big business and all the economic issues associated with it, you can use the Shop Arizona Marketplace or from the websites of local shops. On the Shop Arizona Marketplace, we have over 500 Arizona-made products and 100% of the proceeds go right back to the businesses.
It’s easy to find ways to be more local focused. Take the time to make a plan about how you are going to support your community this year.