Local First Arizona and the City of Tucson Launch Initiative to Better Understand the Future of Southern Arizona’s Green Small Business and Workforce Landscape
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Jeff Davidson
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Local First Arizona and the City of Tucson Launch Initiative to Better Understand the Future of Southern Arizona’s Green Small Business and Workforce Landscape
Study will help create an action plan to prepare small business and workforce ecosystems for climate-driven economic development
PHOENIX (July 24, 2025) — Climate change threatens the health and well-being of all Americans, but the effects are felt unevenly. The most vulnerable neighborhoods and communities are often excluded from resilience efforts and the benefits of green investment. Local First Arizona and the City of Tucson Office of Resilience have partnered with the Urban Institute’s Transformative Climate Action in American Cities (TCA) project to help disrupt the climate status quo in Tucson.
With funding from The Kresge Foundation, the initiative will assess the region’s current and future economic development, small business environment, and workforce landscape. The findings will guide strategic investments in skills training, small business support, and education—ensuring that local communities are positioned to benefit from the region’s clean energy development and climate resilience efforts.
“Congratulations to Local First Arizona and the City of Tucson Office of Resilience for being selected as one of three recipients in the entire country for this innovative study by the Urban Institute,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. “This research will help us better understand Southern Arizona’s clean energy economy, its potential, and where gaps exist. Thank you to the Kresge Foundation for supporting work that will help our region create training opportunities to prepare people for the green jobs of the future. This grant will also help small business owners access the resources they need to thrive in the clean economy.”
With assets such as the University of Arizona Tech Park, regional community colleges, and Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy, Tucson is an emerging hub for renewable energy and natural resources technology. Both Local First Arizona and the City of Tucson seek to increase capacity and coordination across Southern Arizona—including with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Tohono O’odham Nation—to develop a diverse, future-ready workforce and attract public and private investment in the green economy.
“Tucson is leading the Southwest toward climate adaptation, and there will be great opportunities for local residents and small businesses to participate in a clean energy transition,” said Kimber Lanning, founder and CEO of Local First Arizona. “Together, using the Urban Institute’s findings, we plan to advance opportunities for job skills training, small business development and low-cost education to meet the needs for the jobs of the future. The region will be perfectly positioned to access workforce development and mobility in industries that will drive Arizona's decarbonization efforts.”
With strategic coordination between private sector employers, local governments, workforce agencies and community colleges, Local First Arizona and the City of Tucson will leverage the study’s findings to develop plans to maximize employment, entrepreneurship and investment opportunities that drive inclusive economic growth across Tucson communities.
“Local First and the City of Tucson are taking important steps to help the local economy adapt to growing climate risks and seize new opportunities for green economic development,” said Oriya Cohen, Policy Program Manager at the Urban Institute’s Research to Action Lab and co-lead of the TCA project. “We’re excited to support this work by providing new data, evidence, and technical assistance to accelerate transformative climate action in Southern Arizona.”
Insights from the TCA project, along with national research focused on the climate priorities and capacity of the community and economic development ecosystem, will be shared publicly through 2026.
About Local First Arizona
Established in 2003, Local First Arizona is a non-profit organization 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. Because our state is our story. Follow Local First Arizona on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook or subscribe to the newsletter to receive regular updates on programs.
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