Local First Arizona Now Accepting Applications for Green Business Boot Camp starting April 21
Contact: Charlotte Shaff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local First Arizona Now Accepting Applications for Green Business Boot Camp starting April 21
Award-winning program helps Arizona businesses and nonprofits cut costs, build resilience, and turn sustainability ideas into actionable plans
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.
Unlike general sustainability workshops, Green Business Boot Camp is designed with a business-first approach. The program connects environmental improvements to tangible outcomes, including cost savings, customer attraction, employee engagement and long-term operational resilience.
“Local businesses are essential to Arizona’s economy and helping them operate more sustainably strengthens both their bottom line and their long-term resilience,” said Ginger Sykes Torres, vice president of resiliency programs at Local First Arizona. “This program gives them a clear, actionable path to make meaningful changes that benefit their business, their customers and their communities.”
The program includes weekly sessions led by local experts, along with tools to help participants assess current resource use and identify high-impact opportunities for improvement. Participants also receive one-on-one support to strengthen their project plans and ensure they are both practical and achievable.
After completing the program, participants continue receiving support for a full year, including follow-up guidance and opportunities to reconnect with fellow members. Graduates may also access low-interest, flexible funding through Local First’s green microloans to help finance and implement their projects.
Green Business Boot Camp is part of a broader statewide effort to support local economic development. In addition to the statewide virtual program, it is also offered in-person in Tucson, the Verde Valley and Flagstaff, expanding access to sustainability resources for businesses and nonprofits across Arizona.
The upcoming April cohort provides an opportunity to connect with program graduates who can share real-world results, from reducing operating costs to implementing sustainability initiatives that align with their mission and growth goals.
Applications are now open for the cohort beginning April 21, 2026. For more information, upcoming session dates or to apply, visit localfirstaz.com/green-boot-camp.
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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