Ways to Get Involved with LFA Sustainability Advocacy: Fall 2021
The Sustainability Team at Local First Arizona is committed to connecting local businesses to more advocacy opportunities and to telling the stories of those across the state who are advocating for beneficial environmental policies. Below, you can learn about some of the ways LFA has gotten involved in environmental advocacy and reach out to us to join our new action network!
Launch of Environmental Advocacy Page
To keep you updated on our current advocacy efforts, LFA Sustainability has launched a new page dedicated to updates on advocacy and education projects, including electric vehicle charging with the state of Arizona, building electrification, and the federal Build Back Better Plan. To Build Back Better for Arizona, we need Congress to step up our nation’s use of clean, renewable energy; protect our waters, lands and natural resources; cut the environmental pollution that is worsening heat waves, wildfires, drought and other disasters that hit Black, Indigenous and communities of color first and worst; and create job and justice opportunities for our frontline communities. You can find this new Environmental Advocacy page here.
Watch the Recording of the Arizona Clean Energy Town Hall
The Local First Arizona Sustainability team hosted a Clean Energy Town Hall on July 8th to hear from the state’s leaders on what work is currently being done to shift to renewable energy and how small businesses can get involved. Representative Andrés Cano, Arizona Corporation Commissioner Anna Tovar, and State Senator Kirsten Engel talked about their goals and answered questions posed by the LFA Sustainability business network. One of the best ways for local businesses to ensure a clean energy future for Arizona is to add their voices in support of beneficial legislation, and the town hall panel mentions several specific opportunities for businesses to do so. Watch the recording here using the passcode ^J+&Qj8?
Update on Roundtable Discussion with Congressman O’Halleran
On September 7th, 2021, Local First Arizona hosted a Roundtable Discussion with Congressman Tom O’Halleran along with local business leaders to have a conversation about federal climate investments to be included in the pending infrastructure bill, as well as the importance of strong antitrust legislation that threatens the viability of small, locally owned businesses. “The connection between needed energy, water, and transportation infrastructure and climate impacts are nowhere as acute as the southwest US. This is altering our way of life and we need action now,” said O’Halleran. Participants / business leaders were able to share their voice and creative solutions that could bring needed resources to marginalized communities and fight the anti-competition policies that large corporations are exercising to squeeze small businesses.