Meet Areli Rivera, a Fuerza Local Business Accelerator graduate, and owner of Global Immigration LLC. Her entrepreneurial spirit has allowed her to give back to get community and provide a better life for her two children. As part of Women’s History Month, we got together with Areli to ask for her insight into what it’s like being a woman-owned business, what inspires her and what she hopes to see in the future.

Congratulations to the 10 businesses and organizations that have just graduated as the first 2021 cohort of Scale Up! This is the third cohort to have completed the award-winning sustainability project planning series where participants develop their own plans to reduce energy, water, waste, and/or transportation in their business operations with a commitment to social equity and environmental justice. Here is an overview of their projects and what they plan to do next!

2020 has changed the way we do business and, in some ways, what good business really means. This year, the Arizona Good Business Summit is going virtual to report on the state of small business and how we can rebuild stronger, more equitable communities. You may be thinking - another digital event? Yes — but this one matters. It's accessible, it's affordable and we can't let a pandemic halt ongoing work to build a stronger AZ.

It’s getting warmer and warmer outside and that only means one thing...outdoor dining! It’s prime weather for getting a bite to eat on a patio or grabbing a drink outside with friends on a spring night (and hello St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th!) And for those who are ready to get out of the house but not dine in, then patios (or a picnic) are a perfect way to support local restaurants and bars. Arizona has an outstanding selection of outdoor patio dining options so take some time to explore, get outside, and enjoy some of the best that local Arizona has to offer.

Some of you might have spent a little more time at home in 2020. More hand washing, cooking, washing dishes, and home renovation projects means increased water use and higher bills. With the arrival of the spring season that we in Arizona so enjoy, higher temperatures mean thirstier people, animals, and plants. Fortunately, there are groups like Water - Use it Wisely (WUIW) that exist to help you maximize your water savings inside and outside your home or business.

Mesa businesses that are looking to improve their eco-footprint and get recognized for their efforts have a new way to do so! The Arizona Green Business Program is launching in Mesa, thanks to the support of the City of Mesa Environmental Services team and city leadership. This certification program is open to independently owned businesses of all types and focuses on energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, pollution prevention, transportation efficiency, and general sustainability in the workplace. The goal is to seek ways businesses can reduce environmental impact with an eye toward cost savings and recognition.

February is Black History Month; it’s a time to educate ourselves about the deep-rooted racism in our country’s history, and more importantly, commit ourselves to build a more just and equal world for all. This year’s BHM comes after a year of protest and a public health crisis that disproportionately affected businesses and people of color. So we’ve put together a guide to help you honor black history, build awareness, and find your role in the local movement.

Native Women Entrepreneurs of Arizona is a supportive social network for native women business owners. NWEAZ Indigenous women business owners acknowledge their accomplishments and with their collective voices bring to attention the concerns of their business communities. LFA is proud to be a sponsor of this new organization and work together to serve our diverse business community. Every day is a great day to learn about and celebrate Native American and Indigenous heritage! There are 22 sovereign Native nations that call Arizona home, and NWEAZ is a great resource to discover native business owners across the state and learn more about their heritage.

As a continuation of the GLOCULL Pilot Projects series, where we explore projects aimed at moving the needle toward a thriving local and sustainable food economy with both local and global support. Through ongoing partnerships with ASU’s School of Sustainability and School for the Future of Innovation in Society, City of Phoenix, and City of Tempe, we will review the next installment of the series. Explore the united efforts behind supporting small, locally owned businesses, like Huss Brewing Company in their journey to make a sustainable shift.

In August of 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., before a crowd of more than 250,000 people, gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech and called for an end to racism. On MLK Day today, we are proud to announce the inaugural cohort of the We Rise Business Accelerator program. These 12 Black business owners are part of the dream that Martin Luther King spoke of. And we are so excited to help them grow and see them become part of the fabric that builds a stronger, more diverse Arizona.

Make your 2021 more eco-friendly by checking out the services of these newly certified green businesses! In a time of adversity, these businesses and nonprofits are creating positive change and building toward a more sustainable future. Support them by frequenting their business, engaging with them on social media, and sharing the word with your friends and family.

Small business owners throughout the state have kept their eyes on the newest COVID-19 relief bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, with hopes that it would address their needs, the needs of their employees, and those of their communities. $288 billion has been allocated to aid small businesses and applications are set to open in early January 2021. Local First AZ Members, Aniles & Co., CPA Firm and Ironwood Ventures have provided a breakdown of the relief package and highlighted the most important information for small businesses

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.

Local First Arizona has been a champion for localized economic development in Arizona since 2003, and in that time we’ve never seen a greater challenge to sustaining community resiliency than that posed in 2020. LFA works in partnership with communities, organizations, and businesses to bridge “traditional” economic development with models that strengthen local resilience and address disparities across urban and rural Arizona. We focus the work on unique economic development strategies that aim to keep local dollars circulating in local communities, create jobs one at a time, and build stronger connections to place for those that continue to choose Arizona as their home.

Are you looking for a company to design an app for your business? Then you’ll want to meet Arturo Barron and Perla Johanna Razcon, founders of Kubik Technologies LLC.

COVID-19 has led to some spectacular creativity as businesses have found ways to survive. Whether it be moving online, offering delivery and pickup, or utilizing social media more, Arizona businesses have needed to adapt. Some businesses have even needed to completely change what they do. Meet Rebel Lounge, the Orpheum Theater and Club Congress; these businesses are usually venues for concerts. Venues have been one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, they were the first to close and will likely be the last to open. Due to this, the Rebel Lounge and Orpheum theater needed to find new ways to bring in revenue and stay afloat.

When you go local, your present for a loved one isn’t only raising that person up, it’s raising up your whole community. We know that some folks are a little nervous to get out for a shopping trip so we wanted to make it a little easier for you to find those local gems online, now and in the future. Below are some great items from our recently debuted Shop Arizona Marketplace! With 100 businesses and 500 products and much more coming in, we are sure you can find that special something that makes a perfect gift!

Congratulations to the 12 incredible businesses and nonprofits that completed the second 2020 cohort of SCALE UP! Each participant developed a unique project plan to reduce energy, water usage, waste, and/or transportation in their business. Here is a quick overview of some of the inspiring projects!

Just in time for the holiday season, Local First Arizona, in partnership with local marketing firm Ideas Collide, will launch Arizona’s go-to online marketplace for discovering and shopping directly from local businesses and makers across the state. In response to a hard economic year and the need for safe, holiday shopping, the Shop Arizona Marketplace will help small businesses from all industries compete in a digital world and reach new customers now and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the United States, agricultural land is being lost at an alarming rate—over 1.5 million acres per year. This dramatic decline in farmland reflects a nationwide expansion of urban development that is putting high-quality farmland at risk. Arizona and Maricopa County face similar issues with farmland loss. Between 1997 and 2017, 36% of all farmland in Maricopa County was lost, and rapid urban development and the high cost of land continues to threaten the security of community farmers and the local food system.