Holiday shopping shouldn’t feel like a sprint through corporate sameness. This year, skip the predictable and give local. Shopping with personality types in mind makes your gifts unforgettable, and every purchase from an Arizona-owned business keeps more money right here at home, fueling jobs, creativity and community. Here’s how to shop local, letting your recipients’ personalities be your guide.

The holidays are here, and while most of us are thinking about gifts and celebrations, Local First is also focused on fairness. Because the movement to “shop local” isn’t just about warm fuzzies — it’s about leveling a playing field that’s long been tilted against small businesses.

For most growing companies, raising capital means giving up control — and often, giving up local roots. But Cartel Roasting Co., the Arizona-born coffee company known for its fiercely independent streak, is taking a different path: growing through community investment.

Cuando conoces a la Chef Carmen Pérez, es imposible no notar su energía y alegría. Su personalidad brillante y contagiosa, llena de fuerza y optimismo, es lo que la define y lo que finalmente inspiró el nombre de su negocio: Chispita Catering.

Con una sonrisa constante y una determinación inquebrantable, Carmen ha convertido su chispa personal en el motor de un negocio que lleva comida deliciosa y de alta calidad a celebraciones y eventos en todo el Valle.

Every month, we celebrate local businesses strengthening Arizona’s economy—on main streets and in neighborhoods across the state. This lineup spans Flagstaff, Mesa and Tucson, and each one shows what buying local looks like in real life: trusted service, skilled teams, and community-first values.

Every month, we welcome new faces and celebrate longtime members who keep Arizona’s economy rooted here at home. From gathering places in small towns to expert builders shaping homes in the Valley to winemakers bringing new stories to our tables — these businesses show up for the communities we love and the local economy we’re building together.

Un espacio para la familia, el sabor y la cultura

Al entrar a La Michoacana Al Natural, te reciben murales de Arizona y México, el aroma de nieves artesanales y el murmullo de familias reunidas.

Su fundadora, Erika Félix, soñó con crear algo más que una nevería: un lugar donde los niños pudieran llegar en bicicleta después de la escuela, las familias pudieran compartir una mesa y se crearán recuerdos —muy parecidos a los de su propia infancia.

Not even the August heat in Phoenix could stop a score of small business owners from gathering in the Burton Barr Library community room on August 14, 2025. They weren’t there to sell or pitch a new product—but to confront a challenge larger than any one enterprise: climate change. Hosted by Local First Arizona and the City of Phoenix, the first Climate Action Plan business convening invited business leaders to share firsthand how climate change is shaping their day-to-day operations—and how they can have a hand in shaping the city’s climate policy. 

Wyatt Gilmore is on a mission to change the way Native American tourism businesses connect with their customers — and thanks to a unique Local First Arizona investment fund, he’s turning that vision into reality.

Every month, we welcome new faces and celebrate longtime members who keep Arizona’s economy rooted here at home. From keeping neighbors comfortable year-round to guiding families through life’s big decisions to supporting parents in meaningful moments — these businesses show up for the communities we love and the local economy we’re building together.brings something meaningful and lasting to our local economy.

When Nuru ZeKariyahh blends a smoothie or acai bowl at his Tempe shop, Add-On Smoothies, he’s serving more than fresh fruit. He’s blending nearly two decades of learning, a passion for holistic health and a life story that began in an unexpected place: a federal prison horticulture program.

Local First Arizona and the City of Phoenix have partnered to bring local businesses to the table to help update the City’s Climate Action Plan. Use your voice to help shape our city’s climate goals and prepare for what’s ahead. 

En el vecindario Coronado de Phoenix, dos emprendedores están transformando un café local en un espacio donde la buena comida se encuentra con conexiones significativas — con el apoyo de la comunidad de Fuerza Local.

Para Ana Alvarado y Gustavo Delgado, abrir 5th Avenue Café no se trataba solo de lanzar un negocio. Se trataba de crear un espacio donde las personas se sintieran vistas, atendidas y con raíces — especialmente en un momento en que el sentido de comunidad se sentía frágil.

Every month, we spotlight businesses that are helping shape Arizona’s future — one plate, one podcast, one customer at a time. These local leaders aren’t just building businesses — they’re building community. Whether they’re helping creators find their voice, serving up bold new flavors or reimagining what dining and gathering can look like, each brings something meaningful and lasting to our local economy.