Meet January’s new and renewing Local First Arizona members!

What better way to start off 2022 than with a celebration! First up: 45 Fuerza Local participants!. After six months of hard work, these incredible entrepreneurs are completing their program.

The second group to go through the We Rise program is made up of a diverse group of businesses. Meet just a few and join us in celebrating them all at the graduation ceremony on January 29, 2022.

Founded at the home of the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market, this event is an all-inclusive and slightly quirky December celebration that values locally-owned businesses, locally-made products and our community. It is also the largest fundraiser of the year for Community Food Connections, which manages the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market.

I'm bringing this to you today as a request. We have to use our critical thinking, our emotional intelligence, and our compassion to continue to dialogue with those we don't agree with and to hang on to reality while understanding diverse lived experiences.

I’ve spent my time at Local First working to address root causes. Many call it leadership, but what I really think we're talking about is accountability

Meet Ebony, co-owner of Hussle and Meditate LLC. She has some gift ideas for the holiday season! Check out what is on her list.

Blanca Abarca es una orgullosa mexicana del estado de veracruz, graduada como enfermera profesional por la facultad de enfermería de la universidad veracruzana y orgullosa residente de Sur Phoenix por más de 20 años.

Su pequeña empresa Blanca 's Alterations & Creations LLC nació para dar formalidad a todas sus ideas y proyectos que ha realizado desde hace muchos años, con la intención de poder extenderlo y que la comunidad pudiera conocer más de su trabajo y labor.

El Mes de la Herencia Hispana se celebra entre el 15 de septiembre y 15 de octubre porque celebran su independencia países hispanos como Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, México y Chile. Durante este mes se hace honor a las personas de origen hispano en Estados Unidos, festejando el 12 de octubre el Día de la Hispanidad.

Es por ello que contaremos la historia de dos representantes hispanos, graduados del programa Acelerador de Negocios de Fuerza Local y líderes en la comunidad de Sur Phoenix, Arizona.

Carlos Castillo originario de Indaparapeo, Michoacán y Erika Castillo originaria de Los Ángeles, California, con 8 años de casados dejaron sus profesiones para no solo ser dueños de su restaurante sino también para poder ayudar a su comunidad y generar empleos en Arizona con Chino-Mex, un restaurante con un encuentro de culturas gastronómicas muy especial.

Local First has a comprehensive and easy-to-use directory not only for local businesses but also for farms, community-supported agriculture (CSA) and all things food. It’s important to shop local and support your community and this directory makes it simple.

The State of Arizona has launched the Back to Work Small Business Hiring and Retention Program. This $5 million program is designed to assist small, locally owned or operated businesses hire and retain employees; the program also has a special focus on businesses that have been affected by the recent wildfires and flooding.

Maria Fuentes es madre, empresaria local y dueña de Seguridad Latina junto a su esposo Juan Gerardo Iñiguez en la ciudad de Phoenix, Arizona desde 2004.

Ser ama de casa, madre y empresaria es algo muy complicado, algo que Maria Fuentes lo sabe de primera mano, “Siempre se debe de buscar un balance, soy madre de 2 hijos, esposa y además llevo las finanzas de nuestra empresa, no es facial, si soy sincera, pero cuando las cosas se hacen con amor y propósito todo fluye positivamente, nunca dejes de soñar porque como madres siempre seremos fuertes y nada nos puede detener”

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and that presents a great opportunity to learn more about #StopAsianHate and how to be a better ally.

El 5 de Mayo ya está muy cerca y aun no sabes si lo festejaras o cual seria la forma más segura de hacerlo durante la era de pandemia. No te preocupes, siempre habrá opciones donde podrás hacerlo de forma segura y sobre todo apoyando a tus negocios locales de Arizona.

Pero primero que nada ¿Porque celebramos el 5 de Mayo?

Albertico Salas es un empresario mexicano en la ciudad de Glendale, Arizona.

Como empresario entiende la importancia de los pequeños negocios como el suyo, representan para la economía y comunidad local.

Con más de 15 años de experiencia en el sector de los restaurantes, Albertico Salas desarrolló una gran pasión por tener su propio restaurante de comida mexicana.

As summer approaches, many communities are preparing for the barrage of Phoenicians that will soon head out to explore vibrant (and cool) rural destinations. We chatted with #RuralAZ Local First Arizona member, Jen Luria, co-creator of Bisbee-based Dog Cat Mouse Media on how to make your community stand out.

No fue fácil, emprender, pero mi pasión por lograr mi sueño, siempre me dio las fuerzas para seguir adelante” comenta Jorge Solorio muy motivado.

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.

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.

During Black History Month, you might find yourself inspired by the leaders of the past who moved the needle on creating a more just and equitable nation. You would be equally remiss to skip learning about Black leaders who are shaping Arizona today and tirelessly working to build a stronger, more vibrant place we are proud to call home One such leader is Coral Evans; the first black mayor for the city of Flagstaff and who currently serves as Northern Arizona Director for Senator Mark Kelly. Get to know her below and read about what gives her hope for the future.