It’s adventure season and we’re kicking it off with National Road Trip day! What better way to explore Arizona than with a plan that keeps your passions and interests in mind? Check out this Local First Arizona approved road-trip guide that aligns with your devotion to supporting small businesses, diverse communities, local food producers, and environmental action across the state. We’ll see you out on the road!

The seven businesses and organizations that came together to participate in the 7-week sustainability project planning series share an important ideal: collaboration is necessary for sustained and equitable systems change and to create healthy communities. After coming together, each participant is launching a unique project that addresses energy, water, waste, and/or transportation in their operations alongside commitments to environmental and community stewardship. Here is a sneak peek of the participants and the projects they are launching here in Arizona!

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?

In November 2020, Local First Arizona interviewed Duncan residents, business owners, elected officials, working professionals, volunteers, and parents to gain an understanding of spending patterns resulting in either dollars recirculating in the local economy or leaking out of the local economy.

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce was experiencing pressure from a variety of angles. Members were struggling to stay afloat and a Chamber membership did not rank as a high priority when facing workforce challenges, added costs safety and wellness precautions, past due utilities and rents, and lost revenue for almost a year.

Pipeline AZ is a multi-sided platform bringing job seekers, companies, educational institutions and workforce organizations together to match talent to market needs and prepare job seekers for future opportunities - online. Unlike other career services or workforce development platforms, Pipeline AZ serves the entire workforce ecosystem simultaneously: companies, job seekers, educators and workforce organizations. Pipeline AZ is free for users, and will include case management for job seekers to help best connect their skills to job opportunities. Employers can list jobs, internships and/or apprenticeships.

In January 2020, the San Manuel Revitalization Coalition was formed as a solution for this unincorporated community to have one centralized resource and provide a unified voice to Pinal County for concerns and needs. With a volunteer board of fifteen community members, the group finalized its status as a recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and was able to raise over $10,000 in start-up funding for community programming.

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.

With a 2,000-year-old agricultural heritage, Arizona’s Verde Valley locals and visitors can now rediscover their roots through the recently launched “Verde Grown” campaign. A local steering committee comprised of regional municipalities, growers, and producers have partnered with Local First Arizona to launch the new Verde Grown brand with an intent to link food connoisseurs to farmers, ranchers, food producers, and restaurants in the Verde Valley, which includes the cities and towns of Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Cornville, and other nearby communities.

Local First Arizona is launching the Arizona Economic Recovery Center, with support from Senator Mark Kelly and Governor Doug Ducey, to ensure every corner of the state has the opportunity to build back stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The newest businesses to be certified through the Local First Arizona Green Business Program and the Southern Arizona Green Leaders Program are springing forward into sustainability and enhancing their respective communities through their organizational missions. Meet the Arizona Heritage Center, Stardust Building Supplies, Literacy Connects, and K. Newby Gallery and learn all about what they’re doing to be more green.

The town of Camp Verde and Local First Arizona have partnered together to launch a regional agricultural brand called ‘Verde Grown’. Verde Grown is a celebration of the hard-working communities that have stayed connected to their agricultural roots and who act as stewards of the Verde River. Support of Verde Grown producers and products strengthens the resiliency, sustainability, and economic vitality of the Verde Valley region and Central Arizona.

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

For Women’s History Month we’re celebrating the women that we have come to know and love through our sustainability programs. These women are dedicated to environmental action and working hard to make sure everyone can enjoy Arizona for generations to come. Come meet the incredible women who are part of Arizona’s green businesses and maybe add some things to your own green to-do list!

The Village of Tubac recently launched an initiative to create a community brand that illustrates the rich heritage and unique creativity that abounds within their community. With intent to gather as much community input as possible, the Tubac Chamber of Commerce invited a number of local merchants and community members to participate in the community project led by Local First Arizona in partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism to ensure an outcome that was representative of the community, its residents, and its businesses.

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!