We are excited to announce the latest businesses to become certified through the Arizona Green Business Program. Read on to discover Local First Arizona members MISGIF and Company Eco: two businesses whose sourcing and operating standards prioritize clean air, zero waste, water conservation, and sustaining livable communities for generations to come.

After graduating two cohorts in the business accelerator, We Rise is launching two new initiatives: The We Rise business coaching program and the We Rise Technical Assistance program. These two programs will cater to entrepreneurs who don’t need or are not ready for a six-month accelerator program, but who still need assistance. These initiatives ensure that those who don’t get selected to participate in the accelerator program still get business support tailored to their specific needs and stages of growth.

This Women’s History Month, we want to make it easy for you to shop local, women-owned businesses. You know who makes that easy? The Collective Market! Found in the Chandler Mall across from Pottery Barn, this holiday pop-up shop turned permanent retailer is home to over 40 locally owned businesses, many that are also woman-owned!

We met up with Owner Raina Dodge to talk about what inspired her to start Collective Market, the importance of entrepreneurship, and why shopping locally matters.

Araceli Zamora es dueña junto a su esposo del exitoso salón Versalles Palace, además de ser una excelente empresaria local apasionada por su trabajo y comprometida con apoyar a la comunidad.

En los primeros años el concepto de su salón fue ofrecer conciertos y bailes, albergando grandes artistas latinos como Ramon Ayala, Pancho Barraza, Los Angeles Azules, Los Temerarios, Amanda Miguel, Marisela y entre muchos otros.

Pero el tiempo fue provocando cambios …..

Over the past two years, most of us have come to understand the importance and impact of having access to reliable internet services. For part of our state, that access is a privilege they have long dreamed of.

I am very excited to be able to attend the summit in person this year, particularly as I’ll be onstage for one of Lighting Talks. I hope you'll join me at the event as we build networks, inspire each other and then go home and implement the ideas that are going to make our communities more vibrant, resilient and rich.

In May of 2021, Local First Arizona launched the Arizona Economic Recovery Center (AZERC) to assist organizations and small rural towns statewide with building their capacity for small and large projects that have the potential to grow, contribute to, or transform the economic health of Arizona. Since its inception, the AZERC has assisted a multitude of rural towns, nonprofits and tribal organizations to win grant awards surpassing $4.6 million.

The Arizona Economic Recovery Center (AZERC) has had a busy year working with organizations across Arizona!

The Arizona Economic Recovery Center is here to help! Don’t miss out on the services provided -we guarantee there is something we can help you with! Check out all the services that the Arizona Economic Recovery Center provides!

After a compelling virtual experience in 2021, Local First Arizona looks forward to bringing 250 business leaders together in person on April 5 at Tempe Center for the Arts for this pioneering event – the Arizona Good Business Summit.

Muchas felicidades a la 1ra Generación y 18a Generación y un agradecimiento muy especial para todos los líderes comunitarios y patrocinadores del programa por creer en nuestros empresarios locales.

Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) is an employer-led, demand-driven process that brings together employers from the same industries in a specific region to collectively address shared workforce challenges.

It’s Black History Month! One of our favorite ways to celebrate is by supporting Black-owned businesses – especially those in our We Rise program. It’s all about helping businesses get started or expand and we want to be a part of that growth.

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

In February 2022, Local First Arizona and South32 will launch a first-of-its-kind intensive Rural Business Academy in Santa Cruz County, with a digital marketing course to focus on unique challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs.

In Fall 2021, SCALE UP Cohorts 5 and 6 came together to participate in the 6-week sustainability project planning series to share knowledge and resources to help each of them achieve efficiency savings and add to our growing network of green businesses. 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!

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.