Businesses of all sizes including small businesses support The Equality and Fairness for All Americans because equality and fairness are not just the right thing to do, but are good for business. At Local First we believe we must be inclusive to attract and retain top talent, ideas and innovations.

Susy Martínez es una empresaria local especialista en cosmetología por más de 30 años, originaria de Sonora, México, en sus inicios trabajo sin sueldo en 1989 como asistente en un salón de belleza sin imaginar que un día se convertiría en la dueña absoluta de dicho salón y daría sus primeros pasos como empresaria local de Arizona en el año 2000 con Unique Designs by Susy.

¿Pero cómo se convirtió en dueña del salón donde un día trabajó como asistente y aprendiz?

Local First Arizona (LFA) today announced it has received $15,000 from the National League of Cities (NLC) City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) program, which helps cities empower entrepreneurs of color and invest in underrepresented communities. Local First will use the funding to conduct outreach to qualified businesses and provide training on how to become a vendor for the City of Phoenix.

From November 11, 1926, to October 6, 1989, the Arizona segment of Route 80 - also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway - shaped the west as a major transcontinental highway and was an important highway in the development of Arizona’s car culture. On September 21, 2018, Arizona U.S. Route 80 was designated a Historic Arizona Road.

In 2022, it’s more important than ever to invest in our local self-reliance and make sure Arizona will thrive for years to come. The businesses who have graduated in SCALE UP Cohorts 7 and 8 know this and are clearing the path ahead! Join us in celebrating and congratulating these businesses and their innovative sustainability projects.

Local First Arizona’s recently launched Rural Business Academy addresses these unique challenges through four virtual courses facilitated over six weeks with up to 12 participants. Each course is led by an expert in the field with opportunities to collaborate with peers and one-on-one with mentors. The goal for each course is to provide hands-on learning, real-world exercises, and take-home tools that strengthen each business where it’s needed most.

Since 1984, Keep Arizona Beautiful has worked with citizens across rural Arizona to organize and implement local initiatives that keep our state clean and beautiful, including litter abatement efforts, recycling programs, illegal dumping prevention, and community beautification projects.

The Rural Policy Forum is an opportunity for rural economic development professionals, nonprofits, community leaders and stakeholders, and business owners to discuss the unique challenges that rural communities face and the solutions that are working to overcome those challenges.

Tony y Brenda Salcido son originarios de Chihuahua, México y son los fundadores de Tony Brenda Photography. Una empresa local establecida en la ciudad de Phoenix desde el 2018 que ofrece los servicios de fotografía y video profesional para eventos sociales y corporativos. Actualmente están ofreciendo en mayo y abril sesiones para niños de mini pascua y día de las madres.

El inicio de este sueño, nació de Tony Salcido, porque después de muchos años de trabajar en video y tener una gran afinidad por la fotografía, decidió emprender su primer negocio junto a su esposa Brenda Salcido. Con el tiempo ambos pudieron obtener la educación profesional y el equipo necesario para ofrecer este servicio y poder ser capaces de administrar su propio tiempo que les permitiera estar más cerca de su familia.

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.