Honoring America’s Veterans, the nonprofit that organizes the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, says it’s looking forward to new opportunities on the horizon by becoming a member of Local First Arizona and working with the Arizona Economic Recovery Center.

A group of 6 businesses and community partners met on March 17th to present their sustainable projects and graduate from the first-ever Verde Valley Green Business Bootcamp Cohort!

On May 31st, something transformational was cooking at Mundo Grill, a restaurant located along the light rail on Apache Boulevard in Tempe. A diverse group of 20 business owners, residents, food producers, and businesses support experts along with Tempe city staff and officials banded together to launch the Tempe Circular Economy Pilot, putting restaurants in the driver’s seat to put an end to food going into the landfill while saving on costs and regenerating Arizona’s environment & food system.

When John Benedict drove from Philadelphia to rural southern Arizona in a van he bought for $1,000, he had no intention of becoming a farmer. He just knew he wanted to leave city life behind.

Now Benedict owns Desert Sky Produce, cultivating organic beets, carrots, strawberries, broccoli, cabbage and more, thanks in part to a zero-interest loan for entrepreneurs of color from Community Investment Corporation.

A Tucson favorite that's been serving up homemade frozen yogurt for over 25 years has gone Green by becoming Arizona Green Business Certified. Frozen Delight owners Cleo & Jose Terrazas pride themselves on opening one of the first frozen yogurt shops in Tucson, and now they are one of the first to implement innovative solutions that make the business more sustainable.

More than 3,400 people in remote Arizona communities will receive access to safe, clean drinking water for the first time through a partnership between Local First Arizona and a cutting-edge company that makes solar-powered, off-grid water systems.

The owner of Stem Swag enjoys thinking outside the vase. One arrangement includes a Michelangelo-style David sculpture sprouting flowers. On Valentine’s Day, the florist has hired drag queens to make deliveries. And on National Donut Day, the business partnered with Rollover Doughnuts to add treats to orders. “I have a lot of ideas,” owner Gary Guerin says. “Our products are really unique.”

How would you like a two-night staycation at the hip retro Hotel McCoy in Tucson, tickets to Weezer or a free pottery class? All these prizes and more are available to win during Indie Week by supporting local businesses June 24-July 4.

As the largest coalition of of locally-owned businesses in the nation, you are part of a movement that elevates the voices of Arizona’s independent, locally-owned businesses – connecting people, communities and resources for meaningful actions that build a diverse, inclusive and prosperous Arizona. Join us in celebrating new and renewing business coalition members.

Para conocer la Historia de nuestro próximo miembro del mes, debemos hacer un acercamiento a la historia de 2 empresarios graduados de la 17ª Generación del Programa Acelerador de Negocios de Fuerza Local que dieron vida, forma y alma a Juanderful Tacos LLC.

Arizona homeowners can enjoy a lush yard without high water bills. Professional photographer Martha Retallick chronicles the creation of her rainwater-fed desert oasis in a new book, “City Nature.”

Six local business owners will compete in front of a live audience June 29 in Phoenix for $17,500 in seed money during the first We Rise Demo Day pitch competition.

Each competitor is a graduate of We Rise, Local First Arizona’s six-month, no-cost business boot camp for Black entrepreneurs. The six finalists were selected from a larger pool of graduates after submitting written pitches.

As Arizonans prepare to celebrate Juneteenth, Demo Day will showcase the skill, ingenuity and creativity of Arizona’s Black-owned businesses, while providing crucial seed funds to the most promising concepts.

Calling all rural and tribal leaders from across the state: It’s time for the most popular rural meetup of the year!

Join Local First Arizona and hundreds of changemakers for the 16th annual Arizona Rural Policy Forum, held this year at the historic Bullion Plaza in Miami, Ariz.

This sought-after conference attracts nearly 300 community leaders, so don’t wait to reserve your spot – both for the two-day forum and the add-on events in Globe and Miami where networking will go deep and participants will see firsthand why this part of the Copper Corridor is a special part of Arizona.

The Black Girl Brown Girl Collective creatively brings together women and art. But writing grants and filing tax forms is not their specialty. The Arizona Economic Recovery Center helped the nonprofit land a $10,000 grant and become more self-reliant.

Seared Living is one of Tucson’s most unique grocery stores, with a vast, colorful wall of cooking oils, specialty products including Tucson’s famous Barrio Bread and a recipe board to inspire any home chef.

Despite the growth of the Black community in Arizona, Black-owned businesses only account for 1% of all businesses in Phoenix, making them difficult to find and support. As Juneteenth approaches, here are a variety of Black-owned businesses you can support from Phoenix to Tucson to Safford and beyond.

Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 from rural Arizona are wanted to give feedback about jobs, housing, educational and recreational opportunities in their communities and why they have stayed or moved away.

Small towns and cities are facing a similar challenge: Young people are moving to larger cities, causing local jobs to remain vacant and threatening the long-term viability of communities.