Más que números: Cómo Fuerza Local está impulsando a los emprendedores latinos de Arizona

Cuando pienses en la comunidad de pequeñas empresas de Arizona, piensa en grande. Desde restaurantes y tiendas hasta electricistas, esteticistas y distribuidores agrícolas, los negocios de propiedad latina están en el corazón de la economía de Arizona. Y muchos de ellos comenzaron —o encontraron el impulso para crecer— gracias a Fuerza Local.

When Kyu Utsunomiya moved to Arizona in the 1980s, he saw both a lack of Japanese cuisine and a chance to share his cultural roots in fresh, modern ways. As co-founder of Conceptually Social, he’s brought that vision to life through innovative local culinary ventures like Kaizen and Konbini Sushi — blending tradition with adaptability and heart. Grounded in community and sustainability, Utsunomiya’s work continues to redefine what it means to serve food with purpose, locally and beyond.

This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating five Arizona-based women who’ve turned their dreams into real, thriving businesses — each one rooted in community, creativity and heart. Some were inspired by their own moms, others by motherhood itself — but all of them are defining what it means to build something meaningful, right where they live.

Each month, we celebrate the businesses that are shaping Arizona’s local economy, enriching communities, and strengthening connections across the state. From visual storytelling and film to home improvement and flooring solutions, this month’s featured businesses showcase the power of local entrepreneurship.

When you deposit your money in a bank, it doesn't just sit there — it goes to work. The question is, where is it working, and who is benefiting?

Financial empowerment is a key tenet of Local First Arizona’s work. From addressing the predatory lending practices of payday loans to improving access to capital, we are helping individuals, businesses and entire communities take control of their financial futures.  One of the easiest ways to create real impact? Moving your money to a local bank or credit union.

¡Mujeres con Fuerza!

Cerca de la calle 3 y McDowell Road en el corazón de Phoenix, una boutique está redefiniendo lo que significa comprar local. Latina Concept Store es mucho más que un espacio comercial: es un movimiento.

Diseñado por mujeres, para mujeres, esta tienda única tiene más de 20 negocios bajo un mismo techo cuyas dueñas son mujeres latinas, ofreciendo a los compradores una selección diversa de ropa, accesorios, productos de belleza y servicios profesionales, todo mientras crea oportunidades económicas para las emprendedoras.

At Local First, we’ve always believed that the success of locally owned businesses creates a strong and thriving Arizona economy. But one of the biggest challenges for local entrepreneurs has long been access to capital — especially in Arizona, where community banking resources are limited. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to break down financial barriers and build new pathways for funding that empower business owners to grow, hire and create a lasting impact on Arizona’s communities.

2024 was a year of impact for Local First, for local businesses and for procurement engagement. Over the course of the year, Local First Arizona attended more than a half-dozen procurement-related events hosted by businesses such as SRP, Aviation, the City of Mesa, and the Arizona Department of Transportation, among others.

Each month, we celebrate the businesses that are shaping Arizona’s local economy, enriching communities, and strengthening connections across the state. From visual storytelling and film to home improvement and flooring solutions, this month’s featured businesses showcase the power of local entrepreneurship.

The Friends of the Verde River’s River-Friendly Living grants program awards residential, commercial and agricultural grants to assist eligible grantees with implementing projects that improve water conservation efforts.

At Centerline on Glendale, the city’s newest affordable housing community, residents can take their pups to the dog park, push their kids on the swings at the playground or pursue a culinary dream that, until now, they’ve had to keep on the back burner. 

For women throughout Tucson’s history, business ownership has been about more than ‌making a livelihood; it has been about fostering community and creating a legacy of empowerment and inspiration. This Women’s History Month, Local First Arizona shines a light on two of our women-owned member businesses that have been making an impact on our city for more than 50 years.

In an exciting step toward strengthening local entrepreneurship, 11 businesses have been selected for the first-ever Fuerza Local Business Accelerator Program, a partnership between Local First Arizona and the City of San Luis Economic Development Department

Anyone who calls Arizona homes appreciates its unique beauty and character, and at Local First Arizona, we recognize that the spirit of the state is reflected by its local entrepreneurs. Arizona’s small businesses are a vital ingredient of the state’s overall economy, creating jobs and generating revenue at a pace that ranks the state in the top 10 for local business growth in the country.