Last minute doesn’t mean no thought. It just means the calendar is running at a faster pace than you can keep up with, and that’s okay, because there are so many ways to keep your gift giving local even as time runs out. If you still have some shopping to do, and even if you haven’t even started yet, we have some judgement-free options on how to keep your holiday spending local while completing your last-minute list. 

This GivingTuesday, December 2, we’re inviting you to stand with the entrepreneurs who power our communities by donating, volunteering or amplifying the work of Local First Arizona.

Every month, we celebrate the local businesses building a stronger Arizona from the ground up. This lineup shows what real local impact looks like across our state: skilled construction teams improving our neighborhoods, organizers helping households run with more ease, and wellness practitioners supporting individuals and families through meaningful care. From Phoenix to Oro Valley to Camp Verde, these members represent craftsmanship, creativity and a deep commitment to the communities they serve.

It takes effort to find the perfect gift for someone. That’s why it would be nice if the gift had a little staying power, too. If the gift itself could give or somehow give back. When you shop locally, you’re already checking one “give back” box by keeping money in the local economy.

And when you shop locally at a business that reinvests its profits in people, the planet or the community, you’re making sure you’re giving gifts with even more impact. If this is the way you’re approaching your holiday shopping season, you’re in luck, because Arizona is a hotspot for mission-driven businesses that are creating social, environmental or cultural ripples with every sale. 

If you’re looking to gift like you mean it this year, by wrapping up gifts that create a lasting impact, here are a few local options you might want to consider. 

Buying local keeps money circulating in Arizona and strengthens communities from Bisbee to Flagstaff. Here are five easy ways to make your holiday shopping meaningful, memorable and 100% Arizona.

Holiday shopping shouldn’t feel like a sprint through corporate sameness. This year, skip the predictable and give local. Shopping with personality types in mind makes your gifts unforgettable, and every purchase from an Arizona-owned business keeps more money right here at home, fueling jobs, creativity and community. Here’s how to shop local, letting your recipients’ personalities be your guide.

The holidays are here, and while most of us are thinking about gifts and celebrations, Local First is also focused on fairness. Because the movement to “shop local” isn’t just about warm fuzzies — it’s about leveling a playing field that’s long been tilted against small businesses.

For most growing companies, raising capital means giving up control — and often, giving up local roots. But Cartel Roasting Co., the Arizona-born coffee company known for its fiercely independent streak, is taking a different path: growing through community investment.

Cuando conoces a la Chef Carmen Pérez, es imposible no notar su energía y alegría. Su personalidad brillante y contagiosa, llena de fuerza y optimismo, es lo que la define y lo que finalmente inspiró el nombre de su negocio: Chispita Catering.

Con una sonrisa constante y una determinación inquebrantable, Carmen ha convertido su chispa personal en el motor de un negocio que lleva comida deliciosa y de alta calidad a celebraciones y eventos en todo el Valle.

PHOENIX Oct. 9, 2025) —  Local First’s Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network (NAGJN) has officially entered its final phase of implementation. Starting in 2022, this regional program developed new training initiatives in the food services, healthcare and social assistance, construction and manufacturing sectors. Now those training programs are open for enrollment with many of them free or discounted, with financial incentives available to employers who use the programs to hire and upskill. NAGJN’s goal is to build a rural workforce ecosystem that connects people to good jobs, creates more local talent pipelines for rural businesses and supports employers in operating by “Good Jobs Principles” to attract and retain skilled workers.

Every month, we celebrate local businesses strengthening Arizona’s economy—on main streets and in neighborhoods across the state. This lineup spans Flagstaff, Mesa and Tucson, and each one shows what buying local looks like in real life: trusted service, skilled teams, and community-first values.

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Request for Grant Funds Application for
Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network (NAGJN)
Rural

PHOENIX (Oct. 7, 2025) — Local First Arizona announced a partnership with O.H.S.O., the well-established local craft brewery, distillery and restaurant group, to create a limited edition beer to showcase delicious local ingredients and hometown pride. The Sonoran Sipper is a cream ale with hibiscus lime zest featuring a variety of locally sourced ingredients.