Rural Marketing, Branding & Tourism

A ramshackle historic building in downtown Winslow has been transformed by an artist and his wife into a vibrant and eclectic live-work gallery space — a hidden gem along Route 66.

The 22,000-square-foot building now known as Snowdrift Art Space offers the room he always dreamed of having as a young budding sculpturist.

Globe-Miami was bustling as more than 340 tribal and rural leaders flocked to the Copper Corridor for the Arizona Rural Policy Forum. Topics included affordable housing, farmer's markets, training skilled workers, attracting young people to small towns, finding grant funding and more.

This February, Local First Arizona partnered with the Arizona Office of Tourism to organize a planned itinerary to showcase Lake Havasu’s greatest tourist attractions. WeekendZona attendees only needed to show up, mingle with their fellow travelers and be ready for adventure.

Put the ‘far’ in ‘fa’ and the ‘local’ in ‘la’ this holiday season with rural shopping. When you spend $100 at a locally owned business, $43 stays in the local economy vs. just $13 when you shop elsewhere.

Don’t wait for customers to come to you, go to them … and then they’ll come. This marketing strategy paid off for #RuralAZ businesses, and their home communities, that got in on the 2022 Arizona Fall Fest action. You see, by expanding their outreach beyond their own cities and towns, local businesses’ efforts also benefit the broader community.

In partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism, LFA organized a weekend full of unique experiences to showcase Wickenburg. From Friday, October 21 through Sunday, October 23 2022, two hosts from LFA led 10 guests through a weekend of local food, drinks, and activities unique to the area.

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.

Florence is a town built on grit and determination, and through conversations with the community members, this quickly became the inspiration behind the brand.

A melting pot of people, Florence is a place with so much beauty both in and around the surrounding desert and mountains. Visitors often come to Florence for one of their many events which range from car shows to rodeos and music festivals. Businesses and the community are welcoming of guests and invite them to explore the many shops, restaurants, wineries, historic sites, outdoor adventures, and more.

As summer approaches, many communities are preparing for the barrage of Phoenicians that will soon head out to explore vibrant (and cool) rural destinations. We chatted with #RuralAZ Local First Arizona member, Jen Luria, co-creator of Bisbee-based Dog Cat Mouse Media on how to make your community stand out.

The Village of Tubac recently launched an initiative to create a community brand that illustrates the rich heritage and unique creativity that abounds within their community. With intent to gather as much community input as possible, the Tubac Chamber of Commerce invited a number of local merchants and community members to participate in the community project led by Local First Arizona in partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism to ensure an outcome that was representative of the community, its residents, and its businesses.