Putting LOCAL First
Tucson businesses attend a Local First Business Coalition event with longtime member KXCI radio.
Since 2003, Local First Arizona has been fiercely dedicated to driving inclusive community and economic development throughout Arizona.
We have created a movement that champions a thriving and diverse economy, fostering community support and an unwavering sense of local pride and purpose in every Arizonan.
Our work shapes the future of Arizona by advocating that every individual and community deserves the opportunity to thrive, and that entrepreneurship is at the core of any lasting economy.
In rural, Tribal, suburban and urban communities across our great state, Local First is delivering resources to ensure a future focused on economic opportunity for all.
Mission
To strengthen local businesses and communities by establishing equitable systems that level the playing field for a thriving, inclusive and lasting Arizona economy.
Vision
An Arizona where success knows no boundaries. It's a world where every individual, regardless of their background, discovers fertile ground to sprout, dream and blossom.
Photo credit: Kathleen Dreier Photography
Local First serves Arizona in a variety of ways:
Small business education programs in English and Spanish that foster entrepreneurship and increase access to capital
Strengthening the Arizona food system through our kitchen incubator and farm–to-fork programs
Harnessing the collective power of the largest local business coalition in the U.S. to advocate for the local business community
Assisting cities, towns and tribal nations to secure resources that build self-reliant local economies
Helping businesses identify solutions and funding to reduce their environmental impacts
Educating consumers about the profound impact of their spending choices on the local economy
“... while our language may have
changed and our programs may have
deepened, our core beliefs remain
steadfast. Entrepreneurship is the
key to an economy that provides
opportunity for all. ”
