Local First Arizona
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We are here to strengthen local economies. We believe in championing diversity and inclusion💪 The result is that they live here but don’t feel connected.
Kimber Lanning founded Local First Arizona in 2003 for two reasons: First, she saw too many bright young people leaving Arizona for more vibrant cities like Austin and Portland. She wanted to inspire others to stay in Arizona to help build a world class city. Secondly, Kimber thought the massive subsidies being given to chain stores were a raw deal for local businesses, and wanted to see Phoenix return to a climate where businesses had to pay their own way. Kimber started LFA because she believed that locally owned businesses provided a unique environment that set communities across Arizona apart. She did an independent study, interviewing over 50 people who had relocated to Phoenix from Chicago, arguably a town with more community pride than any other. What she learned helped underscore her gut instinct, which was that people love Chicago because of the locally owned businesses. They might not have been able to identify their connection in those words, but what they told her was that they loved Chicago because of the chefs and restaurants, or because of the unique neighborhoods, each with distinct flavor, and unique shops. Or they may have said they love going into a business and knowing the owner, or that they had gone to the same barber for 20 years. Maybe they even said something like "I bank at the same bank my great grandparents banked at. I feel rooted to that community!”
But then that same person moves from Chicago to Phoenix and they throw their ‘localist’ behavior out the window. They eat at chain restaurants, shop at big box stores, and get their hair cut by whoever is at the national cutters that week. And they do this because they don’t know how to find the locals and it never occurs to them to look. They never put down roots, and surveys show that that they are less likely to vote, volunteer or donate to a charity. They are even less likely to pay their taxes. The negative economic impact on Arizona due to this lack of connection was profound, and Kimber set out to fix it. Kimber was ahead of her time, as in 2012, the Knight Foundation issued a massive study called “Soul of the Community," which identified "attachment to place" as the single most leading indicator in places that have prosperity. Read more about our history: https://www.localfirstaz.com/history
Shaima Namazifard runs business services at Tucson Federal Credit Union, and here's how a decision actually gets made there: she walks down the hall, gets the CEO, CFO and COO in a room and reads the pulse. People who've been in Tucson a long time. Underwriters who know the block your shop sits on.
That's the difference between banking with someone and banking with a call center. When the people deciding your future actually live your future, the money stays here and so does the yes.
Full conversation on the Credit Union podcast🎧
Link to listen: https://loom.ly/khRVxrQ
Christy from Social Spin was buying gas 3 to 4 times a week. Now her drivers fill up once. That's about $15,000 a year back in the business 🚐
She came out of the Green Business Boot Camp fired up to shrink her carbon footprint, so she asked Local First Arizona about financing a hybrid. Because the lending runs on relationships, in partnership with Arizona Growth Partners, the loan came together easy and she drove off in a new-to-her vehicle.
Then it kept paying off. We helped her redesign the driving routes and she cut 40 hours of drive time a week. Forty hours. That's not just savings, that's room to take on more contracts and grow.
A cleaner vehicle that basically pays for itself and a business with space to expand. That's what happens when the expertise and the community are already in the room with you.
Applications close tomorrow! Apply through the link below💌
https://loom.ly/-NYCqHM
🎥 Quantum Leap Productions
Duck and Decanter thought they had a water problem. Turns out they just needed the right fix, and it put about $3200 a year back in their pocket 💧
Half their water usage, gone. The $1400 they spent to get there? Paid back in six months.
That's the Green Business Boot Camp. We bring in the experts, do the assessment at no cost to you and help you build a plan that trims your bills and your footprint. When it's time to pay for the upgrades, the Green Community Fund helps you finance them.
The best part is where those savings go. They stay in your business and your neighborhood, not some big utility's bottom line.
Businesses and nonprofits all over Arizona are already in it. The next cohort is forming now.
Applications close this Friday! Apply through the link below 💌
https://loom.ly/-NYCqHM
🎥:
Ask yourself one thing: would your bank spend hours fixing a mistake that wasn't even theirs? 🤔
Matthew Gaspari, the President and CEO of Tucson Federal Credit Union, has a story that answers that.
It involves a local business owner, three years of tax returns and a level of care most people have never gotten from a financial institution in their life.
Being a number or being seen. That's the whole game.
The first episode of our limited series Arizona Credit Union Coalition podcast is now live🎧
Check out the first episode➡️ https://loom.ly/khRVxrQ
Where does your money go when you're not looking? 👀
Spoiler: if it's at a megabank, it's on a plane out of Arizona. If it's at a locally owned credit union, it stays here at home and gets to work helping fund the businesses in our communities.
We're kicking off a limited series on Arizona's credit unions. The people, the stories and the reasons your deposit is a bigger decision than you may think.
First episode drops tomorrow!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel⬇️
https://loom.ly/2h2zXfA
09/19/2026
At Reid Park Zoo, conservation goes beyond the habitat. 🌿🐾
Since first earning Green Business Certification in 2023, Reid Park Zoo has continued to improve its facilities, train employees, and find new ways to conserve resources to optimize sustainability.
Local First Arizona is proud to recognize the continued commitment of and other certified Arizona Green Businesses to reduce environmental impact 💚
Visit localfirstaz.com/green-certification to learn more about how your business can lead the change in Arizona ➡️ 🌱💧
09/17/2026
Supporting local isn't just about where you shop, it starts with where your dollars are deposited.
Local First Arizona is proud to partner with Arizona's Credit Unions in an effort to expand financial education, strengthen small business success, and champion credit unions as key contributors of Arizona's economic prosperity.
Local credit unions play a critical role to ensure families, small businesses, cities and towns have opportunities to form relationships with the companies where we deposit our money. While 60% of Arizona deposits sit in just 3 global banks, this collaborative approach helps ensure a better future for Arizona.
Through this collaboration, Local First Arizona has introduced the Loan Readiness Boot Camp, providing opportunities for local businesses to receive training for applying and securing business loans.
Together, we’re helping connect Arizonans with the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to thrive🌵
Visit the link below to learn more!
https://loom.ly/yVulVNo
Loan Readiness Boot Camp — Local First Arizona Prepare your business for funding with Local First Arizona’s Loan Readiness program. Learn how to qualify, strengthen finances and confidently apply for the right loan.
09/15/2026
What happens to a local business when its owner is ready to move on?
For many longtime business owners, selling or stepping away isn't just a financial decision. It's a decision about what happens next — to their employees, the business they've built and the community that has helped it grow.
Employee ownership offers another possibility: giving employees a stake in the future while helping locally owned businesses remain rooted in Arizona.
That's why Local First Arizona is exploring ways to expand employee ownership opportunities across the state, learning from efforts in other states and from Arizona businesses that have already made the transition.
On Sept. 17, join Local First Arizona and Bayntree Wealth Advisors for Business Transition Strategies: The Power of Employee Ownership, an introduction to this work and a practical workshop for business owners thinking about what's next.
https://loom.ly/IW39cnE
Business Transition Strategies: The Power of Employee Ownership As Arizona businesses consider the legacy of their companies, it is critical to consider options that have both high returns and are community driven.
09/10/2026
For many local business owners, starting a business takes years of work, sacrifice and persistence. But eventually, another question arrives:
What happens to everything you've built when you're ready to step away?
For , employee ownership was a succession path that rewarded the people who helped build the business and keep a longtime Arizona company rooted in its community.
Are you interested in learning more about ESOPs?
Join Local First Arizona on September 17 at Goodman’s Interior Structures in Phoenix for an in-person workshop, Business Strategies: The Power of Employee Ownership.
Presented in partnership with Bayntree Wealth Advisors, the event will explore employee ownership models work, what businesses should consider before pursuing an ESOP and whether employee ownership could fit your succession, growth and legacy goals.
Local businesses throughout Arizona won today.
HB2693 gives locally-owned businesses something to compete with international corporations: the power to pool together and access health insurance coverage at large-group rates. This means that your community's favorite local business can now band together with others at Local First and put competitive benefits on the table for the people within their companies.
Local businesses employ half of Arizona's workforce and when they can compete for talent on an even footing, entire communities are strengthened.
That is the Arizona worth building ❤️
Check out the press release⬇️
https://loom.ly/YodY4hU
08/29/2026
Your dog has a full social calendar on November 7 and they do not even know it yet.
The Bark Park is back at the Certified Local Fall Festival, which means Hance Park turns into one big meetup for every good boy and girl in the Valley.
Bring the water bowl. Bring the treats. While they work the crowd, you get 200+ local businesses, food and a whole afternoon to wander❤️
📅 Nov 7
⏰ 10 to 4
📍 Margaret T. Hance Park
💰 Free to walk in
🐕 Dog friendly all day
https://loom.ly/lhkCQ1g
Certified Local Fall Festival — Local First Arizona Celebrate the Arizona Fall Festival in Phoenix on November 7, 2026, at Margaret T. Hance Park. Explore 200+ Arizona makers, local businesses, artisans and entrepreneurs, taste your way across the state, enjoy live local music and family-friendly activities, and discover what makes Arizona’s local ...
08/28/2026
Demo Day is an annual showcase dedicated to the future of Black entrepreneurship. Each year, graduates of the We Rise Business Accelerator pitch their businesses and visions for growth to a panel of judges and an audience of community leaders, business owners and invested supporters, for a chance to secure up to $10,000 in funding.
Thriving local businesses are crucial to building community wealth. However, for Black entrepreneurs, historical barriers such as limited access to business loans, predatory financing terms and exclusion from professional networks have made it challenging to move beyond the startup stage.
With the support of partners Arizona Financial Credit Union and Growth Partners Arizona, Local First Arizona is working to address the Black business equity gap through initiatives like Demo Day to provide resources, funding and connections to help Arizona’s Black entrepreneurs maximize their growth.
2026 Winners:
2025 Winners:
2024 Winners:
Thank you to our sponsors who make Demo Day possible:
Visit the link below to learn more about the importance of credit unions❤️
https://loom.ly/ZQJoLEY
Investing in the People Who Build Arizona: Why Credit Unions Matter More Than You Think — Local First Arizona Credit unions are an important part of a strong local economy because they are built differently. As member-owned nonprofit financial institutions, they exist to serve their members rather than outside shareholders. Earnings can be returned to members through lower loan rates, fewer fees and higher
08/27/2026
Congratulations to the 2026 honorees of the first inaugural MICHELIN Guide Southwest 🏜️
While Arizona did not receive any stars this year, a total of 19 restaurants were recognized by the MICHELIN Guide including some that have participated in Devour Culinary Classic, The Seven Chefs Dinner, Devour at Home, Devour the World and Palate to Palette over the past 2 decades.
7 restaurants were honored with the special distinction of Bib Gourmand:
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12 restaurants were named Michelin recommended:
08/21/2026
August is national coffee month, meaning it’s the perfect excuse to support your local coffee shops. Swipe to see which Arizona coffee shop you should try based on your birth month ➡️☕️
Did you get your favorite coffee spot? If not, comment your favorite business so we can check it out🤎
Copper Star Coffee
Peixoto Coffee®
Brick Road Coffee
Stroll Coffee Phx
Deseo — A Coffee Shack
Moxie Coffee Co.
CAFÉ MOLLIE
strip mall | phoenix coffee shop
Esso Coffeehouse
Dark Hall Coffee ~ Plant Based Pastry + Coffee
Local Arizona Coffee Roasters
Colados
08/21/2026
August is national coffee month, meaning it's the perfect excuse to support your local coffee shops. Swipe to see which Arizona coffee shop you should try based on your birth month ➡️☕️
Did you get your favorite coffee spot? If not, comment your favorite business so we can check it out🤎
08/20/2026
Arizona agriculture has always had to contend with one unavoidable fact: We live in a desert.
So what if the future of farming here starts not with finding more water, but with growing food differently?
For decades, agricultural ecologist and ethnobotanist Gary Paul Nabhan has studied what becomes possible when agriculture works with arid landscapes — from drought-resilient native crops to traditional Indigenous farming and water-harvesting practices developed over generations.
It raises a bigger question for Arizona: What could our food system look like if we designed it for the place we actually live?
Want to dig into the question?
Nabhan will join us Aug. 25 at the Good Food Forum in Prescott for conversations about arid-adapted agriculture and Arizona's food future.
He’ll also be signing copies of his new book, Water in the Desert.
🎟️ https://hubs.li/Q04kzd220
08/17/2026
Only one week left! After months of preparation, the Good Food Forum is almost here.
Come join and network with Arizona's leading changemakers, farmers and food advocates as we work to unite and strengthen Arizona's local food economy🔥
From sessions covering the future of water to seed stewardship, we are confident you'll leave with something you can take back to your community.
The last day to grab your tickets August 22nd🎟️
https://hubs.li/Q04kzd220
POV: you're the friend who finally picks the plan🔥
This year, we're celebrating the 20th Certified Local Fall Festival so you already know it's going to be a DAY!
We're pulling out all the stops ⬇️
🍺 An expanded Beverage Garden featuring curated food options
🎉 The Localist Activity Zone - Nostalgia through kite making, bubble soccer, musical chairs and disposable cameras to entertain the whole family.
🌎 Learn about the LocalistAZ App - A new way find your favorite local goods
🎨 A live community mural will be showcased and everyone plays a part!
🛹 Cowtown Skateboards activation with education about skating and tricks
🐶 Bark Park: A special dog park experience with a picturesque white picket fence for your photos, a pup hydration station and vendors offering dog treats.
🍿 Harkins Theatres will be on site serving up Arizona’s favorite theater popcorn and your favorite life-sized movie characters for photo opps.
🛍️ ¡Bienvenidos al Mercado! Fuerza Local and Amor Collective will showcase an experience of Latino entrepreneurs in a special pop-up at the festival
And so many long-standing businesses back and ready to bring the best Arizona has to offer!
📅 Nov 7
⏰ 10 to 4
📍 Margaret T. Hance Park
💰 Come ready to shop local!
Drop this post in the group chat👀
"Hey Siri. What's the largest event in Arizona that celebrates local?"
This November, 200+ local businesses will fill Margaret T. Hance Park for the 20th Certified Local Fall Festival and you need to be there🔥
There will be a curated beverage garden, live music, a skate ramp, food trucks, adult musical chairs and so much more!
Bring everyone out for this free family event and connect with your local community⬇️
📅 Nov 7
⏰ 10am to 4pm
📍Margaret T. Hance Park, Downtown Phoenix
💰 The event is free but come ready to shop local!
Who're you bringing? Tag them in the comments ⬇️
08/07/2026
Day 1️⃣ of the Rural Policy Forum is wrapped up!
The theme this year is "Routes to Rural Prosperity", and the room was packed with the people actually driving them!
Mayor Watkins welcomed us to the Heart of Route 66. Governor Hobbs joined us. And keynote, Jim Hinckley, reminded everybody that Route 66 isn’t just some nostalgia vacation. Route 66 is an economic engine, and these towns own it🔥
Then some serious work happened: leaders trading hard-won playbooks on disaster recovery, water, workforce and how to build funding that outlasts any one grant. You can’t have these conversations on a Zoom call.
We capped it at Rickety Cricket, where the whole crowd spilled into downtown and kept every dollar right where it was earned.
We’ll see you for day two tomorrow!
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1505 E. Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, AZ
85014
Opening Hours
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |