Local First Arizona

What Local First Arizona does

Local First Arizona is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) nonprofit founded in 2003 that operates the largest locally owned business coalition in North America, serving Arizona's small businesses and underserved entrepreneurs through a portfolio of education, capital access, and community development programs. Its core product surface is a web-based platform comprising a searchable local business directory, an online member portal for its coalition of SMBs, an email/newsletter marketing system, and a virtual learning lab hosting on-demand business resources.

The organization's programmatic stack includes culturally tailored accelerators (Fuerza Local for Latino entrepreneurs, We Rise for Black-owned businesses, Rooted Native Business Accelerator for Indigenous entrepreneurs), boot camps covering loan readiness, green business, and agriculture, a two-year Community Kitchen Incubator, and the Rooted Relative Fund lending program for Indigenous entrepreneurs locked out of mainstream banking. Through its Economic Resource Center, it has secured over $148 million in grant funding for rural towns, tribes and nonprofits across Arizona, and signature events such as the Arizona Fall Festival, Good Business Summit, and Devour Culinary Classic generate statewide consumer engagement. Complementary platforms include Explore AZ (tourism/itinerary), Good Food Finder AZ, the Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network, the Rural Development Council, and the acquired Keep Arizona Beautiful environmental initiative.

The revenue model is a hybrid of nonprofit streams: foundation and government grants (e.g., Thunderbirds Charities, Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, OneAZ Credit Union, Arizona Credit Unions partnership), individual and corporate donations, and recurring business coalition membership fees for directory listing and networking benefits. Most accelerator and boot camp programs are offered at no cost to participants, with funding sourced from grants. GTM is community-led and event-driven, reaching customers through statewide events, a member referral ecosystem, social media campaigns (#IndieWeekAZ, #LocalFirstAZ), and earned media (672 mentions reaching 5.4 million people in a recent year).

Name

Local First Arizona

Legal name

Local First Arizona

Website

https://localfirstaz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Local First Arizona is a Phoenix-based nonprofit operating the largest locally owned business coalition in North America, providing business education, capital access, and community development programs to Arizona's small businesses and underserved entrepreneurs across rural, tribal, urban, and suburban communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Economic Development

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Small business development
• Business coalition membership
• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Community economic development
• Microloan and capital access

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: As a nonprofit, Local First Arizona generates significant revenue through grant funding from foundations and government sources. The organization has secured over $148 million in grant funding for rural towns, tribes, and nonprofits across Arizona since launching its Economic Resource Center.
2. Donations and Contributions: Individual and corporate donations support the organization's operations and programs. The organization promotes giving through its website with a donation portal.
3. Business Coalition Membership: Revenue generated through business coalition membership fees, providing local businesses with directory listing, networking opportunities, and visibility to consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Local First Arizona operates the largest locally owned business coalition in North America, providing business education accelerators (Fuerza Local, We Rise, Rooted Native Business Accelerator), boot camps (Loan Readiness, Green Business, Ag Business), a two-year Community Kitchen Incubator, the Rooted Relative Fund microloan program for Indigenous entrepreneurs, and the Economic Resource Center that has secured $148M+ in grant funding for rural and tribal communities. It also runs a searchable Local Business Directory, coalition membership, and signature community events (Arizona Fall Festival, Good Business Summit, Devour Culinary Classic).

Product overview

Local First Arizona is a statewide nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs and services designed to strengthen local businesses and communities across Arizona. The organization operates a core platform of business development programs including the Local Business Directory (a searchable database of certified local businesses) and Business Coalition Membership. Key programs include: Fuerza Local (Spanish-language business accelerator for Latino entrepreneurs), We Rise (accelerator for Black-owned businesses), Rooted Native Business Accelerator (for Indigenous entrepreneurs), Green Business Boot Camp (sustainability-focused), Ag Business Boot Camp (agriculture), and Loan Readiness Boot Camp. The organization also operates the Community Kitchen Incubator (two-year food entrepreneurship program with 75%+ success rate), Rooted Relative Fund (Indigenous lending program), and Economic Resource Center (which has secured $148M+ in grant funding for rural/tribal communities). Signature events include Arizona Fall Festival, Good Business Summit, Independents Week, and Devour Culinary Classic. Additional initiatives include Explore AZ (tourism platform), Keep Arizona Beautiful (environmental initiative), Rural Development Council, Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network, and Tribal Community Connections. The organization does not offer a software platform or SaaS product, but operates companion websites including Good Food Finder AZ for food system programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fuerza Local: Business education and accelerator program for Latino entrepreneurs, providing culturally relevant business education, financial literacy and access to fair-market capital.
• We Rise
• Rooted Native Business Accelerator
• Good Food Forum
• Devour Culinary Classic
• Keep Arizona Beautiful
• Independents Week
• Arizona Fall Festival
• Loan Readiness Boot Camp
• Green Business Boot Camp
• Ag Business Boot Camp

Products and services

• Local Business Directory A free, searchable online directory of certified locally-owned businesses across Arizona, spanning multiple sectors including retail, food, services, and professional businesses. Available to consumers at localfirstaz.com/directory.
• Business Education Programs Comprehensive suite of business education programs including Fuerza Local (Spanish-language accelerator), We Rise (Black-owned business accelerator), Rooted Native Business Accelerator (Indigenous-focused), Green Business Boot Camp (sustainability), Ag Business Boot Camp (agriculture), and Loan Readiness Boot Camp. Programs provide hands-on assistance, business plan development, and loan application support to Arizona small business owners.
• Business Coalition Membership The largest local business coalition in North America, offering membership to locally-owned Arizona businesses with benefits including directory listing, networking opportunities, advocacy representation, and visibility to consumers.
• Community Kitchen Incubator A two-year incubator program providing commercial kitchen access for food entrepreneurs. The program has a 75%+ graduation success rate, with more than three out of four graduates still operating today. 204 food entrepreneurs currently operate inside Local First Arizona's incubator kitchens.
• Rooted Relative Fund A community-centered lending program offering loans at favorable rates to Indigenous business owners who have been locked out of mainstream banking due to trust land collateral issues. Has loaned $818,500+ to Indigenous entrepreneurs.
• Economic Resource Center A resource center that has secured more than $148 million in grant funding for rural towns, tribes, and nonprofits across Arizona since launching, including funding for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and economic development projects.
• Signature Events Annual signature events including Arizona Fall Festival (November, 250+ vendors), Good Business Summit (March, 300+ attendees), Independents Week (June 29-July 7), Arizona Good Food Forum + Expo (agricultural conference), and Devour Culinary Classic (culinary competition at Desert Botanical Garden).
• Explore AZ A tourism and itinerary planning platform showcasing hidden gems and local businesses across Arizona, helping visitors discover rural communities, events, and local attractions.
• Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network (NAGJN) A rural workforce development program that developed new training initiatives in food services, healthcare, social assistance, construction, and manufacturing sectors to build a rural workforce ecosystem connecting people to good jobs in Northern Arizona.
• Keep Arizona Beautiful An environmental initiative engaging community members across rural Arizona in litter abatement, recycling programs, illegal dumping prevention, and community beautification projects. Includes specialty license plate sales generating $76,768 in 2024.
• Rural Development Council A council assisting rural communities across Arizona with securing resources and implementing initiatives for self-reliant local economies, including the annual Arizona Rural Policy Forum.
• Tribal Community Connections A program connecting with Arizona's 22 federally-recognized tribes, providing business support, the Rooted Native Business Accelerator, and access to the Rooted Relative Fund for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 75% of businesses that graduated from Community Kitchen Incubator program are still operating today
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Arizona Credit Unions (ACU)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Statewide partnership designed to boost financial education, strengthen small business success, and champion credit unions as key contributors of Arizona's economic prosperity. Arizona Credit Unions will serve as strategic partner, investing to support programs that enhance financial literacy, provide small business resources, and increase outreach to rural and urban communities.
• Ideas CollidecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 April 2026Strategic partnership to advance Ideas Collide's $5 million community commitment by 2028. Ideas Collide will support programming such as Fuerza Local and We Rise Business Accelerators, extend support through April 2027, and partner to amplify stories of Arizona's small business community through its IC Streaming studio.
• Arizona Financial Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Arizona Good Business Summit and financial empowerment initiatives. Jason Paprocki, EVP of Arizona Financial Credit Union, expressed excitement about deepening reach and amplifying financial education.
• Desert Botanical GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue partner for Devour Culinary Classic, Arizona's most celebrated culinary event returning annually in February.
• Town of GilbertminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2026 host partner for Arizona Good Business Summit held at HD South, Home of the Gilbert Historical Museum.
• Southern Arizona Arts and Culture AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Devour Culinary Classic event at Desert Botanical Garden.
• Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRound-up campaign partner to fund statewide cleanup efforts for Keep Arizona Beautiful initiative.
• O.H.S.O. Brewery + DistilleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreated limited edition 'Sonoran Sipper' beer to showcase delicious local ingredients and hometown pride.
• City of Tucson Office of ResilienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Urban Institute's Transformative Climate Action in American Cities (TCA) project to help disrupt climate status quo in Tucson.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): A nationwide SBA-funded network providing free business consulting, training, and capital access support to small business owners. Highly comparable service offering to Local First Arizona's accelerators and bootcamps, with federal backing and broader geographic reach.
• National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB): The largest small business advocacy organization in the U.S., providing lobbying, member benefits, and resources to independent business owners. Comparable in coalition membership model and small-business advocacy positioning.
• SCORE: The nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors delivering free business mentoring, education, and resources to small business owners. Overlaps significantly with Local First Arizona's free education and boot camp offerings, but at a national scale via SBA partnership.

Emerging players

• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): National network of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) providing capital to underserved entrepreneurs and communities. Comparable mission to Local First Arizona's Rooted Relative Fund lending program and Economic Resource Center grant deployment.
• Indigenous Community Capital: Emerging Native-led CDFI and capital vehicle focused on Indigenous-owned businesses and tribal economic development. Direct overlap with Local First Arizona's Rooted Native Business Accelerator and Rooted Relative Fund, but in a still-developing ecosystem.

Direct peers

• National Main Street Center: A program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation focused on community-based commercial district revitalization through a four-point approach (organization, promotion, design, economic vitality). Comparable mission of strengthening local economies and small business districts.
• BALLE (Common Future): Network of local economy leaders building inclusive, locally rooted economies. Shares Local First Arizona's emphasis on independent business, place-based economic development, and equity-focused entrepreneurship support.
• American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA): National federation of independent local business alliances founded by Kimber Lanning, who leads Local First Arizona. AMIBA is the closest direct peer—the umbrella for the 'Local First' movement—and operates a near-identical model of local business coalition-building, directory, and advocacy.
• Independent We Stand: National grassroots movement promoting independently owned businesses, with a member business directory, marketing campaigns (e.g., 'Indie Week'), and consumer engagement programs. Highly comparable in mission, directory model, and event-driven GTM.
• Local First (Michigan): A Michigan-based independent business coalition using the same 'Local First' branding and model: business directory, coalition membership, events, and local-economy advocacy. Operates as a sister coalition in a different geography with similar program mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/localfirstaz
• Facebookfacebook.com/localfirstaz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/local-first-arizona

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Local First Arizona