Local First Arizona – News Blog

• Local First Arizona Hosts Annual We Rise Demo Day with Support from Arizona Financial to Advance Black-Owned Businesses  June 23, 2026
  PHOENIX, AZ – (June 23, 2026) – Local First Arizona celebrated another successful We Rise Demo Day, bringing together Black entrepreneurs from across the state to compete for funding and showcase the businesses they have built through the organization's six-month business accelerator program.
  Lori Cothrun
• What if Prime Day Was Local? June 22, 2026
  How we choose to spend our money helps shape the places we live. It influences which businesses grow, which jobs exist and which services remain available close to home. In that sense, Prime Day is about more than what we buy. It's also a reminder of how much power consumers actually have.
  Kat Meyer
• Local First Arizona and Arizona Credit Unions Announce Landmark Partnership to Expand Financial Empowerment Across the State June 11, 2026
  PHOENIX, Ariz. — June 11, 2026 — Local First Arizona and Arizona’s Credit Unions (ACU) – today announced their new, statewide partnership designed to boost financial education, strengthen small business success, and champion credit unions as key contributors of Arizona’s economic prosperity
  Lori Cothrun
• Local First Arizona Launches Independents Week June 29 – July 7, Spotlighting Local Businesses Across the State June 9, 2026
  PHOENIX, Ariz. — Local First Arizona’s Independents Week returns June 29 through July 7, 2026 — a statewide, nine-day campaign celebrating the independent businesses that power Arizona’s economy and give its communities their character. This year, the campaign shines a spotlight on Local First Arizona’s coalition businesses, giving Arizonans a cheat code to discover the […]
  Lori Cothrun
• Juneteenth 2026 in Arizona: Festivals, Celebrations and Community Events Across the State June 1, 2026
  Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates Black freedom, resilience, culture and community. Across Arizona, communities are marking the holiday with festivals, educational programs, business celebrations, music, food and family-friendly events. Whether you're looking for a large community festival, a cultural experience or an opportunity to support Black-owned businesses, here […]
  Kat Meyer