Local First Arizona – News Blog

• Why Where You Bank Matters More Than You Think March 19, 2026
  Where your business banks isn’t just a financial decision — it shapes who gets access to capital in your community. Across Arizona, local businesses are often shut out of lending by the same institutions holding their deposits. Community banks and credit unions flip that model, reinvesting locally and building the relationships businesses need to grow. […]
  Kat Meyer
• Celebrate Earth Month in Arizona: Local Events, Cleanups and Sustainable Businesses to Support March 13, 2026
  For Earth Month, and every month, consider finding ways to support locally-owned businesses that have committed to sustainable practices. To help you find and support local businesses doing valuable climate resilience work, we’ve pulled together a few suggestions of people and places fighting the good fight for Arizona’s environment during Earth Month and all year […]
  Kat Meyer
• Magical Gems by Gely: Tres hermanas creando joyas con intención March 11, 2026
  Las joyas suelen tener un significado personal: marcan momentos importantes, relaciones y recuerdos. Para Alejandra, Karla y Angélica, las tres hermanas detrás de Magical Gems by Gely, también se convirtieron en la base para construir un pequeño negocio basado en la colaboración familiar y la expresión creativa. El proyecto comenzó cuando una de ellas atravesaba […]
  Paul Zapata
• Still Going Strong: How Wist Defies Consolidation and Powers Arizona’s Local Economy March 3, 2026
  Sticky notes, reams of printer paper, dry-erase markers and packets of paper clips. For anyone who worked in a professional setting prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, those items may inspire a twinge of nostalgia — regular errands to a tucked-away supply room stocked by a dependable office vendor. But work has changed. With the widespread […]
  Lori Cothrun
• Devour Culinary Classic Names 2026 Winners February 23, 2026
  Contact: Charlotte Shaffcharlotte@themediapush.comFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDevour Culinary Classic Names 2026 WinnersArizona’s Top Chefs and Purveyors Honored for Innovation, Sustainability and Culinary ExcellencePHOENIX (Feb. 23, 2026) – Local First Arizona announces the winners of the 18th annual Devour Culinary Classic, an event showcasing more than 100 of Arizona’s top restaurants and purveyors. The gathering was held Feb. […]
  Lori Cothrun