Local First Arizona is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of local businesses and their impact on local economies. Executive Director Kimber Lanning has a vision for local communities and their economies. “Success lies in living in a place that offers a host of opportunities that lead people to live meaningful lives,” she says in this recent appearance on Sonora Living.
Kimber points out that for every $100 spent at local businesses, $45 stays local but that same $100 spent at a national chain only $13 remain. By supporting local business and encouraging others, including local governments, to support them everyone wins.
Local First Arizona has
- Built a network of more than 1800 local businesses statewide
- Launched Fuerza Local, the nation’s first Spanish speaking Local First Association
- Trained over 800 local businesses to use websites and social media.
- Encouraged the Phoenix Industrial Development Authority to move $1M in funds to local banks
Local businesses offer better, more personal, customer service and are usually more involved in the community. By supporting them, we are helping to build a more vibrant successful economy.
In this 8 minute interview, Kimber Lanning, the founder and director of Local First Arizona, talks about the nonprofit’s efforts to create sustainable local economies by supporting local businesses.