Maricopa County's innovative partnership with Local First Arizona to support local small businesses is paying off, and new data highlights the impact of the collaboration. Report According to a report released this week, more than 5,000 small businesses have directly benefited from the efforts of the County Board of Supervisors and Local First Arizona.

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Sellers highlighted the importance of this effort as he reflected on the progress of the economic recovery. “Maricopa County's economy is powered by small businesses and we are grateful to have partners like Local First who are deeply committed to their success and survival,” said Chairman Sellers. Maricopa County Civic AlertAccording to the report, 92 percent of businesses assisted by the program remain in business, a testament to the county's strategic investment of $1 million between July 2021 and July 2023.

The technical assistance provided covered an array of support including operations, financial literacy, licensing and marketing, and was offered in five languages ​​to make it accessible to a diverse range of business owners. Kimber Lanning, founder and CEO of Local First Arizona, expressed gratitude for the county's partnership. state“Through our partnership with the County, we have been able to achieve great results by providing personalized consulting to over 5,000 local businesses and generating millions of dollars in economic growth for our community.”

The partnership has emerged as a critical lifeline amid tough economic times caused by the pandemic, with nearly one-fifth of the state's small businesses closing. The state's investment has been critical to the survival of local business owners, saving more than 600 lives in the process. Maricopa County has allocated more than $90 million in federal relief funds to support local businesses since 2020. For more information and a comprehensive list of assistance programs, interested parties can visit: Maricopa.gov/Rescue.