Kimber Lanning, founder of Local First Arizona at DGT Salon

By Carolyn Classen, blogger

“Please join us for a great presentation regarding the philosophy and goals of Local First Arizona from the Founder, Kimber Lanning. Please note the Special Evening start time of 6:00 PM, to accomodate the Feature Speaker’s schedule! We’ll talk about the importance and impact of making your economic choices more closely fit your values.

You Must Register in Advance for this Event:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/oyVdeL_jRZS724gLaWn5lw

Kimber Lanning is Founder and CEO of Local First Arizona, a statewide organization implementing innovative strategies for new models of economic development that create vibrant and thriving local economies. Lanning is an entrepreneur, business leader and community development specialist who works to cultivate strong self-reliant
communities and inspire a higher quality of life for people across Arizona. Lanning’s passions, which are seen throughout her work, include fostering economic resilience, increasing access to capital, and rebuilding food, energy and financial systems in order to create opportunity for all.

Lanning has grown Local First Arizona into a widely respected organization that is leading the nation in implementing systems and policies to ensure a level playing field for entrepreneurial endeavors of all sizes. With over 3,000 business members and four statewide offices, Lanning leads a team of 68 staff who work on a diverse array of programs ranging from healthy local food access, entrepreneurial development in under resourced communities, and rural community development, each of which plays a part in building sustainable and resilient local economies.

Local First Arizona programs include:

• Small business education programs in English and Spanish that foster entrepreneurship and increase access to capital
• Strengthening the Arizona food system through our kitchen incubator and farm–to-fork programs
• Harnessing the collective power of the largest local business coalition in the U.S. to advocate for the local business community
• Assisting cities, towns and tribal nations to secure resources that build self-reliant local economies
• Helping businesses identify solutions and funding to reduce their environmental impacts
• Educating consumers about the profound impact of their spending choices on the local economy”