Local First Arizona announced on Apr. 21 the graduation of the first cohort from its Rooted Native Business Accelerator, a program designed specifically for Indigenous entrepreneurs across the state. The six-month boot camp was created to address challenges faced by Native-owned businesses and concluded with participants developing business plans and gaining new tools to support their ventures.
The initiative aims to strengthen economic self-determination among tribal communities, where structural barriers such as limited access to capital and land held in federal trust often restrict business growth. “Being an indigenous entrepreneur is different from being a mainstream entrepreneur,” said Molita Yazzie, Senior Manager of Tribal Community Connections at Local First Arizona. “The cultural aspect is huge.”
Yazzie said that issues like colonization impacts and capital inequities overlap for many Indigenous business owners. “In mainstream business, you can use your land as collateral. In native communities, that’s not possible. It’s held in trust by the federal government,” she said.
To help overcome these barriers, Local First Arizona introduced the Rooted Relative Fund alongside its accelerator program, offering loans at favorable rates through a community-centered lending approach for Indigenous entrepreneurs who face difficulties accessing traditional financing options.
Beyond financial support, the accelerator addressed topics such as creating psychologically safe workplaces and dealing with imposter syndrome—challenges Yazzie described as particularly relevant within Indigenous communities. She also highlighted how communal values influence Native entrepreneurship: “The needs of the community are a priority, the needs of the family are a priority… We focus on how those values have an impact on the business, too.”
Graduates from tribes including Pascua Yaqui and Tohono O’odham Nation represented diverse fields such as SEO services, food businesses, app development, construction management and fashion design.
Kimber Lanning, founder of Local First Arizona and an expert on community relocation trends according to the official website, has overseen programs like this one that seek to foster social cohesion statewide—including support for LGBTQ+ equality through initiatives like UNITY Pledge.according to the official website The organization also administers funding through micro-loan programs and its Green Loan Fund,according to its official website helping generate jobs especially in rural counties.
Local First Arizona operates out of Phoenix’s Modified Arts building on Roosevelt Row but maintains additional offices in Tucson along with community kitchens across Mesa and several Phoenix neighborhoods according to its official website. It functions independently as both a 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) nonprofit entity.according to its official website
In recognition of two decades serving local businesses—including tribal enterprises—Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs proclaimed Nov. 4 as Local First Arizona Day in 2023 according to its official website.
Yazzie said continued operation of programs like Rooted Native Business Accelerator depends on securing new funding sources: “A lot of the program focused on strengthening businesses through culturally grounded training… we really fostered community connection and economic resilience.” She added that supporting native-owned businesses helps sustain tribal families just as it does other local communities: “It helps the local economy and keeps money in the community… It’s critical for sustaining the community, tribes, families.”
