Creek Valley Health Clinic
An innovative grant assistance center launched by Local First Arizona has helped rural communities, Tribal Nations and nonprofits across the state win more than $116 million in grant funding.
But recent federal government grant cancellations and illegal funding freezes threaten to crush new jobs and economic revitalization that Arizona communities were counting on.
The Arizona Economic Resource Center, run by Local First, provides free consultant services to local governments, Tribes and organizations to empower them to apply for competitive grants when they lack the staff or resources to apply on their own.
The center aims to change the paradigm that charitable foundations favor urban over rural areas by billions of dollars per year, even when accounting for population differences. Federal, state and local funding often follows a similar pattern.
In addition to grant writing, the center helps clients develop ideas, prepare budgets, implement projects and comply with grant reporting.
Since 2021, the Arizona Economic Resource Center has assisted more than 1,100 projects and won more than $116 million in funding for clients’ transformative work in every county in Arizona.
For every $1 invested to run the center, Arizona communities won $37 in grant funding, a powerful return on investment.
Heartquist Hollow Farm
Federal Funding Cuts Put Arizona At Risk
Cuts to federal grants, which account for 62% of the resource center’s wins, is putting Arizona communities and businesses at risk.
“Businesses and small towns in rural Arizona have, in many cases, already deployed funding based on the government’s contractual commitment to provide rebates on projects that create jobs and help communities transition to clean energy,” Local First Founder & CEO Kimber Lanning said. “Without the government honoring its legally binding contracts some of these entities may be forced into bankruptcy.”
“Not only are health clinics, family farms, mom-and-pop hotels and others being hurt, the services they provide are likely to be eliminated. This isn’t government efficiency at all. This is inefficiency at its worst, which will cost much more in the long run,” Lanning said. “We must save federal grants so that rural and tribal communities can build strong economies and invest in the next generation.”
Read about projects funded through the Arizona Economic Recovery Center:
- Colorado City opens first health clinic in 10 years with federal grant
- Rancher creates jobs in eastern Arizona with help from Local First
- Pascua Yaqui corporation builds construction training center with federal grant
- Tight-knit border community makes homeownership affordable
Pascua Yaqui Development Corporation
Awards by County and Tribal Nation
- Apache County: $8.5 million
- Cochise County: $16.9 million
- Coconino County: $6 million
- Cocopah Tribe: $5.1 million
- Gila County: $2.7 million
- Graham County: $6.1 million
- Greenlee County: $5 million
- Hopi Tribe: $25.2 million
- La Paz County: $6.8 million
- Maricopa County: $6.5 million
- Mohave County: $869,000
- Multi-County: $300,000
- Multi-Tribal: $865,000
- Navajo County: $4.8 million
- Navajo Nation: $1 million
- Pascua Yaqui Tribe: $4.3 million
- Pima County: $5.5 million
- Pinal County: $466,000
- Santa Cruz County: $841,000
- Tohono O’odham Nation: $563,000
- White Mountain Apache Tribe: $300,000
- Yavapai County: $7.2 million
- Yuma County: $166,000
- Total: $116 million
Check if your organization is eligible for assistance and request support here.
Established in 2003, Local First Arizona is a non-profit organization fiercely dedicated to driving inclusive community and economic development throughout Arizona. We have created a movement that champions a thriving and diverse economy, fostering community support and an unwavering sense of local pride and purpose in every Arizonan.
