How Maricopa County and Local First Arizona saved crumbling small business community

At the height of the pandemic, the state lost nearly 20% of small businesses.

PUBLISHED SEP 20, 2024

Maricopa County has contributed more than $90 million of CARES Act and ARPA funding to assist small businesses since 2020.

Phoenix, Arizona: New data shows 5,228 small businesses benefitted from a pandemic-era partnership between Maricopa County and Local First Arizona.

According to findings presented to the County Board of Supervisors, 92% of those businesses are still operating today. This was made possible in part by the $1 million invested by the County Board of Supervisors between July 2021 and July 2023.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy in Maricopa County, and I’m grateful for partners like Local First who are deeply invested in their success and longevity,” said Jack Sellers, Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, who represents District 1. “Our partnership with Local First helped stabilize the local economy in uncertain times and protected the livelihood of entrepreneurial individuals and families across the County.”

Local First’s business technical assistance, offered in five languages, provided small business owners support including programs in operations, finances and financial literacy, licensing, contracting, and compliance, and marketing.

“Local First Arizona is grateful to the Maricopa Board of Supervisors for its steadfast commitment to our small business community," said Kimber Lanning, Founder and CEO of Local First. "With the county’s partnership, we’ve been able to achieve remarkable results, providing one-on-one consulting for more than 5,000 locally owned businesses, resulting in millions of dollars of economic growth for our community.”

At the height of the pandemic, the state lost nearly 20% of small businesses due to the economic downturn. The investment from Maricopa County was vital to keeping small business owners afloat, as 92% of the small businesses supported through this funding are still in operation. In fact, between 2021 and 2023, this funding has helped save more than 600 small businesses.

Maricopa County has contributed more than $90 million of CARES Act and ARPA funding to assist small businesses since 2020.