Thunderbirds Charities has awarded Local First Arizona $90,000 to support Spanish-speaking and Black entrepreneurs’ success.
The donation will go toward Local First’s business education programs Fuerza Local, Nivel Ejecutivo and We Rise. Thunderbirds Charities has invested about $620,000 in the programs since 2017.
“Thunderbirds Charities has been a steadfast supporter of Local First Arizona’s business accelerators. This investment will empower many Black and Hispanic Arizonans to open and expand small businesses, create new jobs and drive a strong economy,” said Local First Arizona Founder & CEO Kimber Lanning.
The Fuerza Local Business Accelerator is a six-month training program for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs who want to level up their businesses. Nivel Ejecutivo is an advanced-level accelerator for Spanish-speaking owners and managers. The We Rise Business Accelerator is a six-month training program for Black entrepreneurs.
Each course was created with experts from these communities to ensure culturally relevant curricula. Classes cover a wide range of topics such as business models, financial literacy, licensing, customer service and networking, paired with a savings program to integrate business owners into mainstream banking and build credit scores.
We Rise Grad Charlotte Bowens. Credit ASU News
Since 2013, Fuerza Local’s Business Accelerator and Nivel Ejecutivo have graduated more than 1,100 entrepreneurs. The two programs have pumped more than $24 million in new revenue into the economy and created more than 1,400 new jobs since 2021.
Nearly 100 entrepreneurs have graduated from the third program, We Rise Business Accelerator, since 2020.
The Thunderbirds donation will go toward recruitment, instructors, mentors and $1,000 matching checks that entrepreneurs receive when they graduate after saving $1,000 during the program to build their credit scores.
“Local First’s business training programs have made an impressive impact on aspiring entrepreneurs in our state, who are creating generational wealth for their families and economic vitality for their communities,” said George Thimsen, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “This grant is a testament to how deeply we believe in the work Local First is doing.”
