The 2015 Rural Policy Forum will provide an opportunity for skill-building, networking, resource development, building relationships and educating each other about the needs and services in rural Arizona. Activities include capacity-building sessions, receptions, workshops, keynote presentations, and roundtable discussions. Breakout sessions and workshops will focus on a variety of important topics pertaining to building thriving… Read More
9th Annual Arizona Rural Policy Forum Coming to Clarkdale
The 9th Annual Arizona Rural Policy Forum will be held at the Clark Memorial Clubhouse in Clarkdale, Arizona, August 6 through 7, 2015. This annual forum, hosted by the Arizona Rural Development Council (AZRDC), a program of the Local First Arizona Foundation (LFAF), will connect rural economic development professionals, nonprofits, community leaders, business owners, and… Read More
706 Reasons to Attend the BALLE Conference
Haven’t registered for the BALLE Conference on Localism yet? It’s being held in Phoenix June 10-12, and is the national forum for visionary local economy connectors who are making a difference in their communities. Here are 706 reasons why you should attend: 600 Localist Leaders All In One Place The BALLE Conference is the one place each year… Read More
8 Conversations on What’s Working Locally in AZ
The 13th annual BALLE Conference is coming to Phoenix this June 10-12. The BALLE Conference is the national forum for visionary local economy connectors who are making a difference in their communities. We’re planning to bring hundreds of business owners, social entrepreneurs, community funders, policymakers, conveners, network builders, and local economy leaders from around the country to Phoenix… Read More
Rural Arizona Community Feature: Clarkdale
The charming town of Clarkdale was named after William Andrews Clark who was an industrialist who played a significant role in the founding and shaping of Clarkdale, Jerome and the Verde Valley. Clarkdale, which is located between Cottonwood and Jerome, was originally formed as a company town to support the local copper mine. Clarkdale was… Read More
AZRDC Empowers Pinetop-Lakeside Business Owners Through Workshops
Earlier this month, the Arizona Rural Development Council traveled to Pinetop-Lakeside to teach a series of seminars to empower local business owners. The two September workshops, focused on social media and “leveraging your localness,” were a followup to two previous seminars that AZRDC led in July on customer service and tourism strategies. These four workshops were offered… Read More
Pinetop-Lakeside and Local First Arizona Present Series of Small Business Workshops
The Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber of Commerce and the Ad and Promotions Committee for the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside will host Local First Arizona Director Kimber Lanning for a series of small business workshops. Kimber Lanning will present two workshops on September 4 and 5, 2014, titled “How to Leverage Your Localness” and “Social Media Strategies for Small… Read More
Local First Arizona Members win Rural Tourism Awards
Tourism is one of Arizona’s largest industries and a huge contributor to the local economy. The tourism industry is responsible for employing thousands of Arizonans and fostering billions of dollars in spending in Arizona’s local hotels, stores, boutiques, restaurants, and more. Every year, statewide tourism leaders are honored at the 2014 Governor’s Tourism Awards Gala held… Read More
Verde Brewing Company Owner to Speak at Rural Policy Forum
The Arizona Rural Development Council (housed under the Local First Arizona Foundation) will host a Rural Policy Forum on August 7th-8th in Globe-Miami. Under their mission to help equip communities with resources to help advance rural Arizona, the Rural Policy Forum will connect rural economic development professionals, nonprofits, community leaders, business owners and others who are interested… Read More
VVREO Named 2014 Small Organization of the Year by AAED
The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) named the Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization (VVREO) the state’s leading small economic development organizations of 2014. This is the second year in a row that VVREO has won an award from AAED, for its dedicated work in economic development in the Verde Valley. Congrats! VVREO’s mission is… Read More
