LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION.PDF

Last updated: 02/26/2018
General information
Organization Local First Arizona Foundation
Contact First name Jeremiah
Contact Last name Smith
Contact e-mail jeremiah.smith@everyonesagrantwriter.org
Contact phone number 6024055330
Address
Street 407 E. Roosevelt St.
City Phoenix
State Arizona
ZIP Code 85004
From what tribe is the Gila River Indian Community
organization requesting the
grant?
Total grant amount request 48000
1 / 2

The Gila River Indian Community offers multi-year awards. If your organization is
requesting a multi-year grant for this project or program from the Gila River Indian
Community, enter the amount to be requested each year.
Amount
Year 1 (Gila River Indian
48000
Community Grants Only)
Year 2 (Gila River Indian
Community Grants Only)
Year 3 (Gila River Indian
Community Grants Only)
Year 4 (Gila River Indian
Community Grants Only)
Year 5 (Gila River Indian
Community Grants Only)
2 / 2


Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2018
Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/26/2018 (NOTE: Click or use up/down arrow keys to move among
fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Steve Chucri
4. Mailing Address: 300 W Jefferson, 10th Floor
5. City: Phoenix State: Arizona Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Click here to enter text. Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Local First Arizona Foundation (LFAF)
8. Is this a 501c non-profit Organization? No Yes If yes, attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Kimber Lanning Title: Executive Director
10. Phone Number: (602) 956-0909
11. Mailing Address: 407 E Roosevelt St
12. City: Phoenix State: Arizona Zip Code: 85004
13. Email Address: kimber@localfirstaz.com Website Address: localfirstazfoundation.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Fuerza Local in rural Arizona
15. Purpose of Grant: Provide tools and access to capital to entrepreneurs in rural communities
16. Priority Funding Area Economic Development
17. Annual amount requested $48000
18. Number of years that funding is 1
requested
19. Total amount requested (annual $48000
amount x number of years)
20. Has your organization received past No.
funding from GRIC? If yes, list each year
and amount
21. Geographic area served Arizona, including rural communities
For Office Use Only:
Data Entry Receipt Evaluation
Outcome A Approval Recommended/Amount $ A Denial

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2018
Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative
in paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe the organization’s history, mission and goals.
The mission of Local First Arizona Foundation (LFAF), founded in 2009, is to promote, support, and celebrate
a vibrant and sustainable Arizona economy by educating citizens about entrepreneurship, social equity,
cultural diversity, environmental kinship, and collaboration. Its vision is an Arizona economy that is sustainable,
resilient, self-reliant, and celebratory of its diverse cultures. LFAF uses a multi-pronged approach to solve
several of Arizona's most critical economic issues. Focused on developing entrepreneurship and supporting
Arizona's existing locally-owned enterprises, Local First has implemented programs that accelerate job
creation, increase self-reliance, and solidify a stronger economy in Arizona that works for all.
Economic Development studies have shown that investing smaller amounts of funding into micro-
entrepreneurial training nets more jobs than big dollars invested at the top. This additional financial security in
under-served and under-represented areas increases safety and opportunities to live healthy and productive
lives in the communities that need it the most. Fuerza Local works. People from marginalized communities and
neighborhoods are creating successful businesses, creating jobs, and new revenue. Fuerza Local is a viable
program with a strong and stable funding base and bright future on the horizon.
LFAF believes entrepreneurship is a pathway out of poverty. The goals of Fuerza Local are to create new
businesses, new jobs, and new revenue for the individuals and communities served. Currently, Fuerza Local
only has the capacity to serve 25% of the total number of applicants. With the support and partnership of
GRIC, LFAF will deliver Fuerza Local to entrepreneurs and businesses, providing equitable access to fair
market capital and encouraging fair and healthy lending practices in communities of color. An investment of
$48,000 will allow 24 more entrepreneurs to gain the support, skills, knowledge, and capital needed for a
successful small business.
2. If the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please describe your relationship with
Arizona municipalities including past and present support, whether through partnerships, collaborations,
in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting municipality’s role in
this project. If the applying organization is a municipality governmental sub-division please enter the
text “Not applicable.”
Local First Arizona Foundation is the 501c3 sister organization of Local First Arizona (501c6). Together, the
two organizations fulfill the mission and vision of an inclusive, diverse, robust local economy. Local First works
with many (over 20) municipalities across the state, both urban and rural, and is focused on a wide range of
programs such as small business technical assistance, feasibility studies, rural economy assessments and
more. Local First is the largest local business coalition in the country, with 24 staff and 6 statewide offices.
Funding from municipalities has been through CDBG funding, light rail technical assistance grants, and fee for
service. In some cases, the municipality is the hiring entity and in others it is the grantor, or in at least two
cases, has been a partner in executing the work. As Fuerza Local has expanded throughout the state of

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2018
Arizona, LFAF has partnered with cities (Avondale, Mesa, Tucson, and Phoenix) and Counties (Maricopa and
Pima) to provide support and resources to emerging entrepreneurs from communities of color.
3. Describe the proposed project and planned goals and activities.
Local First Arizona Foundation created Fuerza Local in 2013, a 6-month business accelerator program, which
serves Latino micro-entrepreneurs. Studies conducted by the Federal Reserve, the Small Business
Administration, and professors from BYU, Rutgers, and Utah State all found evidence of discrimination in the
small business lending industry. Latino entrepreneurs, on average, start their companies with less money and
have less access to lenders and investors.
Businesses must formally apply for the Fuerza Local program and make a written commitment to complete the
full coursework and participate in an e-MoneyPool along with the rest of the 12-person cohort throughout the
duration of the 6-month program. A MoneyPool is a popular savings tool that has been used in Latino
communities for centuries, only now it has been digitized. Workshops are two hours each, scheduled once a
week, and cover a wealth of business development curriculum. Students are required to make ontime payment
into the moneypool, saving $1000 over 6 months, which is then matched upon graduation. Their on-time
payments are reported directly to Experian, the largest credit bureau in the US, which creates a first-time credit
history for many of our under-served students. These new skills, paired with access to traditional capital, within
the context of a growing network of other small business owners, creates sustainability and success. In
addition to the workshops, participants must attend one Fuerza Local meeting each month, so each student
has five touch points per month for the duration, plus any one-on-one meeting scheduled with staff, instructors,
or personally assigned mentors for as long as needed. Three-quarters of the program graduates are still
participating monthly.
Fuerza levels the playing field by providing a structured business curriculum taught by experienced, bilingual
professionals that improves business opportunities to access capital. Fuerza Local is the first entrepreneurial
training program in the country to incorporate money-pool savings to help develop credit history to bring this
under-served population into mainstream banking. Graduates can earn access to credit at fair market rates,
which enables them to build businesses that help sustain their families and rebuild their neighborhoods. Local
First has also established relationships with two Arizona credit unions; Marisol Federal Credit Union and
Desert Schools, which accept a certificate of completion from Fuerza Local (and its moneypool), showing six
months of on-time payments as a substitute for more traditional credit history. Graduates with a certificate of
completion may apply for - and many have received - access to a $2500 line of credit at fair market rates and
an education about interest rates and pay-day lenders. LFAF believes entrepreneurship is a pathway out of
poverty. The goals of Fuerza Local are to create new businesses, new jobs, and new revenue for the
individuals and communities served. Currently, Fuerza Local only has the capacity to serve 25% of the total
number of applicants. With the support and partnership of the Gila River Indian Community, LFAF will deliver
Fuerza Local to more entrepreneurs and businesses each year, providing equitable access to fair market
capital and encouraging fair and healthy lending practices in communities of color. An investment of $48,000
will allow 24 more entrepreneurs to gain the support, skills, knowledge, and capital needed for a successful
small business.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the
Gila River Indian Community.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2018
Gila River Indian Community’s priorities include health care, education, economic development, public safety,
and transportation. These priorities are the pillars of a healthy, diverse, safe and inclusive community – the
same mission of Local First Arizona Foundation. The Fuerza Local program, through equity, directly builds a
stronger economy for Arizona by increasing bankability, financial literacy, and access to capital in under-served
communities. The first 168 entrepreneurs have graduated from Fuerza Local (with another 60 in the current
cohort), creating 160 registered businesses, 262 new jobs, and over $8,171,200 in new revenue for their
families. Economic Development studies have shown that investing smaller amounts of funding into micro-
entrepreneurial training nets more jobs than big dollars invested at the top. This additional financial security in
low-income areas increases safety and opportunities to live healthy and productive lives in the communities
with the greatest need.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by
the project.
Predatory lenders in Arizona disproportionately target communities of color. Title and flex loans saddle
desperate and unknowing consumers with annual interest rates often in the triple digits. Studies conducted by
the Federal Reserve, the Small Business Administration, and professors from BYU, Rutgers, and Utah State all
found evidence of discrimination in the small business lending industry. Latino entrepreneurs, on average, start
their companies with less money and have less access to lenders and investors. This cycle of debt costs
American borrowers $25 billion dollars in fees and rates each year. According to a recent study from the
Stanford Graduate School of Business, American Hispanic entrepreneurs leave 1.3 trillion dollars on the table
in the form of criminally high interest rates, fees, and lost sales because of inefficient or ineffective companies.
Last year, Fuerza Local graduated 118 entrepreneurs/businesses. With the support of the Gila River Indian
Community, LFAF will serve an additional 24 entrepreneurs/businesses over the next 12 months.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program.
Fuerza Local is a continuing program, created in 2013 and operated without interruption since.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
Fuerza Local operates two semesters per site per year, serving 12 entrepreneurs in each cohort. The timetable
is not flexible. The program lasts a full six months, in order to complete two cohorts each year, a strict schedule
must be adhered to.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Fuerza Local is successful in large part because of the support of its partners. Partners like the cities of
Phoenix, Avondale, and Mesa provide funding and space. Other key programmatic partners like e-MoneyPool,
as well as Marisol and Desert Schools Credit Unions, provide key infrastructure and opportunities necessary
for entrepreneurs to save and access capital.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this
project?

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2018
Yes, the per student cost of Fuerza is $2,000. For every $24,000 invested by the Gila River Indian Community,
Local First Arizona Foundation will deliver the Fuerza Local program to one cohort of 12 entrepreneurs.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a
program/project previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards
the previously described sustainability plan.
Fuerza Local works. People from marginalized communities and neighborhoods are creating successful
businesses, creating jobs, and new revenue. People are noticing. Fuerza Local recently expanded into
Avondale and Mesa and is confident the Fuerza model can continue to expand through all of Arizona, creating
sustainable economies and strong small businesses in communities of color. Fuerza Local is a viable program
with a strong and stable funding base and bright future on the horizon.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Local First Arizona (LFA) defines success of the Fuerza Local program as the added ability of an individual or
business to contribute to the sustainable health of a community. LFA uses metrics like business registered,
jobs created, and revenue generated/circulated to measure the health of a community. In the last two years,
the Fuerza Local program has admitted 220 businesses. Of those, 214 have completed the program and
created 182 new businesses in the community. Fuerza graduates have created 262 new jobs and generated
$8,171,700 in revenue.
The impact of Fuerza Local is tracked by measuring:
Program completion
Savings Goals
Bank Accounts opened
Capital Accessed via traditional lenders (credit unions; banks)
(Additional) Jobs Created
(Increased) Revenue Generated
Based on our existing outcome data, we project the following outcomes for 24 total students per year in Mesa:
20 new websites
20 graduates will form an LLC while in the program
24 new social media pages
18 first-time checking accounts
24 business plans
8 first-time loans approved at a legitimate, fair-market financial institution (NOT title loan or pay-day loan
establishment)
30 new jobs created- these jobs range from $22,000-30,000 within two years of completion of the program

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2018
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community
for state shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is
included in a separate attachment, please indicate that here.
Not Applicable.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2018
Project Budget
Budget Period: 07/01/2018 – 06/30/2019
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail
page.
Proposed Budget Expense Amount Amount In Kind Total Budget
(list each budget item) requested from requested or contributions
GRIC secured from
other funders
1. Salaries and Benefits $16,000 $20,000 $0 $36,000
2. Rent/Space $0 $0 $10,000 $10,000
3. Supplies $1,000 $2,000 $0 $3,000
4. Equipment $2,000 $3,000 $0 $5,000
5. Evaluation $1,000 $2,000 $0 $3,000
6. Direct Assistance to Individuals $24,000 $24,000 $0 $48,000
7. Marketing/Promotion $1,000 $2,000 $0 $3,000
8. Professional Fees $3,000 $6,000 $20,000 $29,000
9. Administration $0 $3,000 $0 $3,000
10. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
11. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
12. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
13. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
14. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
15. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
16. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
17. Click here to enter text. $0 $0 $0 $0
Total Budget $48,000 $62,000 $30,000 $140,000

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2018
Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include
the dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Salaries and Benefits: .5 FTE Program Director ($24,000) and .25FTE Public Relations & Marketing
Director. This project will occupy half of the Fuerza Local Program Director time and one quarter of PR
Director.
2. Rent/Space: Physical space for Fuerza Local is always donated by local municipality, library, college, or
other community partner.
3. Supplies: Materials, including workbooks for students.
4. Equipment: Laptops and other technology for each student (including insurance)
5. Evaluation: Formal evaluation from Compass Career and Business Solutions
6. Direct Assistance to Individuals: Matching grants given to graduates ($1,000 match for savings from
program)
7. Marketing/Promotion: Discounted nonprofit rate for all marketing and printed materials/campaigns
8. Professional Fees: Instructors, many who donate their time.
9. Administration: Accounting, rents, matching grant tracking, etc.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
16. Click here to enter text.
17. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.