Not sure how many people know about group called Local First Arizona, but their mission is to encourage people to shop locally throughout the state.

From Ward 3 Councilwoman Karin Uhlich’s newsletter:
“Buy Local Day Party on 4th Avenue – Friday, November 23 from Noon to 5:00 p.m. Next to Creative Ventures Mall (522 N. 4th Avenue). Local First Arizona invites you to kick off the “Buy Local Month” holiday shopping season during their annual Black Friday Sale. Free gift wrapping, gift certificates from local merchants and discounted shopping tokens”. More info: http://localfirstaz.com/news/local-first-arizona-holiday-shop-local-guide-tucson/

Local First Arizona (LFA) is a non-profit organization working to strengthen communities and local economies through supporting, maintaining, and celebrating locally owned businesses throughout the state of Arizona.

We educate citizens, stakeholders, business leaders, and legislators about the significant environmental, economic, and cultural benefits of strong local economies. We build vibrant communities that make residents proud to call home.

Local First Arizona was founded in 2003 named Arizona Chain Reaction. In 2007, the organization expanded, applied for 501©3 non profit status, and changed the name to Local First Arizona. The name was changed in order to better define the positive messages of buying locally and community building, which better fit the mission of the organization.

Their website lists a whole bunch of local businesses in Metro Tucson and Pima County (click here). Being as Friday is the so-called “Black Friday”, a huge shopping day prior to the winter holidays, check them out for ideas where to get great gifts.

And if you’re not on their directory, contact:
Tucson Membership Coordinator
Deanna Chevas, (520) 333-2073, deanna@localfirstaz.com

I met Deanna again recently as we were in the same group for a Tucson Planning & Development Services Dept. workshop, plus I attended a press conference back in June, 2012 about their Golden coupon offer during Independents Week (click here for previous post). I used that Golden Coupon to save 20% off while eating lunch at Delectables on 4th Avenue, which really needed our business during that Sun Link construction period.

And it’s National Buy Local month, November 23 to December 25, 2012.

Enjoy shopping on “Black Friday”.

Three full days: December 9, 10 and 11 — 10 to 6 p.m. daily, on 4th Avenue between University Blvd. and E. 9th Street (north of the underpass).

Free to the public, the Fourth Avenue Street Fair brings together 400+ arts and crafts booths, 35+ food vendors, 2 stages, Community Stage North, Main Stage South, street musicians, food, jugglers, street performers, the ever so popular Free Az Virtual Academy’s Tucson’s Children’s Museum’s kids hands-on-art Pavilion, face painting, balloons, and tons of other fun activities, then packs them into three days of celebration.

The Fourth Avenue Street Fair began in 1970 when Fourth Avenue merchants put tables in front of their stores to attract customers before the holidays. From that beginning it has developed into one of the premier street fairs in the nation, drawing crowds of 200,000 to 350,000 and ranking as one of the top visual arts fairs in the country.

For information: http://www.fourthavenue.org/. Just in time for Christmas shopping, or for other winter celebrations.

While at Antigone Books (411 N. 4th Avenue) or Delectables restaurant (533 N. 4th Avenue) you can pick up a copy of the new Tucson photography book “Together We Thrive” (click here for blog). It features 22 beautiful photos of those three memorials after the mass shooting on 1/8/11.

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