Local First Arizona Foundation Receives Funding from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to Train Latino Small Business Owners
Local First Arizona Foundation received a $25,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The funding will underwrite the cost of 12 micro-entrepreneurs to enroll in one of Local First’s programs, the Fuerza Local Business Accelerator, a six-month program focused on business classes taught in Spanish for business owners to launch successful businesses in Arizona. Since 2016, the 304 Fuerza Local graduates have generated more than $14 million in new gross sales and created 536 new jobs.
Phoenix, AZ, March 27, 2019 --(PR.com)-- Local First Arizona Foundation has received a $25,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The funding will underwrite the cost of 12 micro-entrepreneurs to enroll in one of Local First’s programs, the Fuerza Local Business Accelerator.
Fuerza Local was created as a direct response to the influx of predatory lenders who target low-income Latinos who often lack financial literacy and resources. The six-month business accelerator program is offered free-of-charge to underserved Latino business owners across Greater Phoenix. The curriculum teaches entrepreneurs the fundamentals to launch or develop their business while they build a solid credit score. This opens avenues for them to access the capital they need to grow their businesses. Lessons on topics such as accounting, cash flow projections, marketing and business planning are taught entirely in Spanish by bilingual industry professionals, giving participants the opportunity to learn from some of the best and most experienced business owners in the Valley.
“We are thrilled The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is investing in this talented group of entrepreneurs,” said Kimber Lanning, executive director of Local First Arizona Foundation. “The number one change reported by past graduates is their new ability to save for their childrens’ futures, meaning we are moving the needle on ending chronic urban poverty. We look forward to watching these graduates build successful Arizona businesses.”
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation places a high value on reaching underserved and marginalized populations through its six areas of focus, two of which are education and the American Dream. The Fuerza Local program is one of Local First’s many programs created to address these areas by supporting underserved populations and growing entrepreneurs, which ultimately builds stronger economies.
Local First connects underserved entrepreneurs to opportunities in an effort to improve their success rates. Investing in underserved communities through entrepreneurship is a successful strategy for building self-reliance and community wealth. These programs have created jobs, expanded businesses and reduced the reliance on social services. Since 2016, the 304 Fuerza Local graduates have generated more than $14 million in new gross sales, created 536 new jobs and contributed significant gains in tax revenue for Arizona’s economy. To learn more, visit localfirstazfoundation.org.
About Local First Arizona Foundation
Local First Arizona Foundation (LFAF) is an award-winning organization focused on community and economic development throughout Arizona in order to build self-sufficient, healthy and prosperous communities. LFAF is creating a movement that has proven results across a wide variety of measurables including youth retention, job creation and economic opportunity. More information is available at localfirstazfoundation.org.
About The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers support to nonprofit organizations successfully working to empower, educate, nurture and nourish people during what is often the darkest time of their lives. Founded in 2012 by philanthropists and business leaders Bob and Renee Parsons to provide hope and life-changing assistance to the country’s most vulnerable populations, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers critical funding at critical times to those in need. The Foundation’s giving is driven by the core belief that all people – regardless of race, religion, roots, economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity – deserve access to quality healthcare, education and a safe place to call home. Follow @WeDealInHope on social media or visit TBRPF.org, to learn more about partner organizations and the important work being done in the community.
Media Contact: Kendall Jones | kendall@localfirstaz.com | 480-528-6258
Fuerza Local was created as a direct response to the influx of predatory lenders who target low-income Latinos who often lack financial literacy and resources. The six-month business accelerator program is offered free-of-charge to underserved Latino business owners across Greater Phoenix. The curriculum teaches entrepreneurs the fundamentals to launch or develop their business while they build a solid credit score. This opens avenues for them to access the capital they need to grow their businesses. Lessons on topics such as accounting, cash flow projections, marketing and business planning are taught entirely in Spanish by bilingual industry professionals, giving participants the opportunity to learn from some of the best and most experienced business owners in the Valley.
“We are thrilled The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is investing in this talented group of entrepreneurs,” said Kimber Lanning, executive director of Local First Arizona Foundation. “The number one change reported by past graduates is their new ability to save for their childrens’ futures, meaning we are moving the needle on ending chronic urban poverty. We look forward to watching these graduates build successful Arizona businesses.”
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation places a high value on reaching underserved and marginalized populations through its six areas of focus, two of which are education and the American Dream. The Fuerza Local program is one of Local First’s many programs created to address these areas by supporting underserved populations and growing entrepreneurs, which ultimately builds stronger economies.
Local First connects underserved entrepreneurs to opportunities in an effort to improve their success rates. Investing in underserved communities through entrepreneurship is a successful strategy for building self-reliance and community wealth. These programs have created jobs, expanded businesses and reduced the reliance on social services. Since 2016, the 304 Fuerza Local graduates have generated more than $14 million in new gross sales, created 536 new jobs and contributed significant gains in tax revenue for Arizona’s economy. To learn more, visit localfirstazfoundation.org.
About Local First Arizona Foundation
Local First Arizona Foundation (LFAF) is an award-winning organization focused on community and economic development throughout Arizona in order to build self-sufficient, healthy and prosperous communities. LFAF is creating a movement that has proven results across a wide variety of measurables including youth retention, job creation and economic opportunity. More information is available at localfirstazfoundation.org.
About The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers support to nonprofit organizations successfully working to empower, educate, nurture and nourish people during what is often the darkest time of their lives. Founded in 2012 by philanthropists and business leaders Bob and Renee Parsons to provide hope and life-changing assistance to the country’s most vulnerable populations, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers critical funding at critical times to those in need. The Foundation’s giving is driven by the core belief that all people – regardless of race, religion, roots, economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity – deserve access to quality healthcare, education and a safe place to call home. Follow @WeDealInHope on social media or visit TBRPF.org, to learn more about partner organizations and the important work being done in the community.
Media Contact: Kendall Jones | kendall@localfirstaz.com | 480-528-6258
Contact
Local First Arizona Foundation
Kendall Jones
602-956-0909 ext. 7
www.localfirstaz.com
Kendall Jones
602-956-0909 ext. 7
www.localfirstaz.com
Contact
Categories