How to Be a Local Hero

What would it be like for the businesses near us to be owned by our friends and neighbors?  What would it be like if the money we spent in those businesses stayed in town and enriched our whole community? What if we all felt like partners in our economy instead of just customers?  

Today’s guest, Thomas Barr, is the Executive Director of Local First Arizona, the largest coalition of local businesses in North America. A proud Arizona native and graduate of Arizona State University, Thomas leads the business coalition of Local First Arizona by advocating for the economic and cultural benefits provided by building strong local economies. 

Thomas’s work is fueled by his values. In this episode, he reveals some of the personal and family stories that forged his values around justice and inclusion. He also explains how his  advocacy for a strong local business community contributes to building vibrant, equitable prosperity across the state. 

In his free time, Thomas volunteers with many causes and organizations throughout the Valley including Young Nonprofit Professionals, Equality Arizona, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Heritage Square Foundation and Phoenix Legal Action Network. Thomas was honored in 2018 as one of Phoenix Magazine’s 40 Under 40, he’s an alumnus of Arizona Leading for Change, and the Valley Leadership Institute's 40th cohort. 

We were so happy that Thomas Barr was able to join us this week to share his passion and plans for a thriving economy. He also shared the sometimes wrenching stories of businesses and business owners that Local First Arizona is working to keep afloat during Covid, the biggest challenge to small business in a century. Keep listening to the end when Thomas reveals his secret “smell test” to find out instantly whether a business is locally owned or not, and for his powerful vision for the next 20 years. 

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SHOW NOTES
Key Take Aways: 

• Local business contributes to multi-generational community wealth
• Big national chains can actually be seen as “extractive” structures that remove wealth from a community
• Local First AZ believes that focusing on sustainability, diversity, and economic justice are integral to supporting local communities and businesses. 
• Ten Reasons to Buy Locally

Do a Science:

• Find out if the businesses you patronize are locally owned. Ask an employee if they know the owner. Thomas says this “smell test” is nearly infallible. 

 Quotes:
“If I’m going to do something that not only contributes to building a great place but restructures our systems to be more centered on building stronger wealth locally, the answer is helping local entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need… So we’re not so reliant on extractive and dominant big businesses.”  References:

• Local First AZ
• Shop Local AZ Online Marketplace
• Arizona Local Business Directory

Resources: 

• If you are a small business not in AZ, here are organizations that are likely in your community to support your efforts. 
• Join the rest of the Rocket Scientists on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/rfcomlab 
• Follow us on Instagram @rocketfeather1

Music Credits:
 Atop A Mustang by Arulo via www.mixkit.co