Concepción Jiménez cleans Valley homes for a living, an occupation she has perfected after 20 years of living in Phoenix. Decades of experience in the cleaning industry have allowed her to build up her clientele.

But it wasn't until 2022 that she officially established her own cleaning business. According to Jiménez, 47, she was able to do that thanks to Fuerza Local's Latino business accelerator program, offered by Local First Arizona.

She was one of 45 Valley entrepreneurs who were celebrated on Wednesday night at the Versailles Event Center in Maryvale. Jiménez, along with other Maryvale, south Phoenix and Mesa business owners, graduated from the six-month incubator program.

The Fuerza Local accelerator provides free training and resources to Latino small-business owners across Arizona, and is taught in Spanish. It falls in line with the mission of Local First Arizona, a nonprofit that aims to boost local economies by supporting local entrepreneurs.

“We are very happy ― all these entrepreneurs had six months of preparation and we helped them to be ready to grow their businesses,” said Mónica García, senior manager of small-business development at Local First Arizona. “We have entrepreneurs from all walks of life, like food, decorations, construction, bakers — well, all sorts of industries graduating from the course. Imagine the contribution we are making to the state of Arizona."

During the program, participants learn the basics of running a business and slowly develop...

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