Local First Utah is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that seeks to strengthen communities and local economies by promoting, preserving, and protecting local, independently owned businesses throughout Utah.

Organized in 2005 by a small number of volunteer business owners and communityminded residents, Local First Utah today has more than 1500 locally owned and independent business partners, including citizens and government organizations across the state.

Local First Utah is open to all Utah businesses that are at least 51% locally-owned and make their business decisions independently. There is no class of membership in the organization and registration is free.

Our Mission

Our mission as an organization is to educate the public and government about the importance of locally owned independent business to the community. Local businesses are, in a real sense, the backbone of any community. It is nearly impossible to imagine our neighborhoods, towns, and cities here in Utah without them.

We are not anti-chain—we recognize that there’s room for all types of business in any thriving community. But we also know instinctively that, since local business owners live here, do their hiring here, operate their stores and offices here, buy most of their supplies and products here, pay all their taxes here, and spend their profits here, they obviously contribute far more to our local economies than do chains.