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Retail overcapacity will hit independent businesses and communities hard this year. What can be done?
Read AMIBA's perspective from the San Francisco Chronicle 1/4/09
AMIBA welcomes our newest affiliates:
Tumwater Chamber of Commerce
Tumwater, WA
ARCADIA Business Alliance
Arcadia, FL
Will Buy Locally
Joliet, IL
Lakeshore IBA
Holland, MI
Blackstone Valley IBA
Woonsocket area, RI
Mt. Rainier IBA
Enumclaw, WA
Independent Business Alliances in the News:
Concord IBA in Mass. having impact in just two months of existence
New Humboldt IBA (CA) wants to ensure independent doors stay open.
Op-ed: Albany's economic development better served by indies
Jackson, MI editorial supports JXN Local First
AMIBA's Why Buy Local? poster series
Tools to help you create a culture of support for independent businesses in your community
(for more tools, visit our Merchandise page)
See all 5 posters here
Think of your favorite shop or restaurant. We'll bet it's a 
home town business. Independent locally-owned businesses are essential to a vital local economy and community character. They use the goods and services of other local businesses, serve as community hubs, and are vital components of healthy neighborhoods and strong city centers. They're where the locals go. They're owned by our friends and neighbors, or maybe even by you.
The threat to our communities is real. The trend of increasing recruitment of and dependence on absentee-owned chains -- with formulas dictating everything from the look of the building to who does the printing to where the money gets deposited -- has unhealthy consequences. It's not just local businesses who suffer -- our communities are losing social, cultural and economic strength, a place for entrepreneurship, and the ability to choose our own futures. But you have a choice.
AMIBA is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping communities and independent businesses thrive. We help citizens, independent businesses and communities prevent the displacement of locally-owned businesses, ensure ongoing opportunities for entrepreneurs, and advance citizen engagement in directing the development of their community through:
See the benefits of AMIBA affiliation
Read The Benefits of Doing Business Locally (pdf) for more on the importance of independent, local ownership.
Whether you aim to launch an IBA promptly or get your community talking about the issues, AMIBA's presentations and workshops will get it done! More than 90% of our community presentations help spark new Alliances. They also generate media attention, community support and new members for your group. Our presentations for trade shows and conferences have led both to many new local efforts and national campaigns by existing organizations. Learn more!
U.S. Survey Demonstrates
Value of Local Alliances
A nationwide survey of nearly 1400 independent businesses in all 50 U.S. states showed independent retailers’ 2007 holiday sales increased just .6% over 2006. However, businesses from communities with IBAs or ongoing campaigns to promote local independents reported sales increases seven times greater than other communities. Read more.
| What They're Saying... |
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“I think we’re definitely going to be a force to help maintain the strength of Concord...We’re already benefiting from a greater buying and spending power, sense of community, and awareness of supporting local businesses. It’s really a win-win situation for everybody.” Peggy, business member of the two-month-old |
It's our vision for a start to leveling the playing field for locally-owned independent business. We invite organizations, local, state, and national legislators, and government officers to endorse this platform, developed by AMIBA and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Better yet -- implement it! View the Platform for Independent Business
