AMIBA

An Independent Business Alliance works to build vital local economies based on independent, locally-owned businesses and help local entrepreneurs to thrive. They frequently play a key role in preventing chain proliferation and other trends from displacing local businesses. IBAs unite locally-owned independent businesses, citizens and community organizations to achieve this goal.

AMIBA’s directors launched and directed the first-ever IBA in Boulder, Colorado and bring their hands-on experience — along with that of every IBA since — together to help you succeed.

Real change only happens from the bottom up–become part of this rapidly-growing movement! Each new Independent Business Alliance increases our collective voice and our ability to shift local and national culture to support the places we call “home” and the people who live there.  Your community and its future deserve this kind of support!

Why re-invent the wheel when you can use a proven, time-tested model and materials to help your community?  AMIBA affiliation gains you our experience and that of our growing coalition of IBAs, operating in communities of all sizes and in all areas of the country.  You gain access to our ever-increasing collection of materials, how-to’s, templates, and we network you with other IBAs to help your local effort become effective quickly and keep you there.  AMIBA is a one-stop shop to help you get organized, legal, knowledgeable about issues, updated, and in touch with other IBAs to share ideas, find solutions, and build relationships

IBAs accomplish this through four focus areas:

1) Public education about the greater overall value local independents often can provide (even when they are not the cheapest) as well as the vital economic, social and cultural role independent businesses play in the community.

2) Cooperative purchasing, branding, marketing, resource sharing and other activities to help local businesses gain economies of scale and compete more effectively.

3) Creating a strong and uncompromised voice for local independents in the local government and media.

4) Engaging citizens actively in guiding the future of their community.