AMIBA welcomes our newest affiliates:
Capital Region IBA
Albany, NY
Buy Local Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, MI
Buy Local WNC
Asheville, NC
IBA of Western Mass.
Springfield, MA
Independent Business Alliances in tthe News:
New Orleans Stay Local! director challenges "incentives" for big box chains
Novato IBA challenges city council on meaning of "economic development"
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.
(see our print-friendly article, The Benefits of Doing Business Locally)
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.
We are here to help.
AMIBA is a national 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We help communities prevent the displacement of locally-owned independent businesses, ensure ongoing opportunities for entrepreneurs, and advance citizen engagement in directing the development of their community through:
See the benefits of AMIBA affiliation
AMIBA's presentations and workshops can raise community dialogue and interest immediately. Whether you aim to start an IBA or get your community talking. . .or both, it's a great way to move forward. Many IBAs were sparked by a presentation. It brought their organizing effort media attention, community support, and members.
Find out more
Nationwide Survey Demonstrates
Value of Local Alliances
A nationwide survey of nearly 1400 independent businesses in all 50 states and the District of Columbia showed independent retailers’ 2007 holiday sales held steady compared to 2006, averaging a .6% increase. Of particular note, however, businesses from communities with ongoing campaigns to promote local independents reported sales increases seven times greater than businesses from communities lacking such efforts. Increases averaged just .3% in unorganized communities compared to 2.1% in communities with Independent Business Alliances and similarly modeled groups. Read more.
| What They're Saying... |
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"I was struck by how many small businesses had the same issues we had -- limited resources and a David-and-Goliath attitude...But there's a lot of power if you get together and stay focused on the issue of raising awareness of shopping locally.” Clark Kepler, owner Kepler's Books & Magazines and president Hometown Peninsula IBA |
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