Dear Mayor Kelly and the Council,
 

The American Independent Business Alliance has helped more than 30
communities across the country initiate organizations to help
independent, locally-owned businesses to thrive in the face of chain
competition and build vital local economies. AMIBA is a national
501(c)(3) non-profit organization that spawned from the nation's first
<http://amiba.net/about_ibas.html> Independent Business Alliance (IBA)
in Boulder, Colorado in 2001 as a response to interest from communities
nationwide. Since then, we've been helping stop the trend of chains
displacing our community-based businesses and restoring control over the
future of our communities to the people who call it "home."

As part of their mission, IBAs have been instrumental in helping inform
local economic development decisions. In too many cases, locally-owned
businesses and their potential expansion are overlooked in favor of
luring outside businesses. IBAs can be an important tool toward creating
the kind of entrepreneurial opportunity that yields long-term economic
vitality. A couple of the most successful and positive initiatives to
come out of IBA economic development input can be seen here:

*

        An evolving connection between resident-owned businesses,
developers, commercial property owners and local government
<http://ibuyaustin.com/CLIC-home.php>
http://ibuyaustin.com/CLIC-home.php
*

        Independent Business Investment Zones
<http://ibuyaustin.com/ibiz.php> http://ibuyaustin.com/ibiz.php

One comment we received from an economic growth and redevelopment office
in one of our IBA communities illustrated tellingly the need for the IBA
voice:

"The Austin IBA has taught me that there are two different roles of
business recruitment - large, but also small businesses that have been
here for years generating taxes and no one (in city government) paid
attention."

I invite you to learn more about AMIBA and the Independent Business
Alliance model in person. AMIBA co-founder, Jeff Milchen will be giving
public presentations near you in the coming week -- one in Menlo Park.
You can view the schedule at <http://amiba.net/events>
http://amiba.net/events

The presentations are free of charge.

I also invite you to visit our website to learn more. Please feel free
to contact us with any questions. I hope you can join us!

 
 
Jennifer Rockne, Director
American Independent Business Alliance
222 South Black Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715
406-582-1255
info@AMIBA.net <mailto:info@AMIBA.net>
www.AMIBA.net <http://www.AMIBA.net>
 
Because Community Matters.
AMIBA is a 501c3 non-profit organization
Received on Fri Mar 2 08:35:19 2007