Come See The Best of Boulder County's Locally Owned Independent Businesses at the Boulder Theater Learn More -->

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People across the country decry losing the sense of community in their towns and cities. And each year brings more national chains displacing locally-owned businesses throughout the country. Most consider this trend a symptom of our loss of community orientation, but could it be a cause as well? Also, what are the impacts of this trend on our economic well-being?

Homegrown Economics: How Boulder Businesses are staying ahead of chains by Stacy Mitchell Like everything BIBA does, the logo conveys an important lesson in community economics: Compared to their chain competitors, locally owned businesses recycle a higher percentage of their revenue and profits back into the local economy. Republished in the May 2002 issue of Utne Reader

BIBA's Guide to Independents™ First released in January of 1998, the biannual Guide is BIBA's oldest and most recognizable publication in Boulder. It lists all of BIBA's 140+ members and their BIBA Card discounts and can be picked up at BIBA businesses and other venues across Boulder County. Thousands of shoppers rely on the Guide as their source for independent business in Boulder. Our next guide is scheduled for release in early October. Sign up now! For more BIBA programs-->

Frequently Asked Questions About BIBA What is BIBA? What do we do? and other common questions about the nations first and unprecedented Independent Business Alliance™ download pdf (67KB)

Community Benefits

Crossroads Mall stands nearly devoid of shoppers. [Lisa Childs/Colorado Daily] TIF at Crossroads: Responding to the need for community awareness regarding the fate of Crossroads, the Boulder Independent Business Alliance (BIBA) has released a preliminary report on the possible implications of a tax increment finance (TIF) district at the embattled mall. download pdf version (461 KB)
	Best Boulder Shopping Deal-- Westword April 2002 Community Benefit Card™ Think globally, shop locally, and save some green with the BIBA's Community Benefit Card. Started as a way to help local businesses compete with big-box and national chain retailers, the Community Card costs $15 a year and offers discounts at more than eighty Boulder businesses on items ranging from CDs to legal fees Buy the Card Online for $15 and get one free!
The Home Town Advantage Bulletin The Home Town Advantage Bulletin is a bimonthly electronic newsletter, sponsored by BIBA reporting on efforts nationwide to stop chain store proliferation and support locally owned, independent retail businesses. Subscribe--> Articles & Opinions by BIBA: Why not to have a Wal-Mart in Boulder, a business perspective By Xian Izquierdo As Boulder's Comprehensive Plan illustrates and history defends, Boulder maintains the crucial balance between the varied interests of business and the need for residential and recreational land uses. Over the last 20 years, citizens of Boulder have faced the national question of allowing "big-box retail" stores to monopolize lion-sized shares of land, and citizens and officials have consistently answered no. published, Boulder County Business Report, Column August 9th pdf version: download (81.8 KB) The Reality Behind Locally-Owned and Operated By Nate Luce A new trend in the Boulder business community is to promote ones venture as "Locally owned and operated." The philosophy behind the statement is noble: the locally owned and operated stores provide a slice of community spirit in a McWorld of multinational corporations and brand name inundation. It puts a face behind the opaque corporate name, with the hopes of instilling comfort into the consumer. published, Daily Camera, Guest Opinion: June 09, 2002 download pdf version (80.6 KB)

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