An Independent Business Alliance is a coalition of locally-owned independent businesses, citizens and community organizations united to support home town businesses in a community or geographic region.  An IBA is a proven tool for helping maintain unique community character, ensuring continued opportunities for entrepreneurs, building local economic strength, and preventing the displacement of locally-owned businesses by chains.  An IBA helps return decision-making ability over a community's future to the people who call it "home."

•  Private, Employee, Community or Cooperative ownership

•  Owned in majority by area resident(s)

•  Full decision-making function for the business lies with its owner(s)

•  No more than 6 outlets, bases of operation lie within a single state

•  Informing citizens of the values provided by community-based businesses and their importance to the local economy, culture and social fabric.  This helps residents view themselves as citizens, rather than as consumers, first by engaging them in active dialogue and decision-making about where they choose to spend their money.

•  Group branding, promotion and advertising to elevate the collective profile of our community-based businesses to help level the playing field and bring to them some of the market advantages chains enjoy.

•  Creating strong relationships with local government and the media to inform local decision-making and give a voice to the locally-owned independent business community and promote policy that supports community-rooted enterprise.