Albuquerque Independent Business Alliance

Jeff Milchen, Outreach Director for the American Independent Business Alliance talks softly and carries a big stick of passion wherever he goes: passion for locally owned, independent businesses and the organizations that support and promote them.

Jeff, who headquarters out of Bozeman, MT, was in Albuquerque this week on his way to start an independent business alliance in Las Vegas, NM. Las Vegas will have the distinction of being the first Hispanic-majority city under the umbrella of the American Independent Business Alliance.

Just six years ago, Jeff was a presenter at the original organizational meeting for AIBA held at the Outpost. On this Wednesday evening, several AIBA Board members and Rebecca Dakota, Executive Director, met him at Slate Street Café. A fascinating exchange gave both the local and the national representatives food for thought.

Among the takeaways:

• The national organization continues to grow. According to Jeff, one of the most recent additions to the AMIBA is the Bronx, NY group which is so large it features 150 people on staff.
• More than 65 affiliates throughout the country are part of the national organization, exchanging ideas, asking for information and supporting the “Buy Local” concept.
• “Buy Local” is not as clearly defined as one might think. He mentioned this week’s Alibi feature entitled “The Corporate Co-Opt of Local,” an article by Stacey Mitchell, author of Big Box Swindle. In that article Mitchell discusses some of the obstacles facing independent businesses as they attempt to get the word out.
• Health care continues to be a hot topic across the country.
• Independent business alliances and the Main Street Program are natural partners and AMIBA is in discussion with a number of Main Street Programs across the country.
• Albuquerque’s organization offered some potentially workable ideas to the national organization including a “best of” program to showcase what works.
• Communication continues to be a topic of importance. How do we do better?

Take a moment to email us with your thoughts and ideas. Or, connect to the AIBA page on Facebook. Or, join the Buy Local group (AMIBA) on LinkedIn. We’re interested, because community matters.