Contact:
Mary Ellen Merrigan,
505-280-9772;
E-mail:
me@myconnectingpoint.com
Rebecca Dakota, Executive Director AIBA 505-858-1868;
Email:
AIBAdirector@aol.com
Albuquerque, NM -- "Keep it Querque", a week-long celebration of locally-owned, independent businesses kicks off Saturday, July 1 according to the Albuquerque Independent Business Alliance, AIBA.
Albuquerque City Councilors Isaac Benton, Martin Heinrich, Debbie O'Malley and Ken Sanchez will participate in the second annual Independents Week Challenge July 1 though 7; each Councilor will record their local business visits and keep their shopping receipts from all businesses so that their percentage of local buys can be tabulated.
The Challenge winner will be announced at an event at 5:30pm on Wednesday, July 12 at Plants of the Southwest, 6680 Fourth Street NW. Grand prize is a Xeriscape Garden, courtesy of four local businesses: Just Sprinklers, Plants of the Southwest, Simeona Gardenaire and Arid Solutions.
Independents Week is a nationally staged event that is becoming more recognized at the local level. Proclamations from Governor Bill Richardson who declared a statewide Independents week as well as from The Albuquerque City Council and Mayor Martin Chavez underscore the importance of locally owned businesses.
In Albuquerque, the 2006 Independents Week effort is headed by Sara Berger, owner of Small Business Law, LLC who said, "My love has always been small business. I worked in larger organizations to finance my dream and now my business helps others do that. I challenge independent attorneys across the City to join this organization and make a difference by keeping Albuquerque unique."
Local businesses and individuals who want to join AIBA can log onto www.keepitquerque.org.
AIBA is dedicated to preserving and improving Albuquerque's unique character by supporting local, independent businesses, and aims to educate consumers about the economic benefits of shopping at neighborhood businesses. AIBA sponsors include Data-Scribe(TM), Graze, Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), First Community Bank, Flying Star Cafe and Satellite Coffee, Standard Diner, and Aurora Publishing.