The Brazos Independent Business Alliance
College Station – The Brazos Independent Business Alliance (BIBA), an organization of locally owned independent businesses, held a celebration of community businesses, announced its new web page and membership program in front of the Carnegie Library building in Downtown Bryan on Monday October 29, 2007.
BIBA was recently founded to promote and advocate the importance of locally owned independent businesses. Studies suggest that these businesses return as much as three times the amount of revenue to local economies. BIBA president Hugh Stearns said, “Shopping at businesses owned, operated and controlled by your neighbors is one of the best things that you can do for your community. Not only does this stimulate our local economy by keeping our money here in the Brazos Valley, it is also an investment in our unique culture and identity. This gives us pride in our community and it stimulates tourism, which is a clean industry that brings in outside dollars into our economy.”
BIBA maintains the BuyBrazos.com website that helps educate people about the advantages of shopping locally. This website has an easy to use directory of locally owned independent businesses. Listings in the directory are currently free to all locally owned independent businesses. Membership in the organization earns preferential listings. Local media consultant 372 Media has donated the web site to BIBA.
BIBA is one of many such organizations around the nation promoting local economies. This trend brings together local leaders, business groups, consumer advocates and even environmentalists who claim that this is a “greener”, or more ecologically sustainable, means of commerce. It cuts down on transportation and even the push of urban sprawl as local businesses tend to locate close in.
BIBA vice president and membership chair, Wayne Arrington, said, “This is a great opportunity for our local business people to take advantage of cooperative advertising and community branding in a way that will pay big dividends to our businesses and our community.”
BIBA also provides social events for its members, workshops, business advisory and advocacy.