MISSION: Southwest Research and Information Center is a multi-cultural organization working to promote the health of people and communities, protect natural resources, ensure citizen participation, and secure environmental and social justice now and for future generations

Keep It Querque!

While shopping locally has garnered a certain “groovy” cachet, what’s behind the message? A movement toward consumer consciousness as a means of positively impacting one’s community. This occurs in the following ways: (i) economically, because more money stays in the local economy when you shop locally; (ii) socially, because customers, business owners and employees are friends and neighbors who know each other; and (iii) culturally, because residents are keeping Albuquerque’s character unique and diverse rather than becoming Anywhere, USA.

• Out of the 15,576 business establishments in Bernallilo County, 13,120 have 1-19 employees. 7,951 businesses employ four or less people, and only twelve employ over 1,000.

The above numbers confirm what most Albuquerqueans sense-- we are a community comprised of small, mostly micro-businesses. To support these businesses is to support Albuquerque.

It is the Albuquerque Independent Business Alliance’s (AIBA) mission to support local, independent businesses, to help keep Albuquerque unique and the local economy sustainable. AIBA is part of a nationwide movement that recognizes the connection between a healthy economy and strong, vibrant communities.

Shopping at locally-owned businesses impacts Albuquerque in the following ways:

1. When you spend your money at locally-owned businesses, more of your money stays in Albuquerque. Studies show that out of every dollar you spend at a locally-owned store, 45 cents stays within your community. Compare this to the fact that only 13 cents of your $1 spent at a non-locally owned store remains in the community.

2. Each time money is spent at locally-owned businesses, more money is available to support other local businesses like retail stores, movie theaters, auto repair shops, restaurants, and health services. This helps create more local jobs.

3. Each time that money is spent and re-spent in Albuquerque, our tax base is strengthened to support city resources such as schools, parks, police and fire departments, sewer and trash services, road maintenance, and libraries.

4. Non-profit organizations rely on support from locally-owned businesses.

How is it that these local businesses circulate so much more into the local economy? The reasons are: local businesses engage local professionals such as graphic designers, accountants, attorneys, landscapers, and purchasers; more goods are purchased from locals; and a much larger share of the profit of the locally owned stores stays in the local economy.

While there is an association that shopping “indie” means paying more, what isn’t considered in that “paying more” equation is where the spending dollars go. Local businesses reinvest in the community, contributing to little league, local schools, fundraisers, and more. Local business is concerned with local environmental and community causes.

As Sue Hoffman, Executive Director of the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, says, “Business owners have a responsibility to provide good service and to support community projects. At the same time, consumers have the responsibility to support the local businesses with their purchasing power. Statistics show local spending dollars re-circulate up to five times throughout a community.” 2

Two of AIBA’s Buy Local campaigns—Independents Week and Unchained Day are part of a national movement, taking place at various other IBAs (Independent Business Alliances) across the states, principally in Austin (Keep Austin Weird) as well as in Louisville, Boulder, Salt Lake City and many other cities. This year marked the first Independents Week Challenge in Albuquerque, whereby seven out of nine city councilors competed to see who could spend the greatest percentage of their total spending dollars for a week, from July 1-July 7th, at locally-owned businesses. The winner, City Councilor Miguel Gomez, received a 5-cubic foot freezer full of a year’s supply of green chile (a New Mexico specialty) from Bueno Foods, a locally owned, more than 50-year-old family and locally owned business. Three councilors (Gomez, Martin Heinrich, and Eric Griego) spent more than 90% of their total spending dollars for the week at locally-owned business. Much of the campaign was geared toward raising awareness of our shopping patterns and recognizing the impact that spending has on community. Furthermore, it’s important for this movement to involve local and state officials, as we intend to impact local policy, such as creating more city and state local purchasing preference agreements (as opposed to tax incentives for big boxes).

For more information about the importance of independent business: Albuquerque Independent Business Alliance (AIBA) Next general meeting: October 21st 2005 1835 Candelaria NW Albuquerque, NM 87107 www.keepitquerque.org 505.400.1816 American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) 222 South Black Ave. Bozeman, MT 59715 406.582.1255 www.amiba.net Institute for Local Self-Reliance 1313 5th Street SE Minneapolis, NM 55414 612.379.3815 www.ilsr.org Santa Fe Independent Business & Community Alliance PO Box 23864 Santa Fe, NM 87505 505.989.5362 www.santafealliance.com Austin Independent Business Alliance www.shopaustin.org

Unchained Day, takes place on the Saturday that kicks off shopping for the Holiday Season (in this case, November 19th, 2005) similarly demonstrates the economic impact to the local community when shopping local versus going to chains. Austin discovered that if everyone bought their goods and services at locally owned merchants for just one day, it would put $14 million into the local economy. This is based on actual sales tax figures (see www.shopaustin.org). The point is, due to the multiplier effect, more money stays in the local economy when shopping local.

When our friends and family come to town, we take them to the Frontier, Barelas Coffee House, Sadie’s and El Pinto restaurants. We also go to the Tramway, the Aquarium, and the Nature Center. We bring them to places that are unique to Albuquerque, and want to maintain this character by supporting our locally owned businesses.

Your dollars count in Albuquerque. Every dollar you spend impacts Bernalillo County’s future. As our neighbors at the Santa Fe Independent Community and Business Alliance say: Put your money where your home is!