The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) invites you to join
local Independent Business Alliances, independent trade associations, and
independent business owners nationwide in a campaign urging communities to
unchain themselves for one day and shop only at locally owned, independent
businesses on November 19.

"AMIBA will provide a how-to guide and templates for posters, a logo, button
designs, press releases, and more for your businesses and local groups to
use.

PARTICIPATION IS FREE!

Sign up to take part in America Unchained! at http://amiba.net/unchained.html.

For more information on AMIBA, visit www.amiba.net, email [email protected] or call 406-582-1255.

Heck Yea! I am game. I am a new business owner in the pest control business. I always shop at "home" first. I would love for people to give me a chance to help them. DO IT.....Very good idea
Scott

Scott,
Since you're in the pest control business, is there anything you can do about Gunnar?

Great idea. I think people should use a "local" consultant for all of their natural resource permitting, monitoring, and relcamation needs!

Pete: Have you tried dark beer on the Gunnar pest. It just might work!

[This message has been edited by Richard Bonine, Jr (edited 10/6/2005).]

Richard,
I'm not so sure it would work. It might just make the pest mutate.

Locally owned, Independent Businesses. That would seem to eliminate even franchises where a local person might own the franchise for Miles City as that really isn't "independent". Which really restricts shopping in Miles City as proposed. Would there be any place we could buy groceries on 11/19? Isn't Reynolds owned out of town? Only one bank in town would qualify for business that day.

One of the problems of our small communities is that we have a smaller and smaller base of locally owned, independent businesses. More and more are national, regional, or franchise, with ownership far, far away, and local management given only minimal authority, including restrictions on making local purchases and contributions.

One of those evolutions that may be good for individual consumers, but bad for communities.

Tom Clarke

Tom's correct on some of this. Though really I think the concept is to shop only at those businesses that we know are locally owned. Sure Ace Hardware is a chain, but the business is owned by the Steadman's; they decided to go with Ace rather than Coast to Coast for the the availability of goods, name recognition, ad campaigns, etc. But they still own the business.

We could all buy our groceries at Great Grains on 11/19 (though I haven't figured out the significance of that date?). We can bank at THREE financial institutions- Community First Credit Union, Miles City Credit Union, or Stockman Bank. We can eat at the 600 Cafe, Hole in the Wall, Boardwalk, 519, Geri's, Stagecoach Station, Gallagher's- and others I can't recall right now. We have a few locally owned clothing options- Miles City Saddlery, Burlap & Lace, Discovery Pond (kids-wear). Books from Miles City Books & News, Discovery Pond.

We're talking about one day here, not the rest of the year. The goal is to keep the money local and let it turn over a few times before it leaves town. I think we can do it.

Reynolds is a Montana owned store and always has been unless there has been a recent change. At one time they had stores in most towns of any significance in Eastern Montana. They have been in Miles City as long as I can remember and that is one heck of a while. I think that makes them about as close as you can get to local business status. While you're down at Great Grains doing your grocery shopping, be sure you buy some of those alfalfa tasting crackers. My daughter's horses loved them.

My store is locally owned (by me), but because of a major parking problem on the street where my shop is located you can't get to me. At least drive by and wave. I'll know you care.