Family and Locally Owned- GT ads

The Gazette Times will be running ads for many CIBA Members in the upcoming "Family and Locally Owned" feature, which publishes on June 25th. It has been suggested by Tonya of the GT and greatly supported by our CIBA marketing committee that CIBA Members include the CIBA logo in their ads. This should significantly increase the impact of the ads. The GT has the CIBA logo on file, so members only need to contact their ad rep by the middle of next to allow adequate time to add the logo to the ads.


Buy Local First Breakfasts

Our CIBA jointly sponsored ‘Buy Local First’ breakfasts have been a HUGE success!! Attendance in June (298!) was double that of May! There’s one breakfast left, taking place on July 7th. It will again be at the Odd Fellows Hall, 223 SW 2nd Street from 7:30 to 9:30. If you’d like to volunteer to help cook or serve at the breakfasts, call Barbara Ross at 752-3605. If your business can display a poster and/or pass out coupons, call Becky Picton at 760-1059. The cost of breakfast is just $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under. With the $2 off coupon, this is easily the best deal in town! The food will be wonderful, and you'll have a chance to meet other great people who support sustainability. Don't miss out on the fun!


Grant Application Approval

CIBA has been awarded $5500 in grant money, available from the hotel tax economic improvement fund. This money will be mostly directed toward the cost of our CIBA Directory publication due out this fall. Much appreciation to Jack Wolcott, Laurie Zink, and everyone else who helped see this through the difficult process.


CIBA Membership Drive

CIBA is a voluntary cooperative effort of independent local businesses who use education, networking, political advocacy, and citizen involvement to help our community prosper and to contribute to a diverse, healthy, and stable local economy. The goal of the membership drive is to increase membership from the current 80-90 businesses to at least 120-130. CIBA is looking for volunteers to help contact locally owned, independent businesses to educate them on the benefits of CIBA membership. Contact Annette Mills at amills@virginiavillageproductions.com.