In her old life, Debbie Leavitt was best known for her photographs, which were seen in Rolling Stone, People and Newsweek magazines. Her subjects were Michael Jackson, James Brown, John Travolta and dozens of other celebrities. Leavitt still does freelance photography when she’s not spending time on her other passion: FIBA.

The Flagstaff Independent Business Alliance is a group of locally owned business owners and other citizens. Leavitt, who serves on the board of directors, says the group encourages buying local. “FIBA exists because locally owned businesses need to depend on each other and support each other, especially in these hard economic times,” said Leavitt. “I love my local businesses and restaurants and if you don’t support them they won’t be here in a year from now,” she added.

Cooperative advertising and educational opportunities are some of the benefits of membership, according to the website flagstaffiba.com. Requirements for business members include 51% local ownership and a site location within a 20-mile radius of Flagstaff City Hall. Franchise owners or people who don’t meet the full membership qualifications but still want to support FIBA can join as an associate member or citizen supporter. There is also a category for non profit organizations.

LuAnn Roberts is a Certified Public Accountant and FIBA member. She says she supports local companies because all of her clients are Flagstaff business owners. “I’ll typically buy a gift certificate from someone that’s already my client before I will buy one from someone down the street and certainly before a chain,” said Roberts. A Flagstaff resident for 15 years, she’s a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, who she says also does a good job of encouraging people to support local businesses.

The Flagstaff Independent Business Alliance has regular meetings where members network and gather information. The August meeting featured Kimber Lanning, Director of Local First Arizona. That group promotes a sustainable state economy by promoting locally owned businesses.

Lanning shared results from a recent study conducted in Kent County, Michigan, an area of about 600,000. Residents were encouraged to shift 10 percent of their spending from national sources to local. She says the impact was substantial. “1600 jobs were created and $130 million was added to the local economy in one year,” said Lanning.

Local First Arizona is planning to launch a statewide 10% Shift campaign before the holiday season. Lanning says a community like Flagstaff could see an additional 160 jobs created and $13 million added to the local economy if residents made a 10 percent shift.

Pete Wolff thinks that’s a fantastic idea. His store, Gold Wolff Jewelers, opened 13 years ago but he’s been a Flagstaff businessman since 1983. “The closer we can keep the profits to home the better,” said Wolff. “I’ll even spend my money at a franchise like McDonalds if the owner lives in the community,” he added. Wolff says there’s nothing wrong with national chains but he believes in supporting locally owned businesses whenever possible.

Debbie Leavitt says she shops at chain stores if she can’t find what she needs at a local shop. She says when you buy an item at a local, independently owned business, a much higher percentage of that purchase price stays in the local economy, as opposed to a purchase at a national store.

More information on this business organization can be obtained at 928-527-9989 or debbie@flagstaffiba.com All memberships are half price through the end of the year.