New business alliance partners with FutureHeights in Best of the Heights awards

The recently formed Heights Independent Business Alliance (HIBA) is collaborating with FutureHeights to build a vital Heights economy based on independent, locally owned businesses. Together the organizations seek to prevent proliferation of retail chains and other trends from displacing local entrepreneurs, by uniting area independent businesses, citizens and community organizations.

A launch party for HIBA is scheduled for Oct. 18 in conjunction with FutureHeights' 2010 Best of the Heights Awards Ceremony. The event will be held at Motorcars Toyota, 2950 Mayfield Road, in Cleveland Heights at 6:30 p.m.

"We are very excited about the inception of an independent business alliance in the Heights, and look forward to teaming up on many projects in the future," said Deanna Bremer Fisher, executive director of FutureHeights. "HIBA's goals support FutureHeights' mission to promote a vibrant and sustainable future for the Heights."

A member of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), HIBA unites locally-owned independent businesses, citizens, and community organizations to support the unique culture of the Heights through public education; cooperative promotion, advertising and purchasing; creating a strong and uncompromised voice for one-of-a-kind independent businesses; and engaging citizens in guiding the future of the community.

FutureHeights is a nonprofit organization focused on providing tools to promote positive change through
volunteerism and community activism in Cleveland Heights and University Heights. Its programs include publishing of the Heights Observer and promoting independent merchants through its annual Best of the Heights survey and awards. For several years, the organization's Heights Shops program has educated
consumers on the benefits of shopping locally.

HIBA, a 501 (c) 6 nonprofit organization, is still in its organizational stages. Alex Quintana, who owns Quintana's Barber & Dream Spa with his wife, Dawn, is a cofounder of HIBA. He said he looks forward to bringing together the Heights's many independent storefront and home-based businesses. "There is a wonderful community here in the Heights, and creating a strong partnership among local businesses will do so much to sustain our future. There is strength in numbers."

For more information about opportunities with HIBA, visit www.facebook.com/shoohiba or contact HIBA cofounders Alex Quintana at eaquintana@att.net or Trevor Gile at trevorgile@motorcarshonda.com. For more information about FutureHeights, visit www.futureheights.org.

Megan Johnson is a public relations volunteer for the Heights Independent Business Alliance. Reach her at megan@thekarenfoundation.org.