Participants are
provided with a step-by-step guide, which can be found on the
non-profit organization's website – www.10percentshift.org.

There,
individuals will discover the reasons why the program is beneficial and
Somerville residents' participation is imperative. "The local
calculator and the household budget are broken into twenty different
categories," said Grafton. By using those tools, each participant will
discover, in which parts of his or her annual spending, reallocation to
local independents could ultimately occur.

"They would
ultimately be given an opportunity to sign a pledge saying, 'I'm going
to do an inventory of my purchasing, and find a way to shift 10
percent,'" he said. Therefore, "What we're going to be doing is working
on a very social networking level in the community."

Interested
individuals may pledge by logging onto the website. However, it is
mandatory for residents to sign it, in order for them to truly
participate.

"The pledge is just a way for people to publicly
acknowledge, or privately acknowledge that they are going to make the
shift," said Grafton. Further, "We're not tracking people's spending.
It's personal responsibility. We're trying to give people the message,
and the tools to go out and change their behavior."

If an
individual would like to sign the pledge, the information, which is
required includes: his or her first and last name, zip code, city,
state, and e-mail address. The organization will not be holding any
pledge drives. Therefore, online sign up is the only option.

Events
will be held to promote the 10% Shift. "Everything that we're going to
be doing this year is going to have to something to do with the 10%
Shift because really, this program is just, sort of like the
manifestation of our message," said Grafton.

On April 23, one
such event will be held at Bread & Company, a new local restaurant,
which is located in the Winter Hill section of the city. A few artists,
as well as live music, will add to the occasion. In addition, Dave's
Fresh Pasta of Holland Street will be celebrating its opening on April
16, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

In the relatively near future, SLF
is planning to launch in Boston, and the Greater Boston area, according
to Grafton. Although the details have not been finalized, he foresees
that the Boston launch of the 10% Shift will probably be a press
conference.

The initiative will pump money back into the local
economy in Somerville. Grafton does not yet "have an exact figure," but
he anticipates a great result because of the implementation of the 10%
Shift.

The program began in October 2008. It was formulated by
The New England Local Business Forum, (NELBF) a group of approximately
15 to 20 networks, such as Somerville Local First. To attempt to remedy
the current financial fiasco, which is gripping New England, as well as
the rest of the country, the NELBF discussed possible options to "and
restore the economic crisis" on a local level.

"Within 100
days, we launched the program. It was really a completely volunteer
effort." To date, approximately 13 or 14 companies throughout New
England are involved," said Grafton.

Local franchises were not
included in the program. Instead, businesses must be locally-owned and
independent, for that is the definition of "local independents."

He
feels that if chains were included, it would not be more beneficial for
the City of Somerville. "The reason why is a vigorous financial return
for the community. We're not saying that any business is bad, it's just
that we're saying that the businesses that we're talking about, local
independents are better."

On a daily basis Grafton has begun
to spend more money in Somerville. "Since I am the one telling everyone
to shop locally, I have to be extra vigilant. I have done my best to
look for more ways to shift." Grafton even transferred his bank account
to a Somerville bank. "When we launched, I did a project, where I tried
to spend 100 percent of my money at locally-owned businesses in
Somerville."

Most Somerville residents will support the Shift,
according to him. "The more we have a chance to have a dialogue with
folks and the community, the more people are going to be supportive.
People, generally, in their mind, believe that locally-owned,
independent businesses are better," he said.

Besides helping
local businesses, Grafton believes that other gains — those, which
are not monetary in nature, will arise. "The more local we are in the
way that we shop, the greener we are. We're reducing carbon
footprints."

According to Grafton, SLF has predicted that the
program will spread to different regions of the country. In fact, that
has already begun to happen. "We are currently working with four
organizations — ironically all from red states," he said. Idaho,
Utah, Arizona, and South Carolina comprise a portion of those states,
which have implemented such initiatives, in various communities, which
promote the 10% Shift.

So far, how has the 10% Shift worked for
businesses? "At this point I'd say it's much too early to say. This
type of change is one that's not going to happen overnight," said Jon
O' Toole, Co-Owner of GRAND, which is located in Union Square. He is
also the Co-Chair of Somerville Local First. However, "Ask me a year
from now and then I'll have more data." Although, "I will say,
anecdotally, I do hear things like 'I like shopping at local shops'
more from our customers," O' Toole said.