Local business advocates to connect residents

By Cathleen Twardzik

A local group is working to connect advocates, organizers and residents for an “economy that is local, green and fair.”

Somerville Local First (SLF) recently launched Somerville Local Luminaries.

SLF’s additional efforts include: publications, events and an online promotion. Moreover, it will serve as “a tool in the toolbox of SLF,” and will further embrace their “mission of a sustainable community and an economy that is local, green and fair,” said Joe Grafton, Executive Director of Somerville Local First.

“As Luminaries amplify our message and participate in dialogue with SLF, we can further be sure that the authentic local movement can and will happen. Luminaries will feel more closely connected to our work, [to] our organization and [to] the movement.  Together, we will take the next key step in the rapidly expanding local movement,” he said.

Luminaries was marketed as the culmination of the blog series: “SLF Year in Review.”  All year, the program will connect SLF staff, its board of directors, business owners and advocates to create a deeper understanding of the hope and potential that would occur because of a local shift in the economy, according to a press release.

In the long run, the organization’s goal is “that sustained improvements in the local business climate will encourage more entrepreneurship,” said Grafton.

If that happens, then, “More local businesses and strong local businesses will help to address a key budget gap in Somerville and increase the commercial tax base [within] the city,” he said.

Interestingly, a recent SLF survey found that the people who were involved in the organization during the past year increased their local purchases by an average of 19 percent.

“Our next major initiative is the publication in January of our 2011 coupon book,” said Grafton.  That was completed, in collaboration with its sister organization, Cambridge Local First and will be sold for $10, apiece.  It will “contain over $1,000 in savings to local independent businesses in Somerville,” as well as in Cambridge.