The Keeping Small Strong Neighborhood Open House takes place next Tuesday.

Union Square Main Streets (USMS) invites neighbors, business leaders, community partners, property owners, and lovers of Union Square to a Keeping Small Strong Neighborhood Open House on Tuesday, January 23 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

This choose-your-own adventure style gathering, hosted at Counter Culture at 374 Somerville Avenue, offers a chance to connect with the USMS team to learn more about the economic empowerment nonprofit’s work in the community and to see how the organization is piloting an alternative business model to best support Union Square businesses in this period of recovery and beyond. RSVPs for this free event are encouraged to ensure ongoing connection with project activities.

“This is an exciting opportunity to get neighbors’ feedback on the Keeping Small Strong pilot and talk with folx about the important work that USMS does to support the independent businesses in Union Square. This project is vital to ensuring that work can continue as our neighborhood continues to grow and change” said Jen Palacio, owner of Tiny Turns Paperie and chair of the Keeping Small Strong Steering Committee.

Building on 20 years of service to Somerville and its diverse, small businesses in Union Square, the Keeping Small Strong pilot advances several community-driven USMS strategic plan [4] goals. These include driving action towards a more welcoming, walkable, and small-business-friendly Square through multilingual wayfinding signage; protecting the character of Union Square and building up neighborhood connections to, and support for local businesses and community groups through the Union Square Insider’s Guide; strengthening collaboration with City government and other nonprofits; and developing short- and long-term funding solutions to enable USMS to most impactfully serve its economic empowerment mission during this period of recovery and transformation and beyond.

“Co-creating the expansion of our equitable, place-keeping, partnership-focused programs with the community is critical to upholding our mission and our city’s values,” said Jessica Eshleman, USMS executive director. “Keeping pace with our rapidly-developing district has never been more important to keeping our square uniquely Union and a welcoming place for all.”

This Neighborhood Open House is the next step in a string of community engagement activations for Keeping Small Strong that began in fall 2023 at the Union Square Farmers Market, Fluff Festival, Monster Mash, Small Business Saturday at Bow Market, and the Union Square Holiday Stroll, as well as through monthly Union Square Business Meetings, a Property Owners Breakfast, and Community Partner Outreach Meetings.

Keep an ear out and expect more opportunities to learn about and contribute to the future of Union Square Main Streets through the winter and spring. Funded by an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant through the City of Somerville, the Keeping Small Strong pilot will run through June 30, and conclude with a presentation of pilot results to the community to help refine a permanent, inclusive, and sustainable Business Improvement District proposal, should the pilot prove successful.