Somerville Neighborhood News, a community service production of SCATV, brings you the latest Somerville headlines. One featured story is: City Offers East Somerville Business Boost.

After piloting the Small Business Technical Assistance Program in Union Square, Magoun Square, and Winter Hill last year, the City is implementing the program in East Somerville this year.

“Usually businesses have great ideas for how they want to improve their business but they don’t have time to implement them because they are so tied up in the day to day running of the business. And this program brings in someone who is able to provide them the support they need to think through what the changes they want to make to the business are, “ explained Ben Sommer, the Economic Development Assistant for the City of Somerville.

This program aims to support businesses that are already open, but can use some help developing a more professional approach to their retail shop, service or restaurant.  Owners can be hesitant to admit they need help.

East Somerville Main Street Executive Director Teresa Vazquez Dodero knows local business owners and understands their concerns. “By taking part in this program you need to open up about your business practices, and perhaps admit that you are not doing so well,” Vazquez Dodero told SNN, “Your business is almost like family and I’m almost like a friend of the family when I come along. It’s one thing to have someone from the city that you don’t know but it’s a different one to have someone that you trust who tells you about this program.”

For this full story and others, visit the website at www.somervilleneighborhoodnews.org.