Somerville seeks small business boost

By Danielle Dreilinger, Globe correspondent

That Assembly Square Ikea might have to pay a couple dollars more to open in Somerville, if some advocates have their way.

Following an April 5 discussion at the aldermen's Housing and Community Development Committee, chairman Rebekah Gewirtz wants the city's legal team to rule on the feasibility of requiring new "big-box" stores to contribute to a fund supporting locally owned businesses.

Independent businesses are particularly vulnerable in hard times, Gewirtz said in an interview, because of their limited access to capital. When they fail, "the quality of life in communities is greatly diminished," she said. "Imagine Davis Square replaced by a Wal-Mart."

Joe Grafton, executive director of Somerville Local First, said in an e-mail indies have strong support in Somerville,but "more can still be done." Along with creating the fund, he wanted the city to find ways to prioritize local businesses in purchasing procedures, and to "investigate policy changes that help land owners/property managers fill open spaces with local and independent businesses."

According to a September 2009 fact sheet from the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, "Somerville is a City of small businesses," with over 80 percent employing fewer than 10 people. Those businesses collectively "account for only 24 percent of total employment in the city."

More recent data on how the recession has hit the city is not available, city director of economic development Rob May wrote in an e-mail. However, Gewirtz said, the department shared a survey it will start distributing to local businesses - both independents and chains - in June.