Union Square Main Streets

Name

Union Square Main Streets

Legal name

Union Square Main Streets, Inc.

Website

https://unionsquaremain.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Economic Development

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Buying Clubs & Community Bulk Purchasing Co-ops (CRAHALAE), Community Health & Health Equity/Social Determinants Units (HLAJAAAO)

Keywords

• Community economic development
• Small business assistance
• Farmers market operations
• Food access programs
• Neighborhood revitalization

Headquarters

HQ city

Somerville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Business Membership Dues: Annual tax-deductible membership dues from Union Square-based businesses, scaled by employee count. Tiers range from $100 for nonprofits to $300 for businesses with 21-50 employees.
2. Community Donations and SNAP Match Fundraising: Community supporters donate to support the SNAP Match Program. Good Food For All campaign raises awareness and funds. Since 2005, USMS has raised more than $120,000 to match SNAP dollars.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling Fluff Festival merchandise, Farmers Market posters, commemorative items, apparel, and accessories. Prices range from $4 stickers to $40 sweatshirts.
4. Government and Foundation Grants: ARPA-funded grant from City of Somerville for Keeping Small Strong pilot project (July 2023-September 2024). Additional grants from city offices for food access programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Union Square Main Streets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers technical assistance to more than 200 independently-owned small businesses in Union Square, Somerville, and produces community programming including the Union Square Farmers Market (Saturdays May–October, 60+ vendors), the annual What the Fluff? Festival, the Good Food For All SNAP Match campaign, and the Union Square Jingle holiday stroll. It also administers the SNAP Match Program, providing dollar-for-dollar matching up to $15 per week to food-insecure residents through multilingual facilitators.

Product overview

Union Square Main Streets is a nonprofit economic empowerment organization that operates as a community main streets program. Its core offerings include the Union Square Farmers Market (Saturdays May-October featuring 30+ vendors), the annual What the Fluff? Festival celebrating the local invention of marshmallow Fluff, the Good Food For All SNAP Match campaign, and the Union Square Jingle holiday stroll. Supporting services include a bilingual small business technical assistance program (English/Spanish), an online business directory, the SNAP Match Program (matching SNAP benefits up to $15/week with multilingual facilitators), an All Things Union newsletter (5,000+ subscribers), and a merchandise store. The Keeping Small Strong pilot program explored a Business Improvement District model with multilingual wayfinding and outreach ambassadors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Union Square Farmers Market
• What the Fluff? Festival
• Good Food For All Campaign
• Union Square Jingle (Holiday Stroll)
• Bilingual Small Business Technical Assistance
• SNAP Match Program
• Union Square Business Directory
• Business Membership Program
• USMS Store (Merchandise)

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.6M+ in capital secured for local businesses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Somerville Family DentalminorOthersLocal sponsor for the 9th Annual Good Food For All campaign.
• EversourceminorOthersCorporate sponsor for Good Food For All campaign, supporting food access programming.
• Liberty CannabisminorOthers2026 season sponsor for Union Square Farmers Market.
• City of SomervillecoreOthersPrimary municipal partner providing ARPA-funded grant for Keeping Small Strong pilot (July 2023-September 2024). Office of Food Access and Healthy Communities supports SNAP Match Program. Economic Development Deputy Director serves as Ex Officio Board member.
• Project BreadminorOthersStatewide organization providing resources for SNAP enrollment; referenced as resource for market shoppers needing food access assistance.
• Mass Farmers MarketsminorOthersStatewide farmers market organization providing resources on food assistance programming at Massachusetts markets.
• Block by BlockminorOthersStreet team ambassadors program providing Union Square Ambassadors in yellow shirts during Keeping Small Strong pilot to welcome visitors and provide assistance.
• SomernovaminorOthersSponsor for Union Square Jingle (Holiday Stroll) event.
• The Eight TracksminorOthersPerforming group providing pop-up caroling performances during Union Square Jingle.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Local First Arizona: Arizona-based nonprofit coalition promoting locally owned businesses. Directly comparable mission, membership model, and community-led economic development focus — one of the most mature local-first organizations nationally.
• Mass Farmers Markets: Statewide Massachusetts organization supporting farmers markets and SNAP/HIP food access programming. Direct peer in farmers market operations and food access advocacy — currently a resource partner to USMS.
• Boston Main Streets: Boston's citywide Main Streets program operating neighborhood-based local economic development organizations. Directly comparable operating model (district-based technical assistance, events, small business support) in an adjacent Greater Boston market.
• Cambridge Local First: Independent, locally-grown business alliance in Cambridge, MA. Closely comparable nonprofit 'buy local' mission, neighborhood economic development focus, and Cambridge-adjacent geography.
• Independent We Stand: National grassroots campaign promoting independently owned businesses. Comparable mission of supporting small independent businesses against chain competitors, with similar community-driven programming.

Others

• Project Bread: Massachusetts statewide anti-hunger organization focused on food access and SNAP outreach. Operates in the same food-equity space and is already a resource partner to USMS for SNAP enrollment.

Broad incumbents

• American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA): National umbrella organization supporting independent local business alliances and 'buy local' campaigns across the U.S. Operates as a federation of which local-first organizations like USMS could be considered a member or affiliate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeinstagram.com/unionsqmarket
• Facebookfacebook.com/unionsquaremain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/union-square-main-streets
• Instagraminstagram.com/unionsquarems
• Xx.com/allabout02143

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Union Square Main Streets