somerville local first

What somerville local first does

Somerville Local First (SLF) is a community-based nonprofit organization founded in March 2008 in Somerville, Massachusetts, that promotes and supports locally owned and independent businesses through campaigns, events, and member services. Its primary constituents are privately held, locally operated SMBs in Somerville, along with local artists, nonprofit organizations, and community members. The organization runs an integrated suite of programs: an online member directory, Shift & Save discount coupons, an annual printed Local's Guide to Somerville magazine distributed in 10,000 copies, a $10 annual coupon book containing approximately 100 coupons valued at roughly $1,000 (produced jointly with Cambridge Local First as 'Where The Locals Go'), signature events Harvest Fest and SomerFun, and campaigns including Shift Your Shopping, the 10% Shift, Move Your Money, and Plaid Friday. A location-based mobile coupon application for iPhone and Android was piloted as a real-time offer channel for members.

The organization's revenue is generated through a combination of tiered membership dues (artist membership is publicly disclosed at $15/year), coupon book and Shift & Save coupon sales, Harvest Fest ticket sales and sponsorships, and featured sponsor placements such as CPCU Credit Union. SLF operates as part of the broader Independent Business Alliance / Local First network, coordinating with sister organizations across New England through the New England Local Business Forum (NELBF), and participates in national campaigns like the 10% Shift developed by LocalFirst. The organization's technology footprint is modest: a website maintained by web developer Truly Good, an online directory, a web-based Shift Your Shopping guide, social media channels (Facebook, Twitter), and a pilot mobile deals application. Leadership is lean, with Joe Grafton serving as Executive Director and Laury Hammel identified as a founder and board member. The organization has stated it has received no significant grant funding and operates with constrained resources.

Name

somerville local first

Legal name

Somerville Local First

Website

https://somervillelocalfirst.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Somerville Local First is a community-based nonprofit founded in 2008 that promotes locally owned independent businesses in Somerville, Massachusetts through membership programs, campaigns (10% Shift, Shift Your Shopping, Move Your Money, Plaid Friday), signature events (Harvest Fest, SomerFun), and member services including a directory, coupon book, and mobile deals app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Economic Development

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Local business advocacy
• Community economic development
• Independent business network
• Buy local campaigns
• Community events programming

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: SLF offers tiered membership for businesses ($X annual fee), artists ($15/year), nonprofits, and community members. Membership provides directory listings, promotional opportunities, and access to member benefits.
2. Coupon Book Sales: Sale of 'Where The Locals Go' coupon books containing approximately 100 coupons valued at approximately $1,000, sold for $10 each. Collaboration with Cambridge Local First.
3. Shift & Save Coupons: Sale of discount coupons from SLF members that provide savings to consumers while generating capital for the SLF organization
4. Event Fundraising: Harvest Fest annual fall fundraiser featuring beer, wine, music, art, fashion, and food. Revenue generated through ticket sales and sponsorships.
5. Featured Sponsorships: Featured sponsor placements on website and promotional materials, such as CPCU Credit Union sponsorship

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Somerville Local First is a community-based nonprofit organization that supports locally owned and independent businesses in Somerville, Massachusetts through membership programs, consumer-facing campaigns (10% Shift, Shift Your Shopping, Move Your Money, Plaid Friday), an online member directory, coupon programs, a printed annual magazine, and signature community events such as Harvest Fest and SomerFun.

Product overview

Somerville Local First is a community-based nonprofit organization that operates a network supporting locally owned and independent businesses in Somerville, Massachusetts. The organization functions as a platform connecting consumers with local merchants through multiple integrated programs including a member directory, coupon offerings (Shift & Save), annual publications (Local's Guide magazine and coupon book), and campaigns promoting local spending (10% Shift, Shift Your Shopping, Move Your Money). The organization also runs signature events (Harvest Fest and SomerFun) and is piloting a mobile location-based coupon application. Rather than a single software product, SLF offers a suite of programs and services that work together to drive awareness and economic support for local independent businesses, nonprofits, and artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 10% Shift: Campaign to strengthen local economies by convincing individuals, businesses and organizations to shift 10% of their spending from non-local businesses to local independents.
• Shift Your Shopping
• Move Your Money
• Plaid Friday

Products and services

• Member Directory
• Shift & Save Coupons
• A Local's Guide to Somerville
• Where The Locals Go Coupon Book
• 10% Shift Campaign
• Shift Your Shopping Campaign
• Move Your Money Campaign
• Plaid Friday
• Harvest Fest
• SomerFun
• Mobile Deals Application
• SLF Blog

Quantifiable outcome

• A 10% shift from non-local to local purchasing in Grand Rapids created 1,600 new jobs, $53 million in new wages, and $137 million in new economic activity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core partner, key partner, regional partner and minor partner.

• Cambridge Local Firstcore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization collaboration on 'Where The Locals Go' coupon book production in January 2011. Both organizations collaborated to produce a joint coupon book demonstrating that buying local is important regardless of city borders. The book serves as a key fundraising tool for both SLF and CLF.
• Street Attackkey partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBoston-based alternative and digital marketing agency that produced the 'Why Local Works' video series about The Local Movement, SLF, and its members pro bono. Mykim Dang served as host and producer. This demonstrates community support for SLF's mission.
• Taza Chocolatekey partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chocolate maker that partnered with SLF to support member Hub Comics through a promotional campaign offering factory tours and $25 gift certificates. Demonstrates local businesses supporting each other within the SLF network.
• New England Local Business Forum (NELBF)core partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional organization formed in fall 2008 that adopted the 10% Shift as a key campaign. NELBF coordinates efforts across multiple Local First networks in New England, enabling collaborative campaigns like Plaid Friday.
• Seacoast Localregional partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister Local First organization in Portsmouth, NH. Contributed to spreading Plaid Friday concept to New England through regional gathering of networks.
• Worcester Local Firstregional partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal First network in Worcester, MA (New England's 2nd largest city) that announced their Move Your Money Campaign, demonstrating regional expansion of the local movement.
• Sustainable Business Network of Great Bostonkey partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented The Boston Local Food Festival which exceeded expectations with at least 10,000 attendees. Laury Hammel serves as Executive Director of SBN and is involved in SLF initiatives.
• 10% Shift Campaigncore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational campaign created by LocalFirst based on Civic Economics Grand Rapids study. SLF serves as regional coordinator for this initiative aimed at strengthening local economies by shifting 10% of spending to local independents.
• Shift Your Shoppingkey partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerWeb platform (shiftyourshopping.org) providing comprehensive guide to local businesses in Somerville and Cambridge areas. Integrated into SLF holiday campaigns.
• Michelle Alfordminor partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer writer, editor, and marketer who created promotional videos for Plaid Friday campaign, demonstrating community creative support.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cambridge Local First: Sister Local First organization serving neighboring Cambridge, MA. Co-produces the 'Where The Locals Go' coupon book with SLF and operates the same community-led, membership-based model promoting independent businesses.
• American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) / Independent We Stand: The national umbrella movement behind the 130+ Local First networks. AMIBA coordinates the broader buy-local ecosystem of which SLF is a chapter, providing shared research, campaign templates, and the 10% Shift framework.
• Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston: Regional sister organization that produces the Boston Local Food Festival (10,000+ attendees) and shares SLF's mission of supporting local, sustainable, and independent businesses in Greater Boston. Laury Hammel is a shared leader across both organizations.
• Worcester Local First: Local First network serving Worcester, MA — New England's second-largest city. Operates the same membership-and-campaign model (including its own Move Your Money Campaign) as SLF and participates in regional Plaid Friday coordination.
• Seacoast Local: Local First organization serving the Portsmouth, NH / Seacoast region. Sister network that has collaborated with SLF on Plaid Friday and other regional Shift campaigns through the New England Local Business Forum.
• Local First Arizona: One of the largest and most established Local First networks in the U.S. Operates a comparable membership, directory, and campaign model promoting Arizona-based independent businesses.

Broad incumbents

• Main Street America: National nonprofit focused on downtown and neighborhood commercial district revitalization. Operates a broader, more established economic-development framework that overlaps with SLF's localism mission but is structured around district-designation programs rather than member-based campaigns.
• Chamber of Commerce (Somerville): Traditional business association serving the same Somerville business community. Provides networking, advocacy, and visibility for local employers — broader and more transactional than SLF's community-led, cause-driven model.

Regional players

• Boston Local First / Local First Boston: Local First chapter focused specifically on the city of Boston, working alongside SLF and the Sustainable Business Network to promote Boston-based independent businesses through campaigns and directories.

Others

• 1% for the Planet: Adjacent mission-driven network connecting businesses and consumers around local/community/environmental causes. Compares thematically to SLF as a nonprofit membership network monetizing cause-driven consumer behavior, though focused on environmental giving rather than local purchasing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/svillelocal1st
• Facebookfacebook.com/SomervilleLocalFirst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/somerville-local-first

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 somerville local first