OSPCD - Economic Development

About

Find a Career Opportunity

The Economic Development Division implements initiatives related to Workforce and Talent Development, including specific programs like BuildCorps, policies like the jobs linkage fee, and strategic work like the Workforce Development Strategic Plan.

Our goals are to make Somerville a regional employment center with a mix of diverse and high-quality jobs, support a business-friendly environment to attract and retain a diverse mix of businesses, and invest in the talents, skills, and education of people to support growth and provide opportunities to residents of all social and economic levels.
 

• Create more job opportunities in Somerville.
• Somervile to be a place where residents can find jobs locally (local hire emphasis).
• All residents to benefit from diverse employment opportunities.
• Invest in talent, skills and education of residents.
• The division identifies industry trends and works with a diverse-mix of businesses to ensure good-quality jobs that offer opportunities to residents of all backgrounds and experience-levels.
• Workforce Development’s goal is to create more job opportunities in Somerville, where residents can walk, bike, or take local public transportation to work.

Get Support for your Small Business

The Economic Development Division provides numerous resources to Somerville-based businesses. These include Assistance for Businesses–namely, Small Business Support program, and technical assistance events–as well as targeted support for businesses working in the Innovation Economy.

Anyone doing business in Somerville will work with a variety of City departments, but we try to make the process as streamlined and easy-to-understand as possible. For more information about doing business in the City, click here.
 

Neighborhood Development

Economic Development manages a variety of services to support neighborhood improvements. The Division coordinates with other City divisions to implement the City’s various Neighborhood Plans and Master Planned Developments, and supports the Somerville Redevelopment Authority in identifying potential areas for redevelopment. The Division also spearheads work to develop policies to minimize commercial displacement from redevelopment, and negotiates covenants with private developers to help deliver vital infrastructure and community benefits. 

As part of this work, the Division manages real estate-related functions for OSPCD, including property searches, appraisals, brownfield remediation, and the disposition of City-owned parcels. 
 

Workforce Development

Our goals are to make Somerville a regional employment center with a mix of diverse and high-quality jobs, support a business-friendly environment to attract and retain a diverse mix of businesses, and invest in the talents, skills, and education of people to support growth and provide opportunities to residents of all social and economic levels.

Learn More

Business Development

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Attribution

Photo © Mark Gaw 2013 via Flickr

Doing Business in Somerville

Whether you're just getting started, looking to expand your business, improve its appearance, or simply get advice on best practice

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Source

Photo courtesy of Daddy Jones

Assistance for Business

The Economic Development Department works with businesses of all sizes and types to support their growth and success in Somerville.
 

Mitigating Commercial Displacement in Somerville, MA

Commissioned by Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and OSPCD, Mitigating Commercial Displacement in Somerville, MA will inform the City’s long-term planning to continue to help independent local businesses remain in Somerville.