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Saturday, October 26, 2013

NEW ONLINE ‘SOMERVILLE SITEFINDER’ HELPS BUSINESSES FIND A HOME IN SOMERVILLE

One-stop shopping for information on every available commercial property in the city online
SOMERVILLE – As Somerville’s reputation as the Innovation City grows and more start-ups look to the city as a place to call home and grow, the City of Somerville is assisting entrepreneurs and business owners in their search through the new “Somerville SiteFinder” website, created by the City’s Economic Development team through the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development.
The website at www.somervillema.gov/sitefinder is now available to assist businesses with finding the optimal location for their business in Somerville, with one-stop shopping for information on every available commercial property in the city including location, asking price, square footage and a direct link to the listing broker. The Somerville SiteFinder makes it easy for both start-up companies and traditional businesses large and small to locate, price and tap into available spaces for lease in the city, whether they seek multiple floors of prime office space, fabrication space, or a storefront.
“Somerville prides itself on innovation, creativity and originality and companies that hold these values are taking note and moving here—and bringing good jobs with them,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “The commercial real estate market can be difficult to navigate. I’m pleased we can offer this free service to prospective Somerville businesses and make it even easier for them to call the Innovation City home. Somerville has created an environment where businesses can take root and flourish by investing in innovation, infrastructure and education. Today Somerville has 45,000 workers, but only 20,000 jobs. Our 20-year comprehensive SomerVision plan sets forth an ambitious goal of creating 30,000 new jobs by 2030, bringing these numbers into better balance.”
The Somerville SiteFinder is another way that the City has cultivated a business-friendly environment. Aggressive investments in infrastructure have greatly improved both the utilities beneath the ground necessary for industries and residents alike, and created the active, walkable, bikeable and transit-oriented neighborhoods that allow employees to live near where they work. Long-term planning based on the vision set forth in the community-driven SomerVision comprehensive plan is driving redevelopment in neighborhoods that are evolving into regional employment centers with new offices, housing and businesses. This year’s budget represents Somerville’s highest ever investment in our schools, providing more students than ever before with hands-on  experience with cutting edge science and technology, on the heels of Somerville Public Schools’  phenomenal growth in student achievement levels that has exceeded most other school districts. The City’s Jobs Advisory Committee has also set in motion plans for improving workforce readiness by building job and career skills, so that older residents and those with the equivalent of a high school diploma can also compete in the 21st century economy.
“Our Somerville Sitefinder is already paying dividends,” said Edward C. O’Donnell, the City of Somerville’s Director of Economic Development. “Tissuevision, a Cambridge-based company founded by MIT researchers, contacted OSPCD in August regarding their need to relocate and inquired into available spaces in Somerville. The company produces fully automated, high speed equipment used for whole organ imaging, primarily by academic and pharmaceutical research companies. Through the Somerville SiteFinder, we were able to identify space in the Ames Business Park. OSPCD put Tissuevision in touch with Cushman and Wakefield, the leasing agent for the property, and Tissuevision signed a lease to relocate to Somerville on Oct. 11.”

The City’s Economic Development team is available to help businesses bring new opportunities to our city. Those seeking assistance with their search or want to know about additional resources for local businesses should call Stephen Houdlette, Senior Economic Development Planner for OSPCD at 617-625-6600 ext. 2521.

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