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Small Business Development Committee
Members (Term Expiration Date)
- Raul Fernandez, Chair (8/31/2021)
- Elias Audy (8/31/2022)
- Tracy Chen (8/31/2025)
- Raj Dhanda (8/31/2023)
- David Gladstone (8/31/2024)
- Talia Glass (8/31/2022)
- Melissa Tapper Goldman (8/31/2023)
- David Leschinsky (8/31/2022)
- Jenn Mason (8/31/2024)
- Anne Meyers (8/31/2023)
- Debbie G. Miller (8/31/2021)
- Caitlin Starr, Office of Diversity Inclusion & Community Relations (DICR) Liaison
- Colleen Suhanoksy (8/31/2024)
- Debbie Raisner Thompson (8/31/2021)
- LeRoy Watkins (8/31/2025)
- Andrew Wiener (8/31/2025)
Mission
The Small Business Development Committee will study and recommend methods (including funding requests and sources) to the Select Board to incubate, launch, recruit, and sustain small businesses in Brookline. Special attention will be paid to minority, women, veteran, service-disabled veteran, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and disability-owned businesses.
The committee will explore potential solutions to rising rents, regulatory restrictions, parking access, commercial displacement, and other headwinds facing small businesses.
The committee will consider the viability and recommend potential tools including business improvement districts, small business incubators, pop-up shops, co-working spaces, parklets, outdoor seating, galleries, public markets, and other options, as well as the role of the arts and special events in contributing to thriving businesses and communities.
The committee shall have no more than 15 members appointed to staggered 3-year terms and shall include residents, a representative of the Chamber of Commerce and/or local business associations, small business owners, commercial property owners, and members with expertise in public art programming and small business assistance. The Committee will be staffed by the Economic Development & Long-Term Planning Division.
The Small Business Development Committee meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 9-10:30am unless otherwise noted:
- March 9, 2021
- April 13, 2021
- May 11, 2021
- June 8, 2021
- July 13, 2021
- August 10, 2021
- September 14, 2021
- October 12, 2021
- November 9, 2021
- December 14, 2021
SBDC Subcommittees
| Subcommittee Focus Area | Subcommittee Members | Upcoming Meetings |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Areas Experience | Melissa Tapper Goldman, Chair Elias AudyDavid Leschinsky Debbie Miller Debbie Raisner Thompson |
TBA |
| Regulatory | Raj Dhanda Talia Glass Anne Meyers |
TBA |
| Women and POC-Owned Businesses | Raul Fernandez Caitlin Starr (DICR staff liaison) |
TBA |
Coming soon!
Reference Materials
Small Business Development Committee members will be sharing any important reference materials (reports, articles, etc.) that they come across in their exploration of issues and challenges facing Brookline’s small business community, as well as potential tools and solutions to address those problems, here:
- Town of Brookline Documents:
- Town Meeting Handbook
- Perspectives and Opportunities for Brookline’s Commercial Areas prepared by Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) - March 2018
- Coolidge Corner Intercept Survey (2014)
- 2018 Storefront Survey - July 2019 Presentation to Select Board
- 2019 Storefront Survey
- 2020 Storefront Survey and COVID-era Business Support Initiatives (December 2020)
- Town of Brookline Programs and Resources:
- Documents from other municipalities:
-
Meredith L. Mooney
Economic Development & Long-Term PlannerPhone: 617-264-6478