Legacy Business Program
About the Program
The purpose of the Legacy Business Program is to recognize that longstanding, community-serving businesses are valuable cultural assets to Cambridge. The City intends the Program be a tool for providing educational and promotional assistance to legacy businesses to encourage their continued viability and success.
For a business to participate in the Program, the business must be nominated by a member of the Cambridge community (e.g. themselves, employee, resident, business association). Nominated businesses will be asked to complete a Legacy Business Certification Form to confirm its eligibility. Forms will be reviewed by the Cambridge Historical Commission and the Community Development Department for completeness.
Business Eligibility
A business or non-profit organization will be determined to be a Legacy Business if it meets the following eligibility benchmarks:
1. The business has operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts for 25 or more years, with no break in Cambridge operations exceeding one (1) year.
2. Business owner completes a certification application that includes the following:
- a description of the business's history and ownership
- how the business maintains its physical features (e.g. its storefront or interior design) and/or traditions that define the business, including craft, services, culinary, or art forms.
Click here to view the fillable PDF version of the Legacy Business Certification Form. If you need this form translated, please contact Tyrone Fells at tfells@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-7223 with your request.
Nominate a Business
Show your support for Cambridge businesses! Help the City identify legacy businesses around Cambridge. Please provide a few sentences on why you are nominating this business and how you feel it contributes to the Cambridge community.
You can nominate more than one business, but only one business per form. Nominations for the Legacy Business Program will be accepted on a rolling basis. Businesses are certified into the Program on a rolling basis and will be celebrated annually during the Legacy Business Luncheon, part of the City’s National Small Business Week celebrations.
Where can I find Legacy Businesses?
Click here for the Legacy Business Story Map.
Need Assistance?
If you need a translated copy of the Registration Form, or have questions while filling it out, please contact Tyrone Fells at tfells@cambridgema.gov by phone at 617/349-7223.
If you need assistance in researching historical images or documents for your business, please contact the Historical Commission at histcomm@cambridgema.gov or call 617/349-4683.