Project: Pop-Up Medford
A Retail Incubator Program
Program Summary
Project: Pop-up Medford is an assistance program that provides eligible business owners with a short-term, subsidized retail storefront in Medford. The program aims to support business owners as they test operating a retail storefront, try new products, collaborate with other business owners, and grow their customer base in a lower-risk setting compared to traditional retail. The program will support microenterprises – businesses with 5 or fewer full-time employees, including owners.
Project: Pop-up Medford typically activates one storefront as a retail incubator for up to three (3) months with up to three (3) participating microenterprise business owners.
The City of Medford partnered with a strategic business consulting firm, UpNext, to host two (2) retail pop-ups in Medford storefronts and ran from June to July 2025 and November 2025 to January 2026. Through Project: Pop-Up Medford, UpNext developed and implemented a comprehensive program to activate 68 Hight Street in Medford Square and 348 Boston Avenue near Tufts University as pop-up retail incubators, for use by eligible microenterprises. We thank the program participants for activating storefronts in Medford!
This assistance program is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The program is subject to the availability of CDBG funding from HUD and to the continued eligibility of the City to receive such funds. Review and acceptance of applicants will be subject to applicable HUD regulations.
Round 1: June to July 2025
Three Medford residents participated in the first round of Project: Pop-Up Medford from June through July 15, 2025. The businesses were blob.says.hello (jewelry designer), Bithiah’s Art (artist-illustrator), and Sunny Side Up Studio (photographer). These entrepreneurs piloted their products at 68 High Street in Medford Square.
Round 2: November 2025 to February 2026
Three Medford residents were selected to participate in the second round of Project: Pop-Up Medford from November 2025 through February 2026. The businesses were Elephant in the Room (person and dog apparel brand), Rita Collage (collage art), and Alix Fuerst Portraits (pet portraits). These entrepreneurs piloted their products at 348 Boston Avenue near Tufts University.
Program Benefits
Participants of Project: Pop-Up Medford will have access to the following:
Physical Space & Resources
Turnkey retail space at in a Medford Storefront
Fully paid rent and utilities, including Wi-Fi
Flexible fixtures, furniture for set-up, and signage
Retail set-up for a maximum of three-months
A shared store space with multiple entrepreneurs
The Pop-Up Playbook—an online course for how to run a great pop-up shop
Pop-in Strategy—a mini-course on increasing revenue & offsetting rent costs
Retail marketing foundations and a social media launch calendar
Stipend to support business activities, like staffing, operations, marketing, compensation, etc.
Eligibility
For full details on Project: Pop-Up Medford, please click below to read the guidelines:
Interested applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Microenterprise: An Applicant’s business must have 5 or fewer Full Time Equivalent employees, including the owner(s).
- Residency: The owner of the Applicant business must be a Medford resident.
- Income Restriction: The total family income of all family members of the Applicant residing in their household (including all persons aged 18 and over) must be equal to or less 80% Area Median Income for Medford. Applicants will be asked to provide documentation on the total income for their household including, but not limited to, tax returns, pay stubs, etc.
Applications
We are not currently accepting applications. If you are interested and think you meet the eligibility criteria, we encourage you to register your interest. You’ll be alerted when applications go live.