Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion

Nominate your favorite business for a Legacy Business Award! Businesses must have operated in the City of Boston for at least 10 years in order to qualify. Submit your nomination: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... Learn more about the Legacy Business Program: boston.gov/legacy

Interim Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Donald Wright spoke with WBUR about Boston’s buzzy new coffee shops, noting that nearly 40 new storefronts selling coffee have opened up in Boston since 2025. https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/09/25/boston-coffee-scene-growth-blank-street-cafes

Open Streets Boston returns to Allston-Brighton on Sunday, October 4 from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm and will take place from Brighton Ave. and Harvard Ave. between Cambridge St. and Commonwealth Ave. Discover more about Open Streets Boston at boston.gov/open-streets

On Sunday, October 4, Open Streets Boston returns to Allston-Brighton! Don’t miss this community event filled with plenty of FREE activities for everyone to enjoy. Learn more at boston.gov/open-streets.

The Legacy Business Program is now accepting nominations for the fifth annual Legacy Business Awards! To be eligible, businesses must have been in business in Boston for at least 10 years. Learn more about the program and nominate your favorite business at boston.gov/legacy

Open Streets Boston returns to Allston-Brighton two weeks from today! 📅 Sunday, October 4 🕙 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM 📍 Brighton Ave. and Harvard Ave. between Cambridge St. and Commonwealth Ave Discover more about Open Streets Boston at boston.gov/open-streets

Join the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement and the Office of Small Business for an Immigrant Entrepreneur Resource Fair and Panel on 9/18 at the Bruce C. Bolling Building. 🔗 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqkapIM20uE3TYY-RKa5pq7VdxeLzTAOHfEKkijVFXdJ5fjQ/viewform

Open Streets Boston returns to Mattapan this Saturday, September 12 from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm! Blue Hill Avenue between River Street and Babson Street will transform into a car-free pedestrian zone for residents and visitors to enjoy. Learn more at boston.gov/open-streets

Open Streets Boston returns to Mattapan one week from today on Saturday, September 12! Stroll and shop with local businesses and vendors, and explore the many activities along the route celebrating community and culture. Learn more at boston.gov/open-streets

Later this month, the City of Boston's Office of Small Business will host a three-part Restaurant Finance Workshop Series led by Prepshift for Boston restaurant owners. Learn more and register: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_vusMqLMYTheLKORH_9Ld0g#/registration

Open Streets Boston returns to Mattapan two weeks from today! On Saturday, September 12, Blue Hill Avenue between River Street and Babson Street will transform into a car-free pedestrian zone for residents and visitors to enjoy. Learn more: https://www.boston.gov/calendar/open-streets-mattapan-0

The City of Boston wants to hear from you about your experience in Boston this summer! We encourage you to complete our short survey to help us understand how we can improve and to determine what was successful this summer. Complete the survey at boston.gov/summer-feedback

The Donna Summer Disco Party is back on City Hall Plaza one week from today on Friday, August 28! Dance the night away as DJ Vince1 plays Donna Summer’s greatest hits and more from 5 pm to 9 pm. Learn more at boston.gov/donna-summer-disco-party #boston #bostonevents #donnasummer

The City of Boston wants to hear from you about your experience in Boston this summer! We encourage you to complete our short survey to help us understand how we can improve and to determine what was successful this summer. Complete the survey at boston.gov/summer-feedback

Next month, the City of Boston's Office of Small Business will host a three-part Restaurant Finance Workshop Series led by Prepshift for Boston restaurant owners. Learn more and register: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_vusMqLMYTheLKORH_9Ld0g#/registration

Explore Boston's neighborhoods with the City of Boston's Neighborhood Business Guide! Discover vibrant businesses in all of our neighborhoods from restaurants to retail and more. Learn more and view the guide at boston.gov/neighborhood-business-guide #boston #cityofboston #bostonbusiness

The City of Boston is excited to bring you SILK R&B Cookout, taking place tomorrow, Friday, August 14 on City Hall Plaza from 5 pm to 10 pm! This event is free and open to the public! Learn more: boston.gov/summer-dance-series

The hundreds of thousands of revelers in town for the main events of Boston’s summer of tourism have come and gone, and downtown Boston has the numbers to show for it. Read the article: https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2026/08/11/downtown-boston-foot-traffic-post-pandemic-growth.html

The City of Boston wants to hear from you about your experience in Boston this summer! Complete the survey at boston.gov/summer-feedback

Learn the ins and outs of opening a restaurant in Boston with the City of Boston’s Restaurant Guide! View the guide ➡️ boston.gov/restaurants

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the kick off of this year’s Open Streets Boston season in Jamaica Plain on Sunday, August 2! Learn more about Open Streets Boston at boston.gov/open-streets

As we celebrate National Black Business Month, we’re spotlighting the Department of Supplier Diversity’s Black-owned Boston Certified Business Map. https://app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrIjoiOGQwNmQxYzItNWQ0MC00NjNkLWJlMGMtODc4NGVjYjQxYWJmIiwidCI6Ijg1NTI4ODdjLWNiYzMtNGVlNS05ZmQzLWVhMjE3ZTMwMjZmYyJ9

The City of Boston wants to hear from you about your experience in Boston this summer! Complete the survey at boston.gov/summer-feedback

Calling all Boston small business owners! Join the Office of Small Business for their upcoming Summer Contract Series for Small Businesses led by Province Consulting Group. Learn more and register at boston.gov/smallbusiness

Explore Boston's neighborhoods with the City of Boston's Neighborhood Business Guide! Discover vibrant businesses in all of our neighborhoods from restaurants to retail and more. Learn more and view the guide at boston.gov/neighborhood-business-guide #boston #cityofboston #bostonbusiness

City streets transformed into pedestrian-friendly boulevards where communities and visitors can come together for a day of fun. That’s the power of Open Streets Boston, and you can be a part of it in Jamaica Plain this Sunday, August 2. Learn more at boston.gov/open-streets

The City of Boston wants to hear from you about your experience in Boston this summer! Complete the survey at boston.gov/summer-feedback

Calling all Boston small business owners! Join the Office of Small Business for their upcoming Summer Contract Series for Small Businesses led by Province Consulting Group. Learn more and register at boston.gov/smallbusiness

Tomorrow is the final day to enjoy the City's Social Districts this summer! View and follow guidelines to enjoy the Districts, support local businesses, and help keep the areas clean and safe at boston.gov/social-district-guidelines

Open Streets Boston events offer a wide variety of FREE activities for everyone to enjoy throughout the day. Join us for this year’s event in Jamaica Plain on Sunday, August 2. Learn more at boston.gov/open-streets #boston #openstreets #openstreetsboston #streetsareforpeople #jamaicaplain

Safely enjoy Downtown Boston’s Social Districts this summer through July 31! View and follow guidelines to enjoy the Districts, support local businesses, and help keep the areas clean and safe at boston.gov/social-district-guidelines

Boston, get ready for Open Streets! This summer and fall, Open Streets Boston will return to Allston-Brighton, Jamaica Plain, and Mattapan and take place for the first time in Roslindale. Learn more at boston.gov/open-streets

From packed bars to surging short-term rental prices to record transit ridership, early data suggests Boston’s run as a FIFA World Cup host city delivered a meaningful boost to the city’s economy. 🔗 https://www.boston.com/news/world-cup/2026/07/20/boston-world-cup-economic-impact/

Calling all Boston small business owners! Join the Office of Small Business for their upcoming Summer Contract Series for Small Businesses led by Province Consulting Group. Learn more and register at boston.gov/smallbusiness

Boston bars and restaurants still have the opportunity to apply to extend their hours through the end of the month. Learn more and apply at boston.gov/3am-extension.

Explore Boston with the City of Boston's Neighborhood Business Guide! 🔗 https://www.boston.gov/departments/small-business-development/neighborhood-business-guide

Proposals for a consultant to assist the City of Boston in designing and conducting a comprehensive Disparity Study are due Friday, July 30 at 12 PM. Access this RFP and related documents on the City of Boston’s Supplier Portal via procurement.boston.gov (Event ID: EV00017483).

Safely enjoy Downtown Boston’s Social Districts this summer through July 31! View and follow guidelines to enjoy the Districts, support local businesses, and help keep the areas clean and safe at boston.gov/social-district-guidelines

Watch the FIFA World Cup™ quarterfinals and support Boston’s small businesses! https://www.boston.gov/news/check-out-quarter-finals-and-support-small-businesses

Step into the Hyatt Regency Boston just steps from theaters, restaurants, and nightlife in Downtown Boston and you'll discover Elöre Atelier, Boston's only luxury hat-making studio and boutique founded by Salomé Bissa Kopasz. Watch our latest spotlight on Elöre Atelier: https://youtu.be/iPj7Nlg6RhA

In honor of Boston’s 250th, we’re excited to announce our "Revolutionary Companies” video series spotlighting innovative Boston companies. First up in this series is Ginkgo Bioworks, a biotech company based in Boston’s Seaport. Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/2wcULV1muiI

Explore Boston with the City of Boston's Neighborhood Business Guide! 🔗 https://www.boston.gov/departments/small-business-development/neighborhood-business-guide

Harvard Book Store plans to open a new location in the Historic Yankee Publishing Building at 33 Union Street this fall. Read more from the Boston Business Journal: https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2026/06/15/harvard-bookstore-downtown-boston-expansion.html

Safely enjoy Downtown Boston’s Social Districts this summer through July 31! View and follow guidelines to enjoy the Districts, support local businesses, and help keep the areas clean and safe at boston.gov/social-district-guidelines

Are you a City of Boston licensee currently open until 2 a.m. interested in extending your hours? If so, you can now apply to extend your hours to 3 a.m. during the FIFA World Cup 26™ at boston.gov/3am-extension.

Learn the ins and outs of opening a restaurant in Boston with the City of Boston’s Restaurant Guide! Learn more and view the City of Boston’s Restaurant Guide at boston.gov/restaurants

As of Monday night, the Boston Licensing Board has approved later closing times for 191 Boston businesses during the FIFA World Cup™ through July 31. View all businesses with extended hours from Boston.com: https://www.boston.com/food/restaurants/2026/06/16/boston-bars-hours-world-cup/

Join the City of Boston for an informative panel discussion focused on how your organization can provide jobs to citizens re-entering the workforce at the Mattapan Branch of the Boston Public Library tomorrow at 1 pm. 🔗 Register: boston.gov/re-entry-jobs-panel

Happy #CannabisEmpowermentWeek Boston! Beginning today through June 21, the City of Boston’s Cannabis Industry Development Team will lead a series of interactive, educational, and community-oriented events. View the full schedule and register for all events at boston.gov/cew

Explore Boston with the City of Boston's Neighborhood Business Guide! 🔗 https://www.boston.gov/departments/small-business-development/neighborhood-business-guide