Boston: Mayor Michelle Wu Celebrates Small Business Month

Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Small Business announced Small Business Month, an annual opportunity to highlight local businesses shaping our neighborhoods and the vast economic support system surrounding them. Throughout May, the City and partners will host a slate of events, resources, and curated social media content grounded in the theme "Exploring Possibilities. Creating Opportunities." The City of Boston is home to over 18,000 small businesses that employ 127,000 people and generate close to $28 billion each year.

"Small businesses are the backbone of Boston's neighborhoods, creating jobs, connecting communities, and powering our local economy," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "The City is proud to continue supporting entrepreneurs at every stage and ensuring Boston remains a place where small businesses can thrive."

Through the Office of Small Business, the City seeks to provide support to business owners to enhance their economic impact on our communities. Since 2022, the City has provided over 11,608 hours of one-on-one Technical Assistance for over 530 businesses; funding over 70 storefront signage and facade renovation projects; and streamlining the process and reducing financial barriers for participation in the annual Outdoor Dining program.

Next month, the Office of Small Business will celebrate its impact on supporting businesses throughout the city. The Office has outlined its accomplishments in a report entitled "Standing on Business: The Office of Small Business 2025 Year in Review." Highlights from the report include 178 businesses participating in the 2025 Outdoor Dining program, 96 businesses opening or expanding within the Main Street districts, and designating 30 longstanding small businesses as Legacy Businesses.

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One new feature this year is a small business BINGO card, encouraging residents to shop local and small, to learn more about our office, and local businesses in our neighborhoods. Once residents have achieved BINGO, they can enter into a drawing for a prize by contacting smallbiz@boston.gov.

During Small Business Month, the Office of Small Business will launch the BizUnlocked Boston pilot program. BizUnlocked Boston is a business access program that connects small business owners to the resources, expertise, and relationships they need to build lasting businesses that create jobs, stability, and sustainability in our local communities, and unlock their full potential from the start. The program, orchestrated and led by the City of Boston's Office of Small Business and Tessi Consulting, blends collaborative in-person workshops, interactive virtual sessions, and group technical assistance with small business experts.

"We're grateful to the Office of Small Business for the support they've provided my family as we work to stabilize and grow our business," said Uche Egesionu, Owner of Kornfield Pharmacy in Roxbury. "We've received assistance from multiple staff members, including support through a funded Technical Assistance project. I'm encouraged that Small Business Month will continue bringing valuable resources to businesses like ours."

Throughout Small Business Month, events will celebrate and support the small business ecosystem across Boston. All City-led programming is posted on the Small Business Month webpage.

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"During the month of May, we celebrate Boston's small businesses, their local impact, and the strong business support ecosystem," said Aliesha Porcena, Director of Small Business for the City of Boston. "We are committed to exploring possibilities and creating opportunities through support, educational programming, networking, and more. The work of supporting businesses never ends. In my office, we work year-round to ensure businesses are connected with vital resources. This month is just a sample of what's possible. Together, we're making sure businesses thrive in this city."

In addition to the events spearheaded by the City, Small Business Month will also feature 20  events funded by the Small Business Month Activation Grant Program, a grant opportunity for community-led activations. The Office of Small Business awarded organizations up to $9,500 for events that provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to grow, thrive, or celebrate success.

"We are honored to be among the 20 proposals selected and are eager to contribute to the energy and growth of Boston's entrepreneurial ecosystem this May," said Bobby Boyd, Executive Director of The Record Co. "This support is vital to our mission, and we are ready to get to work."

The selected recipients of the Small Business Month Activation Grant Program submitted proposals that demonstrated a knowledge of Boston's multifaceted small business community and proposed innovative activations in education, retail opportunities, and platforms for collaboration. Throughout the month, the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion will also share information about Small Business programs, connecting entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance to successfully start, grow, and build their business in Boston.

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