We are excited to share the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion October newsletter. Each month, we share news, upcoming events, and important information from our cabinet.

OEOI WELCOMED JUMP4WOMEN, A GROUP OF 20+ WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS FROM BARCELONA

On Wednesday, September 11, the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion met with a group of women entrepreneurs from Barcelona—part of Foment del Treball Nacional’s Jump4Women program—and representatives from WorldBoston.

Jump4Women is a collaboration between Foment del Treball and the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona that aims to give visibility to female talent in strategic sectors such as biotech. The program supports business growth and encourages new business connections within the United States.

The visiting entrepreneurs presented their biotech and healthtech businesses and innovations to the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, leading to interesting discussions focused on the continued collaboration between sister cities Boston and Barcelona.

MAYOR MICHELLE WU, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND INCLUSION, AND BOSTON LICENSING BOARD HOST LIQUOR LICENSE LEGISLATION WEBINAR

On Monday, September 30, 2024, the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion and City of Boston Licensing Board hosted a webinar on the state's recent liquor license legislation.

The webinar began with remarks from Mayor Wu and followed with discussions focused on the liquor license application process, the state's recent liquor license legislation, plans to support small businesses, and a question and answer session.

If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Board at 617-635-4170 or licensingboard@boston.gov. You can also attend the Licensing Board’s virtual Liquor License Application Office Hours every other Wednesday from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Learn more about the application process and register for office hours at boston.gov/alcohol-license-application

NOMINATE AN ICONIC BUSINESS FOR THE LEGACY BUSINESS PROGRAM

The City of Boston Office of Small Business recently launched the nomination period for the third annual Legacy Business Awards. Residents are encouraged to nominate their favorite long-standing business. To be eligible, businesses must have been in business in Boston for at least 10 years. 

This is the third year of the Legacy Business Program. By recognizing and supporting Legacy businesses on an annual basis, the Program helps further Mayor Wu’s vision for a family-friendly, vibrant city with sustainable community businesses.

BUSINESS STRATEGY

FOUND ON CANAL VINTAGE MARKET

October 11 | Canal Street across from the TD Garden | 5 pm to 9 pm

Found Boston and the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion present Found On Canal, a series of pre-concert vintage clothing markets on Canal Street across from the TD Garden, featuring 30 of Boston’s best vintage vendors.

LICENSING

LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION PROCESS WEBINAR

October 15 | Virtual | 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

The Massachusetts Restaurant Association will facilitate this Liquor License Application Process Webinar, which will be co-hosted by regulators from the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) and the City of Boston Licensing Board. The webinar will feature an overview of the liquor license application process from beginning to end. Regulators will also discuss common application pitfalls to avoid, and applicants will be able to ask their questions about the process.

SMALL BUSINESS

SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE FAIR

October 16 | The Great Hall at Codman Square Health Center | 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Join the Office of Small Business for the upcoming Small Business Resource Fair featuring 10+ City of Boston departments readily available to share resources and answer questions related to starting, building, and growing a business in Boston.

This free, drop-in style business fair will provide new and experienced small business owners with the opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and speak directly with city agencies that work with small businesses everyday.

AXIOS

How Boston is preparing business owners for new liquor license apps

Boston has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to award liquor licenses to businesses that have largely been shut out of the process. [READ MORE]

BOSTON.COM

Are Boston's downtown bars and eateries doomed? Turns out maybe not.

With help from the city and some enticing marketing, local businesses say the downtown is still holding its own. [READ MORE]

DORCHESTER REPORTER

Nominee forms available city's Legacy Business awards

The nomination period for the city's third Legacy Business Awards is now open and will be through Friday, Nov.1. [READ MORE]

WBUR

City Boston allocates remaining pandemic relief funds to housing and small business

The city of Boston will invest its remaining $7 million of federal pandemic relief funds in efforts to support affordable housing and small businesses, Mayor Michelle Wu and other city officials announced Monday. [READ MORE]

SERVICES | EVENTS | NEWS | DEPARTMENTS

Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion

1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201

econdev@boston.gov

617-635-5729

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