The City of Boston's Department of Supplier Diversity and the Office of Small Business are hosting a panel in honor of Black History Month.

The event will take place on Thursday, February 26th from 10 am - 1 pm and will celebrate and uplift the stories of black-owned businesses in the City of Boston. Business owners will speak on their story, struggles, and experiences working in or contracting with the City.

Attendees will have the opportunity for networking. Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the panel. 

Panelists include:

• Willie Hicks Jr., President and Owner of Hicks Auto Body

• Alex and Johanna Edwards, Co-Founders of Thumbprint Realty

• Shari Betty, Owner of Golden Key Advisors

• Derick Foster, Owner of Chez-Vous Roller Skating Rink

• Christina David, Owner of David & Associates

REGISTER

Join the Housing Innovation Lab, real estate professionals, lenders, and past and prospective co-purchasers for an evening of learning and networking in support of co-purchasing, a way of making homeownership in Boston more affordable. This is an opportunity to learn about co-purchasing resources, hear success stories from those who have co-purchased, and meet other people interested in co-purchasing. 

Join the Office of Small Business for a virtual info session on the Small Business Month Activation Grant.

REGISTER FOR THE 2/11 INFO SESSION

Grant Overview:

In celebration of Small Business Month in May 2026, the Office of Small Business is excited to announce a grant opportunity for business supporting nonprofit organizations to create activations that provide the small business community with the resources, tools, opportunities, or engagement they need to grow, thrive, and celebrate success.

This community-led activation program provides an exciting opportunity to amplify small business support throughout the month, and bring vitality to our neighborhoods. Proposals that will be considered include, but are not limited to: business district events, small business workshops, training sessions, panels/forums, networking, pop-ups, and markets.

• Individual awards of up to $9,500, are available to provide full or partial funding for selected proposals.

• This grant is directed at nonprofits and community organizations with a proven track record of supporting and advocating for small businesses in Boston. Grant recipients must have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. 
• All activations must be free and open to the public, and held within the City of Boston.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR THE ACTIVATION GRANT PROGRAM

The ReStore Boston Program within the Office of Small Business hosts bi-weekly ReStore Office Hours on Mondays from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. If you have any interest in the ReStore Boston program as a business seeking design support services or as a contractor interested in providing services, we encourage you to attend.

​Join Mendoza Impact, Startup Boston, and the City of Boston’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion for a lively networking event celebrating National Entrepreneurship Week!

​This is a space for tech founders, investors, and ecosystem operators to connect in a high-energy setting. Expect engaging conversations with founders at every stage, perspectives from investors and funders actively shaping the market, and opportunities to meet the partners who help companies grow and scale.

​Whether you’re building your first startup, backing the next generation of companies, or supporting entrepreneurs across the ecosystem, this event is about meaningful collaboration. Enjoy drinks and light bites while expanding your network and plugging into the momentum of National Entrepreneurship Week.

​Mendoza Impact is a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to capital and community for underrepresented founders and emerging investors. Born from the philanthropic arm of a long-standing venture firm, Mendoza Impact invests in diverse founders, supports first-time fund managers, and builds tight-knit micro-communities to help innovators grow, thrive, and pay it forward.

​Startup Boston is the front door to the New England startup ecosystem - connecting founders, operators, investors, students and ecosystem builders across Greater Boston and beyond. Through year-round programming, community-driven events and Startup Boston Week, we create spaces where real relationships form and real collaboration happens. Our work is rooted in access, inclusion and building strong pathways into entrepreneurship for people at every stage.

​The City of Boston’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion works to make Boston a global model of economic equity for working people, entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors. The department helps businesses launch, grow, and thrive by fostering local talent and ideas, creating healthy neighborhoods, advancing equitable procurement, and strengthening public-private partnerships, all while building pathways to generational wealth for communities across Boston.

​This is a 21+ event, valid ID required. Please register to see the exact location of this event.

Join the ReStore Boston Program for an info session about design services contract opportunities. This session will highlight the following contract:

The Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI) is soliciting competitive quotes from vendors who can provide graphic design services for existing small business owners located in single-story commercial buildings located in the City of Boston.

Join the ReStore Boston Program for an info session about architectural services contract opportunities. This session will highlight the following contracts:

The Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI) is soliciting competitive quotes from vendors who can provide specifically tailored architectural design services and renderings for the renovation of first floor exterior small business storefronts in historic buildings in the City of Boston.

The Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion (OEOI) is soliciting competitive quotes from vendors who can provide specifically tailored architectural design services and renderings for the renovation of first floor exterior small business storefronts located in the first floor of multi-story mixed use buildings in the City of Boston.