Thursday, April 30, 2026, 10 a.m. (Boston time), Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201
Hearing on Dockets #0733-0740, FY27 Budget: Economic Opportunity & Inclusion, Supplier Diversity
The Ways & Means Committee, chaired by Councilor Weber, held a budget hearing on docket 0733–0740 covering the FY 2027 operating budgets for the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion and the Department of Supplier Diversity. Interim Chief Don Wright, Small Business Director Alisha, Operations Director Olivia Burrows, and Supplier Diversity Director Andrea Carruth presented on programs including business strategy, nightlife economy, Main Streets, legacy businesses, Restore Boston, inclusive quote contracts, and the SCALE capacity-building program. Councilors questioned a roughly $2.6 million budget cut to the cabinet, the $1 million legacy business grant reduction, the loss of FTEs, M/WBE contracting rates (about 10% of total contracting dollars against a 25% aspirational goal), an upcoming disparity study, nightlife-economy drink-spiking training and unanswered council information requests, and Nubian Square business support. Public testimony included a former EOCI chief supporting restoration of legacy business funding and a disparity study, a Nubian Square resident describing struggling black-owned businesses, a small business owner urging better coordination and accountability, and a policy institute director pressing for data on grant outcomes and business recruitment. No votes were taken; the item remained under discussion, with the chair adjourning the morning hearing.
4:41 I'm.
21:55 Mourning.
21:58 My name is ben Weber.
22:00 I'm the district six city
22:01 councilor and the chair of the
22:02 Boston City Council committee
22:03 on ways and means.
22:06 Today is April 30th, 2026 and
22:08 exact time is 10:22 a.m..
22:10 This hearing is being recorded.
22:12 It's also being live streamed
22:15 at boston.gov/City Council tv
22:17 and broadcast on xfinity
22:19 channel eight or cn channel 82
22:21 and files channel 964.
22:23 The council's budget review
22:25 process will encompass a series
22:27 of hearings which begin in
22:28 April and run through June.
22:29 We strongly encourage residents
22:32 to take a moment to engage in
22:34 this process in one of several
22:34 ways.
22:37 Um uh, first, uh you can view
22:39 our hearing schedule on our
22:41 website at
22:42 boston.com/council-budget.
22:44 You can attend one of our
22:46 hearings uh and provide
22:47 testimony there in person here
22:48 in the chamber or online.
22:52 Uh, if you would like to
22:53 testify in person, please sign
22:55 up at the sign in sheet at the
22:56 door.
22:57 If you want to testify online,
23:04 you can email either the, uh
23:05 sequim@boston.gov that's the
23:08 committee's website or our uh
23:09 director of legislative budget
23:11 analysis chris mitchell on a k
23:16 r ish ma dots and@boston.gov.
23:22 Uh you can um you can also uh
23:24 when you're uh called on to
23:26 testify you'll be called on the
23:26 order of arrival.
23:28 You'll have two minutes uh, to
23:29 give your testimony please
23:31 state your name affiliation
23:33 where you live and uh, again
23:35 please limit your comments to
23:35 two minutes.
23:39 Um, in lieu of testifying you,
23:40 uh, in person or virtually, you
23:42 can submit written testimony to
23:45 the committee at
23:45 sequim@boston.gov.
23:48 Uh, lastly, you can submit a
23:49 two minute video of your
23:50 testimony through the form on
23:52 our website for more
23:53 information on the city
23:55 council budget process and how
23:57 to testify, please visit the
23:59 City Council's budget website
24:02 at boston.com/council-budget.
24:05 Today's uh or this morning's
24:06 hearings uh, hearing is on
24:10 docket numbers 073320740 an
24:12 overview of the fy 27 operating
24:14 budget for the office
24:15 of economic opportunity
24:17 inclusion and the department
24:18 of supplier diversity.
24:20 Uh, this is one of the series
24:21 of hearings will be holding on
24:23 the uh, fiscal year 2027
24:24 budget.
24:25 Uh, these matters were
24:27 sponsored by Mayor michelle wu
24:28 and referred to the committee
24:30 on April 8th, 2026.
24:31 Today I'm joined by my
24:33 colleagues in order of arrival
24:34 councilor Flynn,
24:35 councilor Murphy,
24:36 councilor culpeper,
24:37 councilor Louijeune and
24:38 councilor Durkan.
24:39 We've received a letter
24:40 of absence from
24:41 councilor Santana.
24:42 So at these budget hearings we
24:44 waive, uh, opening statements.
24:46 I'm just going to go to the
24:47 panel we'll introduce now.
24:49 Uh, we're joined by interim
24:50 chief of economic opportunity
24:51 inclusion don wright.
24:54 Uh, director of small business
24:55 alicia persona.
24:59 Uh, director of operations uh
25:02 uh, joe olivia burrows and uh,
25:03 director for the department
25:05 of supplier diversity andrea
25:05 carruth.
25:08 Uh, so I know you have a
25:08 presentation.
25:11 Why don't you go ahead and, uh,
25:13 so the floor is now.
25:14 So I've also we've also been
25:15 joined by councilor brayton.
25:24 Good morning, chair
25:25 councilor Weber and members
25:26 of the committee on ways and
25:27 means.
25:28 It is my pleasure to come
25:30 before you in the capacity
25:32 of interim chief of economic
25:34 opportunity inclusion and thank
25:36 you for the time to discuss our
25:39 of 2027.
25:39 budget for the fiscal year
25:51 Do have clickers that.
25:56 Just turn.
25:59 Uh I.
26:00 Don't I do.
26:02 Uh thank you.
26:03 You can have my copy here.
26:06 Yes.
26:07 Correct.
26:09 Uh, okay.
26:14 Having a little technical
26:14 difficulty you.
26:17 It's okay.
26:23 If you does everyone have
26:23 uh.
26:23 Well I guess.
26:24 Okay.
26:24 Great.
26:25 Okay.
26:28 Yeah I think yeah, I think we
26:32 made up to the staff to print
26:37 out so councilor Flynn we'll.
26:38 Get you will get you on
26:38 customer feedback copy.
26:45 You ready?
26:48 Yeah.
26:52 I proceed.
26:53 Yes.
26:53 Okay.
26:56 Today I am joined by my
26:57 colleagues from the office
26:58 of economic opportunity
27:00 inclusion at least for senior
27:01 director of small business
27:02 andrea correll, director
27:04 of supply diversity and olivia
27:06 barrows, director of operations
27:06 .
27:11 The office of the cabinet
27:12 of economic opportunity
27:14 inclusion is made up of uh four
27:15 departments, two of which we
27:17 will be speaking about today
27:18 and that's the office
27:19 of economic opportunity
27:21 diversity.
27:21 inclusion, the office of supply
27:26 Our vision.
27:32 Is one of resilient, equitable
27:35 ,sustainable and vibrant city
27:37 that centers on people and
27:38 creates opportunities to build
27:40 generational wealth uh, in all
27:41 communities.
27:52 Um, as we understand equity in
27:54 the productive process
27:55 of providing historical
27:56 excluded communities and
27:58 resources that are needed to
27:59 live and thrive in Boston and
28:01 we understand equity to be a
28:04 productive process of providing
28:05 historically excluded
28:05 communities.
28:07 Excuse me repeating the
28:08 resources that they need to
28:09 live and thrive in Boston.
28:12 And while the national
28:13 discourse May be regressing, we
28:15 equity.
28:15 will remain dedicated to
28:16 The principles continue to be
28:18 to serve as the essential
28:20 framework for every program,
28:21 policy and practice.
28:24 Our cabinet implements.
28:28 The mayor's office of economic
28:28 opportunity.
28:31 Inclusion is made up of the
28:32 business strategy unit the
28:34 office of night like the
28:37 economy, economic and strategic
28:39 planning, operations and
28:40 communications policy and the
28:42 office of small business.
28:48 The office of business strategy
28:50 works to largely engage with
28:51 companies of all sizes
28:53 supporting their relocation,
28:54 expansion and long term growth.
28:57 In Boston we focus on
28:58 attracting new businesses,
29:00 retaining existing businesses
29:02 and building lasting
29:04 relationships to ensure Boston
29:06 remains a vibrant place for
29:07 every business to succeed.
29:10 The business strategy team has
29:12 engaged, recruited and
29:14 supported 150 companies
29:15 including new us headquarters
29:17 and grounds up grand openings
29:18 for their.
29:21 More lovable lydian and the
29:22 german american chamber
29:23 of commerce in their Boston
29:26 chapter and electrified thermal
29:26 solutions.
29:29 We've hosted 15 events and will
29:31 host climate tech crossing on
29:33 May 6th to highlight the
29:34 climate climate innovations
29:35 emerging from Boston.
29:40 You can't be Boston is a new
29:43 initiative launched in 2026 uh
29:45 April of 2026 to attract talent
29:47 and investment.
29:48 Featuring a collaborative
29:50 campaign, a theme song, a
29:52 harpoon brewery partnership and
29:54 its direct recommendation
29:55 of the mayor's business
29:56 recruitment task force was
29:58 convened and led by the office
30:01 of business strategy in 2024 to
30:03 advise the city on strategies
30:05 to advance business recruitment
30:06 and retention.
30:11 And international business
30:12 development as a global leader
30:14 in life sciences, technology
30:16 and innovation, Boston remains
30:18 a top destination for foreign
30:18 trade and investment.
30:22 In fy 26 the global affairs
30:23 hosted the global business
30:26 connect event convening 50 plus
30:28 stakeholders from 30
30:28 communities.
30:30 We will welcome 50 plus
30:32 delegations from 26 countries
30:35 to City Hall and in April
30:36 merrill announced a
30:38 multi-million dollar business
30:39 recruitment fund in partnership
30:42 with amity bank and the Boston
30:43 foundation at the us open
30:44 business summit.
30:47 Uh building on momentum from
30:48 the spanish government's new
30:49 trade office in Boston.
30:54 The cannabis industry
30:56 development team remains
30:58 committed to ensuring equitable
30:59 participation at all levels
31:01 of the cannabis industry to
31:02 provide technical assistance
31:05 and opportunities for financial
31:07 assistance and fy 26 we
31:09 launched a centralized cannabis
31:12 hub website shifting from a
31:14 business only model to team uh
31:15 .
31:17 The team awarded 280,000 in
31:19 contracts to five technical
31:21 assistance providers to provide
31:23 direct 1 to 1 support to
31:24 cannabis equity applicants.
31:28 We awarded 350,000 in grants to
31:30 create financial support for
31:32 equity uh eligible equity
31:33 businesses.
31:35 From June 15th to the 21st we
31:37 will be hosting our first
31:39 annual our fourth annual
31:41 cannabis empowerment week
31:42 highlighting the newly
31:44 regulated social and social
31:45 consumption license types.
31:50 Our economic planning team
31:53 works across e, eoc and city
31:55 departments on a number
31:57 of chief and mary priorities
31:59 led by planning and economic
32:00 development focused
32:01 initiatives.
32:04 The uh small team consists
32:06 of two full time staff and one
32:08 recently will no longer with us
32:09 uh rappaport fellow.
32:12 Some of the program initiatives
32:14 here are the commercial
32:16 acquisition uh program and west
32:18 Boston and the up corner
32:19 implementation plan.
32:23 Our office of nightlife economy
32:24 ,which was established in the
32:28 focused on ensuring that
32:28 spring of 2023, uh oney is
32:30 boston's nightlife is not only
32:32 vibrant but safe and welcoming
32:34 for everyone who participates
32:36 in the workers, operators and
32:37 patrons alike.
32:39 A core part of our work is
32:39 collaboration.
32:42 We work closely with venue
32:43 operators, public safety
32:44 agencies, public health
32:46 professionals and workers
32:48 across the nightlife economy to
32:50 identify challenges and
32:52 implement proactive solutions.
32:54 The late night food truck
32:55 program was one of the key
32:56 initiatives in the past year
32:58 that was launched in the summer
32:59 of 25.
33:00 The program extends the
33:02 vibrancy of our streets and
33:04 provides a vital new platform
33:06 for business for local
33:06 businesses to thrive.
33:08 The late night food truck
33:10 program is one of the is more
33:11 than about meals.
33:13 It is about unlocking new
33:14 opportunities for boston's
33:16 entrepreneurs and increasing
33:17 access to late night food.
33:19 This initiative is a direct
33:21 response to conversations with
33:23 residents, workers and
33:25 businesses as they indicated
33:27 the need for more food options
33:27 after hours.
33:29 We're excited to launch this
33:31 year's line up next month.
33:34 Now I'll turn it over to alisha
33:36 to talk about small business.
33:38 Thank you, chief wright.
33:41 Good morning members of the
33:41 City Council.
33:42 My name is alisha cena.
33:44 I am the director of small
33:45 business.
33:47 Boston is home to over 18,000
33:49 small businesses that employs
33:51 over 127 people in the
33:53 community and generates more
33:55 than $28 billion in revenue
33:56 each year.
33:59 Our team provides small
34:00 business owners with the tools
34:01 and guidance to successfully
34:03 grow, start and build a
34:04 business in Boston.
34:06 I would like to acknowledge my
34:08 team of 18 individuals for
34:09 their hard work and dedication
34:10 over the past year and thank
34:12 the council for your support.
34:14 This slide shows a breakdown
34:16 of some of our program and
34:17 initiatives.
34:19 So I'm just going to take a
34:23 deeper dive into that okay.
34:27 Okay here we go.
34:30 So our technical assistance
34:32 programs led by emily patrick
34:34 pairs aspiring entrepreneurs
34:36 and business owners with
34:37 consultants and subject matter
34:39 experts to address areas
34:41 of concerns on a project basis.
34:42 They are designed to provide
34:44 business owners with the tools
34:46 needed to start, strengthen or
34:47 expand their business.
34:48 We want to ensure we are
34:49 meeting businesses where they
34:51 are, help create stability for
34:53 our businesses, retain jobs,
34:56 curb displacement and closure
34:57 here are some of our numbers to
34:59 date and the team is still
35:01 going this flier's an example
35:03 of a multi series workshop
35:05 starting next week centered
35:06 around the physical fitness
35:07 industry business that's going
35:09 to be in roxbury.
35:12 Um and the program continues to
35:13 be one of our largest programs
35:15 and most widely used across the
35:16 city.
35:20 Our outdoor dining program
35:21 facilitates permitting and
35:22 technical assistance for
35:24 restaurants seeking to expand
35:25 their seating capacity by
35:27 utilizing city sidewalks in
35:28 publicly owned streets
35:29 throughout the spring to late
35:30 fall season.
35:32 The season officially begins
35:33 tomorrow, Friday, May 1st so
35:35 the numbers in red are from
35:35 last year.
35:36 But I'm happy to report that we
35:39 are on track to surpass last
35:39 year's numbers.
35:44 Uh uh we're happy.
35:47 We can.
35:48 Keep on.
35:50 Going okay.
35:57 Looks like just keep us.
36:02 Yeah.
36:03 If you hold it.
36:04 Too long I think that's enough.
36:11 Okay.
36:12 Thank you.
36:14 Our main streets program is
36:15 really the intersection
36:17 of community development and
36:18 economic development.
36:19 By supporting these independent
36:21 501 c3 nonprofits, we support
36:23 the improvement of the physical
36:25 condition and appearance of our
36:28 districts and expand economic
36:29 activity by attracting new
36:29 businesses.
36:32 Our main streets are integral
36:33 to increasing neighborhood and
36:34 commercial vitality.
36:37 The the photos are not even a
36:38 glimpse of what the main
36:40 streets have contributed to our
36:41 neighborhoods, which have have
36:42 had a combined attendance
36:44 of over 120,000 people.
36:46 Some of these programs include
36:48 the taste of east allston and
36:50 roslindale holiday markets,
36:51 farmers markets, pop ups,
36:53 outdoor performances and
36:54 festivals such as doors torch
36:57 fest and they also address real
36:57 concerns in the community.
36:59 I want to spotlight chinatown
37:01 main streets led by debbie who
37:03 worked on urban heat concerns
37:04 this past summer and partnered
37:06 with community organizations
37:08 and nonprofits in chinatown to
37:10 build a communication network
37:11 to circulate information during
37:13 heat emergencies they acquired
37:15 ,deployed and managed missing
37:18 ten cooling stations in
37:20 chinatown during a series
37:22 of heat emergencies and made it
37:22 an activation.
37:25 This led to them becoming a
37:26 national example for other
37:27 communities across the us
37:28 facing similar challenges.
37:30 They continue to do
37:30 neighborhood cleanups as well.
37:34 The list really is endless for