Support & Opportunities for Businesses in Boston

Boston Business Hub

The Boston Business Hub is your central access point to the City of Boston's small business services and business development professionals. The Boston Business Hub is a new way for the City of Boston to assist businesses who are starting or expanding a business in Boston.

Boston Buying Power - Reducing Energy Costs

Boston Buying Power allows businesses to buy energy at a discounted group rate, providing “power in numbers.” Boston Buying Power saves businesses money while encouraging conservation and energy efficiencies; this translates into savings, being greener, and increasingly savvy customers.

Boston Local Development Corporation

The Boston Local Development Corporation (BLDC) works to increase employment opportunities for Boston residents by providing small business loans with a focus on commercial, industrial and service companies.

Boston Main Streets

The Boston Main Streets Foundation seeks to develop long-term strategies to increase the economic power and resources of neighborhood commercial districts while pursuing initiatives that build knowledge and capacity for Main Streets programs and the businesses they serve.

Boston Mayor's Office

The City of Boston is governed by the Mayor and the City Council with the assistance of various departments, agencies and commissions.

Boston Public Computing Centers

The Boston Public Computing Centers (BPCC) are the result of a partnership between the Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF), the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) and the Boston Public Library (BPL), funded in part by the NITA grant. These community-oriented training centers will provide a variety of free workshops and classes in basic computing and new technologies. The centers are located at nearly 50 BCYF, BHA and BPL facilities throughout Boston.

Boston's Public Wireless Network

Boston’s free Public Wi-Fi is available with more than 170 access points within the public wireless network. The largest concentration of access points, covering approximately 1.5 square miles, is located in Grove Hall. Residents, businesses, and tourists are currently accessing the Grove Hall Wi-Fi network with an average of 9,800 users daily.

Boston Redevelopment Authority

Boston is a historic city with a dynamic future. Learn about the BRA's development review process, view information about development projects in the BRA approval pipeline, and learn how you can get involved.

Business Registration Information and Forms

The Office of the City Clerk is charged with ensuring that businesses throughout Boston apply for and obtain a business certificate. The "doing business as" (d/b/a) certificate is renewable every four (4) years from the date of registration with the Office of the City Clerk.

City of Boston's Bids & RFPs

The City of Boston offers bid opportunities through the City Record, online through the Supplier Portal, and through a non-electronic bid listing.

City of Boston's Data Portal

Boston's Open and Protected Data Policy, is designed to increase transparency and accountability by opening more City data to the public. The Open and Protected Data Policy was created by the Department of Innovation and Technology and the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics with the intention of streamlining the release of new datasets.

City Hall To Go

For some, traveling downtown to City Hall can be a long way to go. Boston is, after all, a city that stretches across nearly fifty square miles. Many people need a personal interaction to get direct services, ask a question or get information, so Boston is taking City Hall to them.

City of Somerville Economic Trends

The City of Somerville, with the help of community partners, performed a parcel-by-parcel land use inventory during May 2008 and August 2009 in order to document a clear understanding of the land use make-up of the city. The trends reports and land use survey establish a solid foundation of factual data that serve as the backdrop to the community visioning sessions and the development of the Comprehensive Plan.

Mayoral Initiatives

Mayoral Initiatives and programs represent efforts to continually renew and revitalize neighborhood commercial districts by assisting businesses with financing, storefront improvements, cost reduction through energy efficiency efforts and by providing industry experts to support business development.

Partners with Non-Profits

The City of Boston wants to support those organizations that are invested in our neighborhoods by investing in them. Partners with Non-Profits (PNP) provides matching grants up to a maximum of $20,000 per project per fiscal year for capital improvements to non-profit facilities located in Boston.

ReStore Boston

ReStore Boston helps neighborhood business and property owners with storefront improvements. The current program is based on the highly successful ReStore initiative on Blue Hill Avenue in Roxbury. This nationally acclaimed revitalization project is now a citywide storefront improvement program offered through the Office of Business Development.

Starting a Business in Massachusetts: A Guide for New American Entrepreneurs

Developed by the MIRA Coalition, this guide provides a basic picture of what the New American entrepreneur will need to open a business in Massachusetts, and helps would-be business owners find the best tools, training and financing opportunities to start and keep a business going. The guide also provides an overview of the many resources available in Massachusetts for business owners who are just starting out to help them plan, create and finance a new venture.

US Small Business Administration, Boston District Office

The Boston SBA Office is responsible for the delivery of SBA's many programs and services throughout the state. Over the years, the SBA has developed many small business loan and assistance programs, special outreach efforts and initiatives to aid and inform small businesses.