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Boston council hears FY27 budget for economic opportunity, with leaders defending programs amid cuts
Summary
City officials outlined FY27 plans for Economic Opportunity & Inclusion, Small Business and Supplier Diversity while councilors pressed on cuts to legacy-business grants, a drop in supplier-diversity operating funds, and requests for follow-up data on disparity studies and program outcomes.
Ben Weber, chair of the City Council Committee on Ways and Means, opened a fiscal‑year 2027 budget hearing for the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion (EOI), the Office of Small Business and the Department of Supplier Diversity on April 30.
Interim chief Donald Wright framed the cabinet’s mission as centering equity across programs and described the office’s structure — business strategy, nightlife economy, economic and strategic planning, operations and communications, policy and small business — and recent initiatives to recruit and retain businesses. “Our vision is of a resilient, equitable, sustainable, and vibrant city that centers on people,” Wright said.
Alicia Porcena, director of small business, outlined neighborhood work including technical assistance workshops, Main Streets programming, an outdoor‑dining permitting season that begins…
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