Boston, September 18, 2025
News Summary
The City of Boston has launched the nomination period for the fourth annual Legacy Business Awards, inviting residents to nominate long-standing local businesses. Nominations will be accepted until October 31, and businesses eligible for the award must have been operating for at least 10 years. The awards aim to honor these businesses for their contributions to the community and will bestow various benefits to the winners.
Boston — The City of Boston has opened nominations for the fourth annual Legacy Business Awards, with the nomination period launched on September 16, 2025, and running through Friday, October 31, 2025. The program seeks nominations for long-standing local businesses that have operated for at least 10 years and that contribute to the cultural, historical, and societal fabric of their neighborhoods.
Key details and deadline
Mayor Michelle Wu announced the launch of the nomination period for the fourth annual Legacy Business Awards on September 16, 2025. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, October 31, 2025. Residents are encouraged to nominate long-standing businesses in Boston that have been operating for at least 10 years. Nominations can be submitted via an online form, at local Boston Public Library branches, or by calling the Office of Small Business at 617-635-0355. The nomination form is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese. Residents may submit only one nomination.
Who is eligible and how selections are made
Eligible businesses must have been operating in Boston for at least 10 years and must make a demonstrable contribution to their community’s cultural, historical, or societal life. After the nomination period closes, the Office of Small Business will verify eligibility and submit a list of eligible nominees to the City Council. City Councilors will create a shortlist of potential awardees, which will be reviewed by a committee led by the Office of Small Business. Selections will be based on application scoring and community support, with an explicit goal of ensuring diversity across industry, neighborhood, gender, and race.
Awards, timing and benefits
The program will honor 30 Legacy Business Award winners at a public ceremony on June 1, 2026. Awardees will receive grant funding, a commercial lease toolkit, free legal consultation, and support with succession planning. The awards are intended to support long-term stability and succession for businesses that serve as neighborhood anchors.
Program context and past honorees
The Legacy Business Program has honored 90 local businesses representing 3,509 years of service to Boston’s neighborhoods to date. Past recipients include small, neighborhood-centered operations such as Yoma Burmese Restaurant and Greenhills Irish Bakery, which were identified as examples of businesses that take pride in their place within Boston’s small business community. City leadership frames the program as part of a broader effort to make Boston family-friendly and vibrant while creating opportunities for residents to build generational wealth. City officials have noted that long-standing businesses help connect neighborhoods and communities across the city and that recognizing them is an investment in neighborhood vitality.
Administrative contacts and languages
Nominations can be entered online or in person at Boston Public Library branches, or by phone at the Office of Small Business at 617-635-0355. The nomination form is provided in multiple languages to increase accessibility and to encourage nominations from every neighborhood. Only one nomination per resident is permitted to ensure a fair administrative process.
What happens after nominations
Once nominations are verified by the Office of Small Business and forwarded to the City Council, councilors will develop a shortlist. That shortlist will be reviewed by a committee led by the Office of Small Business. Final selections will rely on objective application scoring and measures of community support, and the process is designed to reflect diversity across industry sectors, neighborhoods, gender, and race.
Purpose and goals
The Legacy Business Awards initiative aims to honor the long-term civic and economic contributions of small businesses, to preserve their continuity for future generations, and to provide practical supports—such as grant funding and legal assistance—that help businesses remain viable and transferable across generations.
FAQ
How long is the nomination period open?
Nominations will be accepted until Friday, October 31, 2025.
When was the nomination period launched?
Mayor Michelle Wu announced the launch of the nomination period for the fourth annual Legacy Business Awards on September 16, 2025.
Who should residents nominate?
Residents are encouraged to nominate long-standing businesses in Boston that have been operating for at least 10 years.
How can I submit a nomination?
Nominations can be submitted via an online form, at local Boston Public Library branches, or by calling the Office of Small Business at 617-635-0355.
How many businesses have been honored so far?
To date, 90 local businesses representing 3,509 years of service to Boston’s neighborhoods have been honored through the Legacy Business Program.
When will winners be honored?
The 30 Legacy Business Award winners will be honored at a public ceremony on June 1, 2026.
What do awardees receive?
Awardees will receive grant funding, a commercial lease toolkit, free legal consultation, and support with succession planning.
Is the nomination form available in other languages?
The nomination form is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese.
How many nominations can a resident submit?
Residents may submit only one nomination.
Quick reference table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Program | Legacy Business Awards (Fourth Annual) |
| Launch date | September 16, 2025 |
| Nomination deadline | Friday, October 31, 2025 |
| Eligibility | Businesses operating in Boston for at least 10 years |
| How to nominate | Online form; local Boston Public Library branches; call Office of Small Business at 617-635-0355 |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese |
| Number of winners | 30 Legacy Business Award winners |
| Award ceremony | June 1, 2026 |
| Benefits for awardees | Grant funding; commercial lease toolkit; free legal consultation; succession planning support |
| Contact | Office of Small Business: 617-635-0355 |
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Additional Resources
- Caught In Dot: Mayor Michelle Wu Launches Annual Legacy Business Award Nominations
- Boston.com: 2025 Winners of Boston’s Legacy Business Awards
- Hunt News: Boston’s Only Black-Owned Bookstore as a Legacy Business
- Dot News: Editorial on 2025’s Legacy Businesses
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Legacy Business
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
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