Award boosts small business jobs in Boston

Posted on August 26, 2015

A new award granted to the city is helping to boost small business Boston jobs.

Boston has won a $50,000 award from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help its efforts to streamline licensing, permitting and other requirements needed to start a business. Boston is one of 27 winners of the first ever Startup in a Day Competition, totaling $1.6 million in funding nationwide.

Nationwide, the winners are located in 19 states and the District of Columbia, representing a wide array of cities and Native American communities. Startup in a Day is an initiative announced by President Barack Obama earlier this year designed to help cities and Native American communities streamline the licensing, permitting and other requirements needed to start a business in their areas, with the goal that an entrepreneur can apply for everything necessary to begin a business within one business day.

Cities were encouraged to take a public pledge to commit to these goals, and were invited to apply for funding through two SBA prize competitions. At the time of the announcement in June, 11 cities had agreed to the Startup in a Day pledge. Today, more than 50 additional cities and Native American communities have taken the pledge.

“President Obama and the SBA are committed to making it easier and faster for every entrepreneur to start a business,” said Seth Goodall, SBA New England Regional Administrator. “This award recognizes Boston’s focus on streamlining their licensing and permitting process through online, modern technology so entrepreneurs can focus on their business, rather than the red tape.”
“Congratulations to the City of Boston for the work they are doing to make starting a business in Boston simpler,” said Bob Nelson, SBA Massachusetts District Director. “We need to continue to do whatever is necessary to encourage small businesses starts and simplified permitting and processes is one way to do this. We are excited and look forward to seeing the release of Boston’s new entirely online permit process in the very near future.”

“I’m honored that the SBA chose Boston as recipient for this grant,” said Mayor Walsh. “My Administration has been working to make the permitting process in Boston easy, transparent and predictable and this will help us expand those efforts.”