Kraft’s plan cuts red tape, expands access to capital, and builds a direct line between small businesses and City Hall

BOSTON, MA – Today, mayoral candidate Josh Kraft released his comprehensive plan to support and grow Boston’s small businesses by cutting red tape, creating a Small Business Council to give owners a direct voice at City Hall, expanding access to capital, and improving outreach so resources reach every neighborhood. The plan focuses on reducing bureaucratic delays, improving inspection and permitting efficiency, and building stronger partnerships with financial institutions and community organizations. 

“Small businesses are the heart of our neighborhoods and the backbone of our economy,” said Josh Kraft “Right now, too many small business owners are stuck navigating a slow, frustrating system that makes it harder to open, grow, and thrive. As Mayor, I’ll cut the red tape, give small business owners a direct seat at the table, and make sure City Hall is working for them.”

Under Mayor Wu, small business owners have faced slow inspections, overlapping processes, and a lack of transparency that has too often delayed openings and cost owners money. City Hall’s approach has failed to provide consistent engagement or equitable support across neighborhoods. Josh’s plan will reorient the city government to respond quickly and effectively to small business needs, and ensure resources reach all communities, not just a select few.

Reducing Bureaucratic Burdens

Small businesses in Boston often encounter delays and duplicative processes when trying to open or operate. To address this, Josh will:

• Create a “Small Business Express Lane” within City Hall to fast-track inspections, answer questions, and guide owners through the opening process.
• Merge inspectional workflows to eliminate redundancy and reduce costs for owners, city workers, and taxpayers.
• Require all departments to respond to small business requests within a reasonable time frame or waive related service fees.
• Launch a public “Fast Track Dashboard” to display average wait times for key permits and inspections.

Creating a Small Business Council

To give every neighborhood a direct voice in City Hall, Josh will:

• Establish a Small Business Council made up of three elected representatives from each neighborhood, meeting quarterly with the Mayor and senior officials.
• Use the Council as a hub for city-backed programming, including networking, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.
• Strengthen and refocus the “Main Streets” program to better serve residents and local business needs.

Increasing Access to Capital

To help small businesses grow and survive economic challenges, Josh will:

• Expand public-private partnerships with local financial institutions to increase lending and investment opportunities.
• Create new pathways for small businesses to work with and support other Boston companies, driving economic growth from within.

Improving Outreach and Information Sharing

To ensure small business owners – especially in historically underserved communities – can take advantage of city resources, Josh will:

• Launch a “Small Business Navigation Unit” in the Office of Small Business, modeled after the state’s “Business Front Door” program.
• Provide step-by-step guidance both online and in-person, with extended hours to accommodate business owners’ schedules.
• Conduct proactive, in-person outreach to connect directly with small business owners across all neighborhoods.

For more on Josh and the campaign, visit www.joshforboston.com

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Media contact:

Max Baker

max@joshforboston.com

‭+1 (229) 393-7440‬