Adult jobs & small business
Job training, placement and paid career programs for adult residents, plus support for local small businesses and vacant storefronts.
Residents consistently ask for practical job training, especially in trades and for immigrants, and for affordable ways to start and run small businesses.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
117 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 36 | 2.9% | 15 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 42 | 3.5% | 14 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 39 | 2.9% | 15 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
Small business and entrepreneur support
Residents want grants, low-cost loans, mentorship, and free help with planning, permits and marketing, often aimed at people of color, immigrants and low-income owners.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Vacant storefronts and low-cost places to sell
Residents want empty retail space filled by local businesses, and cheap ways to sell, such as pop-up shops, markets, carts and subsidized storefronts.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Skilled trades training
Residents ask for training, workshops and apprenticeships in trades like plumbing, electrical, carpentry and construction as a path to stable work without a four-year degree.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Job and language training for immigrants
Residents ask for job skills, English classes and job-search help for immigrants and newcomers so they can work and support their families.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Job training and support for people returning from incarceration
Residents ask for vocational training, job placement, workshops and financial education for people leaving jail or prison.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26
2024–25
Re-entry was the standout, with about a dozen ideas on job training and placement for formerly incarcerated people, alongside small business grants and trades training.
2025–26
Ideas spread widely, with new asks for entrepreneurs over 50, business hubs, green jobs, AI training and subsidized storefronts, while trades workshops continued.
2026–27
Many short asks for computer classes and job opportunities, plus several ideas on worker cooperatives, immigrant job training, and pop-up markets and vending carts.
New in 2026–27
Worker cooperative grants and conversions of existing businesses, computer and AI skills classes, and low-cost vending, food truck and night market options are growing, along with requests for job help in Spanish and support for caregivers returning to work.
Funding so far
The 2025-26 winners funded ESOL and skills training for immigrants, trades training and small business technical assistance, but none addressed vacant storefronts and low-cost selling space, re-entry job training, or worker cooperatives.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
Immigrant Career Pathways: Bridging Language and Employment
2025–26 · $300,000
This proposal provides grants for ESOL classes combined with skills training and certifications.
Workforce Training Programs Focused on Trades
2025–26 · $300,000
This proposal provides grants to expand vocational training in trades with a focus on low-income residents.
Small Business Development Resource Program
2025–26 · $150,000
This proposal offers technical assistance in relevant subject matter areas to support small business entrepreneurship across Boston.
Departments that often lead this work
- Office of Workforce Development
- Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Adult jobs & small business
117 ideas
2024–25: 36 · 2025–26: 42 · 2026–27: 39
- Free trade and skills tutoring for unemployed and homelessResident asks for free trade- and skill-based tutoring for unemployed and homeless people of all ages, to build useful skills and reduce poverty.2025–26City-wide
- Workshops on entering the skilled tradesResident asks for info sessions explaining how to become an electrician, plumber or similar, including credentials and apprenticeships, to help residents without a four-year degree find stable work.2024–25City-wide
- Wages for people in job training and ESOLResident asks that people in job training or career programs, including ESOL, be paid wages so they can stay in programs instead of taking the lowest-wage jobs or staying unemployed.2024–25City-wide
- Free directory of locally owned businessesResident asks for a free app or website listing only locally owned independent businesses so people can shop local, helping businesses still struggling after the pandemic.2024–25City-wide
- Revitalize Mattapan Square with storefront upgrades and eventsResident asks to activate Mattapan Square with free retail facade upgrades, food trucks and DJs, reinvesting in an under-invested neighborhood that looks run down.2024–25Hyde Park
- Platform for student and small business exchangesResident proposes Qartel, a platform for college students and small businesses to list and exchange goods in person, reducing waste and supporting local businesses.2024–25City-wide
- Give the funds to Boston Ujima ProjectThe resident would allocate the $2 million to the Boston Ujima Project, a community-controlled investment effort; no further detail given.2024–25City-wide
- Job fairs and training for people returning from prisonResident asks for employment fairs and job skills training for people coming home from prison or jail, since criminal record stigma makes finding jobs difficult.2024–25City-wide
- Job training and placement for formerly incarcerated peopleResident asks for job training and placement for formerly incarcerated people to build skills, find work, reduce recidivism and improve stability.2024–25City-wide
- Job training programs in jail, like CDL and carpentryResident says jail lacked employment programs such as commercial driver's license and carpentry training, and asks for such programs to help people find skilled work after release.2024–25City-wide
- Vocational training for formerly incarcerated peopleResident asks for funds for vocational training and job placement for formerly incarcerated people, believing it supports a fresh start and mental stability after release.2024–25City-wide
- Job training and small business grantsResident asks for job training and placement in growing industries and grants for local entrepreneurs, targeting high-unemployment areas with living-wage career paths.2024–25City-wide
- Job training and minority-owned business supportResident asks for job training and placement in growing fields like tech and healthcare, plus grants and technical help for businesses owned by people of color.2024–25City-wide
- More re-entry workshops and resourcesResident asks for more re-entry workshops and resources for formerly incarcerated people returning to society, to lower recidivism and support those without a support system.2024–25City-wide
- Paid grant-writing training for formerly incarcerated peopleResident proposes a six-month paid grant-writing program for formerly incarcerated people, offering temporary work and a path to long-term employment with organizations needing grant writers.2024–25City-wide
- More jobsResident asks for more jobs because some people are employed and others are not.2024–25City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Paid trade apprenticeships for Black and Brown young adultsThe resident asks for paid on-the-job training in trades such as plumbing and electrical for Black and Brown people ages 18-45, to give young people direction.2024–25City-wide
- More career centers for re-entry supportThe resident asks to expand career centers, such as in Dorchester and Roslindale, to help people returning from incarceration find employment and independent living.2024–25City-wide
- Transition home for people released from prisonThe resident proposes buying an 8-10 unit multi-family building as a transition home for people released from prison, with employer partnerships to support employment and reentry.2024–25City-wide
- Workforce training for returning citizensResident asks for workforce training and a community transition plan for people returning from incarceration.2024–25City-wide