Boston Council Hearing Demands 25 Percent Equity Goal for Major Event Contracts

BOSTON — October 10, 2025 — Boston City Council committee hears calls for 25 percent minority contracting goal on major events. The Committee on Arts, Culture, Entertainment, Tourism, and Special Events, chaired by Councilor Edward M. Flynn, held a hearing Friday on two dockets sponsored by Council President Ruthzee Louijeune targeting equitable procurement for upcoming major events including FIFA World Cup matches and the Boston 250 commemoration. Nicole Obie and Elisa Benelfi-Ramos of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts urged the council to adopt a formal 25 percent inclusive procurement target, which they said would direct between $125 million and $275 million to minority and women-owned firms from projected billions in event-related contracts. Obie noted that 44 percent of White Stadium contracts have already gone to women and people of color, and cited Mayor Michelle Wu's announcement that more than $450 million in city contracts went to businesses owned by people of color over the past four years. Sheena Collier of Boston While Black testified that her organization lost roughly $500,000 in corporate support this year amid national DEI rollbacks and "almost shut our doors," calling for a dedicated neighborhood culture funding track within the city's Tourism Destination Market District.