Boston launches $100,000 pilot to license city brand through 250th anniversary

BOSTON -- November 13, 2025, Boston City Council committee begins exploration of a citywide merchandise licensing pilot tied to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. At a November 13 hearing of the Committee on Small Business and Professional Licensure, chaired by District 4 Councilor Brian Worrell and sponsored by Councilor Sharon Durkan, administration officials from the Department of Innovation and Technology presented a two-track, $100,000 pilot program: produce and sell official Boston 250-branded goods through July 2026 while simultaneously conducting market research through a Boston University partnership. The city currently holds no copyright or trademark protections on its own logos or city seal, a gap Durkan illustrated by noting that Boston Fire Department imagery is already available for purchase on Amazon without city authorization. Funding is broken down as $15,000 for program facilitation, $9,950 for research, and $35,000 for design and production. New York City's comparable program generates more than $24 million annually, though officials cautioned Boston is in early stages and said breaking even would be a reasonable pilot benchmark.