2021 food truck schedule, additional outdoor small business support announced

Mayor Kim Janey today announced the launch of the 2021 Food Truck and Outdoor Dining Season and additional resources to support Boston’s small businesses. The 2021 Food Truck Lottery was held virtually on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 by the Office of Economic Development. Thirty food trucks participated and are ready to vend across the City in different locations and neighborhoods. Due to the hardships brought on by COVID-19 and recognizing how valuable small businesses are to Boston’s local vibrancy and economy, the City of Boston waived all public site fees for 2021. To view a full map of where the food trucks will be located, please visit our food trucks website. 

"We must continue our commitment to supporting Boston’s small businesses, and I’m thrilled to be announcing these additional supports for small businesses across our neighborhoods," said Mayor Janey "By leveraging our public space, businesses like retail stores, restaurants, and food trucks can thrive and create more vibrancy in our neighborhoods for our residents.” 

Due to the continued impacts of COVID-19, the City of Boston will temporarily allow retail businesses in neighborhood commercial districts to place a moveable table onto the public sidewalk for the purpose of facilitating outdoor transactions and will temporarily allow private fitness classes on City-owned parks for 2021. This extension supports businesses’ efforts to keep a safe and healthy environment for their staff and customers by limiting access to a confined indoor space. 

In addition, today officially marks the launch of the 2021 Citywide Outdoor Dining Pilot Program, as the North End joins other neighborhoods throughout Boston in beginning outdoor dining. The 2021 Outdoor Dining Pilot Program will continue many of the successful initiatives from the 2020 program, such as streamlined permitting and outdoor patios on roadways that enable restaurants with narrow sidewalks to offer patio seating to patrons, while offering new features based on community feedback.

Outdoor Retail Extensions: To find out more information and apply, please visit our extensions website. You can also submit a request online to use the retail extension.

Outdoor Fitness: To find out more information and apply, check our outdoor fitness guidance page.

Outdoor Dining: A map of permitted restaurants is available on the webpage below. The City of Boston is still accepting applications for outdoor dining on both public and private property. To find out more information and apply, please visit our outdoor dining page.

“Due to the pandemic, Boston small business owners have had to be creative and adapt to an ever-changing landscape, and we at the City of Boston need to match their creativity and do what we can to support them during this difficult time,” said Midori Morikawa, Interim Chief of Economic Development. “I am proud of the cross-departmental collaboration that has gone into our COVID-19 response and I look forward to continuing these types of innovative initiatives.”  

As business owners, employers, and employees navigate an evolving reopening process and COVID-19-related assistance, the City of Boston created and maintains a "Reopening Boston" webpage, which includes industry-specific guidance and requirements, resources, and tools, and more information on available City services. The City of Boston has created a number of useful guides and resources for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including a new platform to list local businesses that are producing or selling PPE and cleaning supplies, Open Businesses in Boston, and Support Boston Restaurants. These platforms have helped businesses to publicly share that they are open and direct residents to support local establishments. To assist businesses in industries impacted most by COVID-19, the City of Boston has launched five Small Business Relief Funds, which to date have issued more than $16 million in debt-free grants to nearly 4,000 small businesses in every neighborhood in order to address PPE needs, overdue rent, fixed debts, payroll, lost sales, lost opportunities, and other working capital expenses. 

For all coronavirus updates from the City of Boston, please visit our COVID-19 page.

The Economic Development Cabinet's mission is to make Boston an appealing and accessible place for working families, entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors to innovate, grow, and thrive in a way that fosters inclusion, broadens opportunity, and shares prosperity, thereby enhancing the quality of life for all Bostonians and the experience for all visitors. Learn more on their website.