| Photo by Matthew LeJune on Unsplash
NEW YORK — The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) will host its first‑ever NYC Contracting Summit on January 14, 2026, a major new initiative designed to expand access to public and private contracting opportunities for small businesses across the five boroughs. The all‑day event will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and is free for attendees.
The summit aims to “open even more doors for small businesses, including M/WBE firms,” according to SBS’s announcement, marking what the agency describes as a new era of support for local enterprises seeking to do business with the city.
Running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event will feature a full schedule of workshops, networking sessions, and on‑site technical assistance. Small business owners will have the opportunity to meet contracting agents from city, state, and federal agencies, as well as representatives from private‑sector partners involved in procurement.
Blueprint to Finding Opportunities
According to SBS, the summit will offer workshops that provide “a blueprint to finding opportunities, winning contracts, and growing small businesses,” giving entrepreneurs practical guidance on navigating the city’s procurement system. Attendees will also have access to free business resources, including financing assistance and capacity‑building programs designed to help firms scale up and compete for larger contracts.
While the advisory did not include direct quotes from city officials, the tone of the announcement underscores the administration’s push to strengthen small-business participation in government contracting—an area where many entrepreneurs, particularly minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs), have historically faced barriers.
Registration Required
Registration is required through Eventbrite, and SBS emphasized that each attendee must register individually. Media representatives must RSVP by 9 a.m. on the day of the event by emailing the SBS press office.
The summit reflects the city’s ongoing efforts to streamline procurement, increase transparency, and ensure that small businesses — which make up more than 98 percent of all businesses in New York City — have equitable access to the billions of dollars in contracts awarded each year.
The NYC Contracting Summit is expected to draw a large turnout of entrepreneurs eager to learn how to compete more effectively for city work and strengthen their foothold in New York’s business landscape.
