2025 Snapshot
Empowering Small Businesses, Strengthening Communities and Supply Chains
In 2025, Next Street marked an important milestone: twenty years of building systems that work for small businesses, the engines of the US Economy.
We helped our clients to support entrepreneurs and suppliers at critical moments, with expanded access to capital, procurement opportunities, and trusted guidance. Through this tumultuous year, our work remained focused on helping small businesses adapt, compete, and grow.
While Next Street remains grounded in its consulting roots—delivering small business ecosystem assessments, strategy, program design, and data-driven research—2025 marked our full evolution into a technology-enabled solutions company. We expanded our digital resource hubs and secured funding to launch our digital Supplier Success Accelerator. These investments represent more than new programs: they reflect a shift to a shared infrastructure that allows us to learn across markets in real time, continuously improve delivery, and deploy fixes platform-wide rather than market by market.
Our technology-enabled solutions dramatically accelerate speed to impact. Where conventional programs can take a year or more to design and launch, our white-label, technology-enabled solutions can be deployed in new communities in a matter of weeks—allowing clients to respond faster to local needs and deliver results sooner. From main street storefronts to industrial supply chains, Next Street delivered impact at scale—combining deep place-based expertise with digital platforms designed to expand reach, accelerate access, and drive lasting, measurable systems change.
2025 By the Numbers
Small businesses directly served by NXST solutions
%
BIPOC or Women-owned
Net Promoter Score
Client solutions delivered to governments, corporations, and philanthropies
Digital resource hubs launged
$
+
Funding available across our digital resource hubs
TA and capital partners delivering support across our tech-enabled solutions
Hours of TA delivered
Highlights from our Work
Centralizing support for small and local suppliers
As historic public and private investments reshaped industrial supply chains and major global events approached, Next Street launched two digital Supplier Resource Hubs that centralize guidance, connections, and capital into a single tech-enabled platform, helping suppliers access the support they need to pivot away from risk and into opportunity. These Hubs are increasing efficiency and effectiveness in regional procurement ecosystems; creating durable, reusable infrastructure that can be leveraged for long-term procurement transformation; and establishing viable, scalable channels for buyer engagement.
In Michigan, the MI Hub for Manufacturers is supporting both near-term procurement needs and longer-term industrial transformation efforts. Launched in June, the Hub has served 216 manufacturing businesses, connecting them with trusted advisors, tailored curriculum, peer learning opportunities, responsible capital, and aligned partner resources and programs. It helps manufacturing businesses grow, innovate, and remain competitive in an evolving market, while strengthening the resilience of Michigan’s manufacturing ecosystem.
The Get in the Game LA Supplier Resource Hub is a scalable tech-enabled platform, preparing regional small businesses to compete for procurement opportunities in Los Angeles’ upcoming global sporting events, including the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Hub equips existing and aspiring suppliers with practical tools, clearer pathways, and direct connections to navigate complex procurement processes. It's ensuring local businesses are positioned to participate and win, and providing the ecosystem with a reliable platform to deliver inclusive procurement at scale.
Helping NYC small businesses access responsible capital
NYC Funds Finder marked its second year as a first-of-its-kind online marketplace, connecting more than 10,000 of New York City’s small businesses to responsible loans, grants, and trusted financial guidance. In partnership with the NYC Department of Small Business Services, the platform has facilitated more than $3 million in capital and connected more than 2,500 businesses across the city to free advising sessions. Businesses who take advantage of free advising on the platform are 6 times more likely to receive funding than businesses who apply on their own. NYC Funds Finder also helps entrepreneurs navigate complex financial decisions—supporting more than 300 small businesses through one-on-one meetings with accounting professionals via the My Business Finance Coach program.
This work builds on Next Street’s 13-year partnership with NYC SBS and our long-standing role operating NYC Business Solutions Centers in Queens and Lower Manhattan. In 2025, teams at these walk-in resource centers served more than 9,000 entrepreneurs, providing hands-on support.
Strengthening the Cook County small business ecosystem
For the 5th year, Next Street continued to serve as the program manager and embedded execution partner for The Cook County Small Business Source which serves as the central hub for small business support across Cook County. The Source provides no-cost advising, resources, and connections to more than 9.000 businesses annually. Operated by the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, The Source leverages a robust network of 30+ Business Support Organizations and referral partners to deliver services tailored to small business needs.
Next Street designed the Cook County Catalyst Grant, launched by The Source in 2025 to expand access to capital, by offering up to $100,000 to as many as 88 businesses to support growth, workforce expansion, and operational scaling. The competitive grant will help local firms strengthen their foundations and prepare for long-term success.
The Source also played an important role in strengthening the broader small business financing ecosystem. Building on recommendations from a Next Street–led landscape assessment, the Bureau of Economic Development launched the Community Financial Institution (CFI) Capacity Building Grant, awarding funding to five CFIs to expand each lenders’ financial and operational capacity.
Building the Field: The Industrial Supply Chain Forum
Trillions of dollars in public and private capital are being invested to reshape America’s industrial landscape, financing local infrastructure and reshaping US manufacturing. With philanthropic partners, Next Street launched the Industrial Supply Chain Forum, bringing together leaders from across the country in business, government, and economic development, united around a shared goal: putting small businesses and communities at the center of America’s industrial future.
In 2025 – its inaugural year – the Forum grew to a community of 500+ industry leaders, hosted three convenings across the country, and published several editorials and articles in publications from Brookings to Fast Company.
Getting small businesses digital ready
Next Street entered our 6th year of partnership with Verizon to deliver Small Business Digital Ready, expanding access to high-quality learning, coaching, and connections for entrepreneurs nationwide. Through the platform, tens of thousands of business owners engaged with personalized learning plans, expert-led coaching, and peer networks, building the skills and confidence needed to grow in an increasingly digital economy.
The Verizon and Next Street partnership expanded in 2025 with the launch of the Small Business Funding Marketplace, a new feature within Digital Ready to simplify how entrepreneurs find and compare capital options. The Marketplace curates loans and grants from trusted providers into a single, streamlined experience, allowing business owners to filter options based on their business profile and compare terms across products.
The People Behind the Progress
NXSTers by the Numbers
67 team members
87% BIPOC or Women
20 team volunteer days taken
28 countries visited during PTO
12 states we call home
6 new hires joined the team
5 babies welcomed to the NXST family
Connect With Us
Interested in helping small businesses and suppliers at scale? Contact us to learn more.