BOSTON, MA - February 4, 2026 - The Boston Public Library Fund (BPLF) is proud to announce Nia Grace as the new Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the Boston Public Library’s (BPL) Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program. Based in the Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center (KBLIC) at the Central Library in Copley Square, the program is designed to reduce barriers and foster a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem for Boston’s aspiring business owners.
The year-long residency will focus on the design and delivery of Entrepreneurial Bootcamp programs that provide first-time and early-stage entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and networks needed to launch and grow successful small businesses. Through structured cohort-based learning, one-on-one mentoring, and community partnerships, the EIR program supports entrepreneurs from idea development through launch readiness.
Nia Grace is an award-winning entrepreneur and the President and CEO of Bar and Kitchen Hospitality, Inc., best known as the owner of the acclaimed Boston restaurants Grace By Nia and Darryl’s Corner Bar and Kitchen (now Uptown Social). Named the 2023 “Restaurateur of the Year” by The Boston Globe, Grace is widely recognized for her leadership in Boston’s culinary and small business communities, as well as her commitment to equity, mentorship, and community impact.
“As an entrepreneur who has navigated the challenges of building and sustaining businesses in Boston, Nia brings invaluable real-world experience to this role,” said KBLIC Curator Gregor Smart. “Her passion for mentorship and her deep community ties make her an extraordinary resource for entrepreneurs who are often excluded from traditional start-up pathways.”
“The Boston Public Library Fund is committed to helping create a more equitable start-up environment for Greater Boston Area entrepreneurs,” said Paula Sakey, Executive Director of the Boston Public Library Fund. “Now in its fourth year, thanks to the continued generosity of donors, the Entrepreneur-in-Residence program remains a powerful example of how philanthropic investment helps expand opportunity across our city.”
Funding through the BPLF ensures that all Entrepreneur-in-Residence programming is free and open to the public. The EIR program is part of the BPL’s broader system-wide workforce development efforts through KBLIC, which offers technology, co-working space, career counseling, and business resources to support economic opportunities across Boston.
Additional details about EIR programs, schedules, and mentoring availability can be found at bpl.org/kblic-entrepreneur-in-residence/.
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ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large, free municipal library in the United States; the first public library to lend books; the first to have a branch library; and the first to have a children’s room.
The Boston Public Library of today is a robust system that includes the Central Library in Copley Square, 25 neighborhood branches, the Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center, the Kirstein Business and Innovation Center, and an archival center, offering public access to world-class special collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and prints, along with rich digital content and online services.
The Boston Public Library serves nearly 4 million visitors per year and millions more online. All of its programs and exhibitions are free to all and open to the public. The Boston Public Library is a department of the City of Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu. To learn more, visit bpl.org.
ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND
The Boston Public Library Fund helps drive bottom-up innovation, giving the Boston Public Library the flexibility to respond to the broad and evolving needs of our communities. While the City of Boston supports the library’s essential services, the Fund fuels the experimentation and exploration that empowers the people of Boston to shape and realize an audacious future for our city. For more information, visit bplfund.org.