About 120 businesses from the 10 counties surrounding Pittsburgh have been accepted into the NFL Draft’s Source Program. Tuesday night, they worked on getting contracts to work the 2025 NFL Draft. “This is everything from linens to tents, beverage, janitorial — anything you imagine that a major event needs,” said Myisha Boyce, the head of the NFL Draft Source Program. Penny Folino, owner of the popular mobile coffee cart The Roaming Bean, said applying was a no-brainer. “Super excited. I screamed whenever I got the email back and were accepted,” Folino said.Her company was the only coffee business chosen for the program.“We are building up to 11 mobile units right now,” she said. “And we also, as this one right here, we have the mobile inside unit. So we’ll be working alongside Aramark, trying to figure out where they need us. Our goal is to be able to serve as many people as they need us to serve and just be out there all the time.”During Tuesday night’s workshop, vendors learned about the NFL procurement process, heard from key partners that do business with the league, and networked with buyers who are awarding contracts for the three days of the draft in April and with the events that lead up to it. “Show the world what we’re made of. You know, the Steel City isn’t just the Steel City no more. We have a lot to offer,” said Christopher Rosado from Steel City Hot Dogs. “I’m an NFL fan, a Steeler fan, and it’s a great way to get exposure, much-needed exposure, for my business.”The NFL says beyond increasing awareness of these businesses — hundreds of thousands of NFL fans are expected to attend — using local vendors ensures the economic impact stays in the region.“We know that these types of events do just wonderful things for communities,” Boyce said. “So that infusion of economic impact is what we’re all looking to do and make sure that those dollars stay local.”
PITTSBURGH —
About 120 businesses from the 10 counties surrounding Pittsburgh have been accepted into the NFL Draft’s Source Program. Tuesday night, they worked on getting contracts to work the 2025 NFL Draft.
“This is everything from linens to tents, beverage, janitorial — anything you imagine that a major event needs,” said Myisha Boyce, the head of the NFL Draft Source Program.
Penny Folino, owner of the popular mobile coffee cart The Roaming Bean, said applying was a no-brainer.
“Super excited. I screamed whenever I got the email back and were accepted,” Folino said.
Her company was the only coffee business chosen for the program.
“We are building up to 11 mobile units right now,” she said. “And we also, as this one right here, we have the mobile inside unit. So we’ll be working alongside Aramark, trying to figure out where they need us. Our goal is to be able to serve as many people as they need us to serve and just be out there all the time.”
During Tuesday night’s workshop, vendors learned about the NFL procurement process, heard from key partners that do business with the league, and networked with buyers who are awarding contracts for the three days of the draft in April and with the events that lead up to it.
“Show the world what we’re made of. You know, the Steel City isn’t just the Steel City no more. We have a lot to offer,” said Christopher Rosado from Steel City Hot Dogs. “I’m an NFL fan, a Steeler fan, and it’s a great way to get exposure, much-needed exposure, for my business.”
The NFL says beyond increasing awareness of these businesses — hundreds of thousands of NFL fans are expected to attend — using local vendors ensures the economic impact stays in the region.
“We know that these types of events do just wonderful things for communities,” Boyce said. “So that infusion of economic impact is what we’re all looking to do and make sure that those dollars stay local.”