Previous/Closed Business Funding Programs
small Medium business growth fund (DMPED)
The Small Medium Business Growth Fund will offer approximately $2 million dollars in total grants aimed to retain, grow and propel innovation in district-based small businesses by supporting large scale capital improvements, critical equipment purchasing, and technological advancements within industries related to green innovation, experiential retail, incubators, immersive entertainment and professional services.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: June 23, 2023
Closed: July 28, 2023
Small Medium Business Growth Fund Awardees FY23
FOOD ACCESS FUND (DMPED)
The Food Access Fund will increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food by securing grocery stores and restaurants, fast casual restaurants, and other food access points in areas with low food access, with a focus on Wards 7 and 8.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: December 12, 2022
Closed: January 13, 2023 at 5:00 pm ET
Food Access Fund Awardees FY23
NEIGHBORHOOD PROSPERITY FUND (DMPED)
Neighborhood Prosperity Fund (NPF) incentivizes community development, economic growth, and job creation by leveraging local funds to provide gap financing for projects that attract private investment to distressed communities. Grant funds support architectural and engineering costs, construction costs, tenant improvements, historical preservation building improvements to maintain compliance with applicable laws, development analysis, rent abatement and/or tenant concessions for up to 3 years to stabilize market rent.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: January 30, 2023
Closed: March 3, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Awardees FY23
LOCALLY MADE MANUFACTURING GRANT (DMPED)
The Locally Made Manufacturing Grant program supports local businesses that are located in a Great Streets corridor that engage in light manufacturing by providing funding for capital or tenant improvements of commercial property with a designated industrial use. This grant is intended to grow the District’s local business economy, bolster manufacturing, and strengthen supply chains within the city.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: January 30, 2023
Closed: March 3, 2023 at 5:00PM ET
Locally Made Manufacturing Grant Awardees FY23
GREAT STREETS RETAIL SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS (DMPED)
Great Streets is the District’s commercial revitalization initiative designed to support existing small businesses, attract new businesses, increase the District’s tax base, create new job opportunities for District Residents, and transform 13 emerging corridors into thriving and inviting neighborhood centers. Learn more at greatstreets.dc.gov.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: January 23, 2023
Closed: March 10, 2023 at 5:00PM ET
Are you located in one of the Great Streets Corridors? Insert your business address in the interactive mapping tool to verify.
For all other questions, email GreatStreets@dc.gov.
Great Streets Awardees FY23
REIMAGINE DOWNTOWN ACTION & ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM (DMPED)
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development invites the submission of applications from qualified not-for profit organizations for the FY23 Reimagine Downtown Action Plan & Engagement Program. DMPED intends to provide grant funding to support the two elements of the Program: (1) the creation and implementation of a downtown stakeholder engagement program; and (2) the development of an action plan to reimagine the District’s downtown as a more vibrant, mixed-use destination for residents, workers, tourists and businesses (“Reimagine Downtown Action Plan”).
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: February 17, 2023
Closed: March 29, 2023 at 5:00 PM
View and download RFA - FY23 Reimagine Downtown Action Plan & Engagement Program
Point of Contact:
DMPED Grants Team Phone: (202) 727-8111
Email: dmped.grants@dc.gov
NOURISH DC COLLABORATIVE (DMPED & OP)
The Nourish DC Collaborative supports the development of a robust ecosystem of locally-owned small food businesses in communities in the District. Nourish DC Collaborative provides flexible loans, catalytic grants, and targeted technical assistance to emerging and existing locally-owned small food businesses in the District of Columbia, with a preference for businesses located in and owned by residents of neighborhoods identified as having high rates of food insecurity, unemployment and poverty, and/or lower life expectancy.
The third round of Nourish DC grants will provide $400,000 in grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. The Keeping It Cool Grant Program, funded by The Morningstar Foundation, will support cold storage infrastructure and equipment needs of food businesses and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations providing food-related goods and services in the Washington D.C. region.
For more information and to apply visit https://www.capitalimpact.org/programs/nourish-dc-collaborative/.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: March 6, 2023
Closed: March 31, 2023
INCLUSIVE INNOVATION EQUITY IMPACT FUND (DMPED)
The Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund will support businesses eligible to be equity impact enterprises (EIE) with training and investment in the form of revenue or equity-based financing. An equity impact enterprise is a resident-owned, small business that it is at least 51% owned by an individual who is, or a majority number of individuals who are economically disadvantaged or have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias.
View more information and apply here.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: September 12, 2022 at 8:00 AM
Closed: January 31, 2023 at 11:59 PM
THE BRIDGE FUND 3.0 (DMPED)
Many small businesses are still recovering from economic injury experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bridge Fund will provide financial relief to small businesses and sole proprietors in the retail, restaurant, and entertainment sectors that earned $5 million or less and experienced revenue losses or significant costs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This program will prioritize businesses that have not received prior relief funds.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: November 28, 2022 at 12:00 PM
Closed: January 13, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Program Guidance
Information Session Presentation (Spanish)
Bridge Fund Recipients
2023 CBE GREEN BUSINESS SUPPORT LOTTERY GRANT (DSLBD)
The FY 2023 CBE Green Business Support Lottery Grant program is accepting applications from August 14 to August 25, 2023. $50,000 in grants will be awarded to ten CBE EIEs pursuing sustainable industry contracts. Businesses that received a grant in FY 2023 are not eligible to apply. Each awardee will receive $4,900 for eligible expenses incurred from October 1, 2022, to August 25, 2023.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: August 14, 2023
Closing: August 25, 2023, 2:00 PM (EST)
Applicants are encouraged to read the full Request for Application. For more information, Click Here.
Click here to view the NOFA.
Click here to view the RFA.
2023 FOGGY BOTTOM WEST END FEASIBILITY STUDY GRANT (DSLBD)
The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that it is accepting applications for the Foggy Bottom West End Feasibility Study Grant for the Fiscal Year 2023. DSLBD will award one service area grant for $100,000 to a qualified nonprofit organization or a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE).
The Grant objectives are to produce a feasibility study addressing the feasibility of a D.C. Main Streets program for a Foggy Bottom and West End commercial corridor. The focus must be on its necessity, practicability, sustainability, viability, benefits, and compatibility with the D.C. Main Streets program. The grant opens on January 9, 2023, and will close on January 30, 2023, at 4:00 PM (EST).
Applicants are encouraged to read the full Request for Application. For more information, click here.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: January 9, 2023
Closed: January 30, 2023, 4:00 PM (EST)
Click here to view the NOFA.
Click here to view the RFA. (Updated January 9, 2022)
WE ASPIRE (DSLBD)
The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2023 WeAspire Training and Pitch Competition. The training program and competition are for DC residents who were previously incarcerated and/or justice involved (parole or probation) and seeking to build or launch their businesses. WeAspire will include a 14-week business training program and through a series of pitch competitions, Aspire participants will be awarded direct financial support for their businesses. Every participant who completes Aspire Pitch will receive $2,000 in pitch awards as well as in-kind contributions such as financial advising, marketing assistance, and mentorship. In partnership with Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, DSLBD intends to allocate up to $10,000 in pitch prize funding for each pitch participant from the $200,000 in available funding.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: January 17, 2023
Closed: February 28, 2023 2:00PM
To apply and learn more click here.
ROBUST RETAIL GRANTS (DSLBD)
The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that we will accept applications for the 2023 Robust Retail Citywide Grants.
The 2023 Robust Retail Citywide grant(s) support existing DC-based retail businesses in maintaining operations and viability during the current small business crisis. DSLBD intends to award up to $5,000 per business to approximately 100 businesses from the $500,000 in available funding for the Fiscal Year 2023.
This grant will be a reimbursement grant awarded via lottery to DC retail businesses that have met all eligibility requirements by the final deadline. Businesses that received a Robust Retail Citywide award in FY2022 are not eligible to apply.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: February 1, 2023
Closed: April 10, 2023, 2:00 PM (EST)
2023 DREAM PITCH PROGRAM (DSLBD)
The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that we will be accepting applications for the 2023 Dream Pitch Program starting January 23, 2023. The Dream Pitch Program is an 8-week cohort-based training program for microbusinesses in Ward 7 and 8, culminating into the Dream Pitch Competition. The Dream Pitch Competition is an opportunity for participants to pitch their business to a panel of judges, showcasing the knowledge gained through the program resulting in a pitch award between $2000 to $7500.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: January 23, 2023
Closed: March 6, 2023, 2:00 PM
To apply and learn more, click here.
FOOD WASTE INNOVATION GRANT (DSLBD)
The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that we will be soliciting applications for the FY23 Food Waste Innovation Grants starting on October 24, 2022. These grants will provide support for restaurants, food manufacturers, shared commercial kitchens, and commercial corridors like Main Streets and Business Improvement Districts to minimize their food waste going to landfill and minimize urban rat populations. This will help businesses meet the goals of Sustainable DC and the future requirements of the Zero Waste Omnibus Act while reducing costs in both food purchasing and waste disposal expenses. Eligible applicants are food businesses that are appropriately licensed and with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Nonprofits are also eligible when providing direct support for multiple eligible businesses.
DSLBD intends to award between 10 and 25 grants from the $300,000 available for direct grants.
View more information here.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: October 24, 2022 8:00 AM EST
Closed: December 22, 2022 2:00 PM EST
CBE GREEN GRANT (DSLBD)
The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that it will begin soliciting applications for the Fiscal Year 2023 CBE Green Equitable Back Office and Marketing Services (CBE Green) Grants starting October 19, 2022. The CBE Green grants are for DSLBD Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs) to provide direct support to small, resident-owned, and disadvantaged CBEs pursuing contracting opportunities with and similar to DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) opportunities. DSBLD seeks proposals from CBEs to provide market research, marketing, and back-office (business operations) support to help CBEs achieve success with green energy contracts.
View more information and apply here.
STATUS: CLOSED
Opened: October 19, 2022 8:00 AM EST
Closed: December 2, 2022 2:00 PM EST
FOGGY BOTTOM/WEST END PUBLIC LIFE STUDY RFP (OP)
OP will develop a Foggy Bottom/West End Public Life Study, to include a mobility analysis and community engagement.
STATUS: CLOSED
NANNIE HELEN BURROUGHS CORRIDOR STUDY RFP (OP)
OP will develop a Nannie Helen Burroughs study in Ward 7, to include a public life study, design guidelines, and public space activations.
STATUS: CLOSED
IVY CITY SMALL AREA PLAN RFP (OP)
OP will develop a Small Area Plan in Ivy City, to include a public life study, community engagement, a quality of life assessment, and development of public realm design guidelines.
STATUS: CLOSED
COMMEMORATIVE WORKS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RFP (OP)
OP will administer a Commemorative Works Technical Assistance Program for commemoration in the District, to provide design services to District communities, Main Street Organizations, and/or individuals in support of new commemorative works in Wards 4, 5, 7, and 8. OP’s assistance will focus on commemorative works that recognize and honor notable Black Washingtonians, other leaders of color, or events important to BIPOC communities.
STATUS: CLOSED
CENTRAL PROCESSING SITING AND FEASIBILITY STUDY RFP (OP)
OP will develop a study on the feasibility and siting of a centralized food processing facility in Washington, DC.
STATUS: CLOSED
STREETS FOR PEOPLE (OP)
Streets for People will provide grants to Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to activate public spaces in the Central Washington area. The program aims to catalyze economic recovery and support local businesses by attracting workers, residents, and visitors to a vibrant area of activated blocks, sidewalks, streets, and parks.
STATUS: CLOSED
EVENTS DC COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM (EVENTS DC)
As an active and engaged community member, Events DC is proud to continue to support the future of non-profit organizations in Washington, DC that promote youth participation in both the arts and athletics.
For Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, Events DC is pleased to provide funding for the program of $500,000 during two grant cycles ($250,000 in the first cycle and $250,000 in the second cycle). The grant program provides financial support to qualifying non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting children through sports, performing arts or cultural arts in the District of Columbia.
STATUS: CLOSED
Grant applications timeline: Applications for the second Fiscal Year 2023 semi-annual grant cycle are due no later than February 1, 2023; applicants will be notified of their award status by April 15, 2023.
Events DC FY2023 Community Grant Guidelines (PDF)
Events DC FY 2023 Community Grant Checklist (PDF)
Community Grant Application (For reference- Not for submission)
*Each program cycle will be evaluated independently based on the applications received and funding available. Past grantees are not guaranteed awards in future years, nor are previous award amounts guaranteed for the current cycle.
APPLY HERE
Have questions or need additional information?
Contact Events DC at communityengagement@eventsdc.zendesk.com
DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants (DMPED)
COVID-19 has had a profound impact on local businesses and organizations, and the DC Government understood that relief was needed right away. The DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants Program, administered by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), was created by the COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 on March 17, 2020 just days after the public health emergency was declared in the District of Columbia.
In administering this program, DMPED chose to provide relief to as many eligible DC businesses as possible. Ninety-five percent of applicants were determined eligible and were issued an award notification. Microgrant award amounts were objective and based on operation costs, revenue, number of District resident employees and business tenure. The grant allowed businesses to cover employee wages and benefits, (including fringe benefits associated with employment, such as health insurance), accounts payable, fixed costs, inventory, rent, and utilities.
The microgrant amounts varied based on business type: $1,000 was granted to independent contractors, sole proprietors, self-employed; $2,500 was the minimum for all other awards and the average award is approximately $6,000, maximum award is approximately $14,000.
The COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 required DMPED to share microgrant program information to the public by June 1. Below you will find the microgrant process timeline, full report of grantees, and other interesting data sets from the program and related press releases. All information is based on data as of 2/11/2021.
The application period closed April 1, 2020.
Press
DC Small Business Recovery Microgrant Interactive Dashboard
Below is the DC Small Business Recovery Microgrant Interactive Dashboard which includes a summary of grant awardees displayed by Ward and broken down into classes of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Public Link: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/a810e8a2cf0a479d8e9a4ac6d5cf7d14
DC Small Business Recovery Microgrant Recipients
View grant recipient report here.
Breakdown of DC Small Business Recovery Microgrant Applications
Note: The difference in the applications received vs. businesses awarded are applicants who declined the grant, were non-responsive, or ineligible.
DC Small Business Recovery Microgrant Conditional Awards by Ward
(Updated February 11, 2021 to reflect geocoding of addresses)
Due to the lower volume of applications received from Wards 7 and 8, DMPED worked with DHCD and community-based organizations to open a supplemental grant program, which awarded 183 businesses. These 183 businesses are included in the table above.
Small Business Resiliency Fund (DMPED)
The Small Business Resiliency Fund is a part of the District’s efforts to meet the existing and future COVID-19 related needs for District’s small businesses to help businesses continue operations while protecting people, assets and presence.
The Small Business Resiliency Fund provided $3 million in emergency operational funding and was open to small, local businesses in the District of Columbia with 50 or fewer employees and independently owned restaurants without regard to employee-size.
Grant monies may be used for:
Business model strategy redesigning and pivoting
Business continuity plan development
Strengthening of digital retail experiences including complimentary e-commerce platforms and/or online shops to bolster brick-and- mortar business
New marketing efforts
Personal protective equipment (PPE) and/or disinfection products.
Small Business Resiliency Fund Grantees
View grant recipient list here.
Legacy Business Supplemental Microgrants (DMPED)
As part of the District’s coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery efforts, the Legacy Business Supplemental Funding designated approximately $3.25 million of remaining funds from the Small Business Recovery Microgrants Program to support businesses that have been operating in the District for at least 20 years.
DC Hope Community Grants 2020
Mayor Bowser announced non-profit organizations in the District of Columbia are eligible to apply for federal grant money, provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, to support community social distancing engagement and public health awareness outreach efforts.
The 2020 DC HOPE Community Grants provided a total of $10 million in funding to support programs that address the District’s public health emergency priorities as it relates to coronavirus (COVID-19) in the following areas:
Increasing buy-in and participation in the District’s Contact Trace Force
Purchase and distribution of personal protection equipment
Social distancing protective measures
Public health awareness
Connecting residents to testing sites and health care providers
The recipients of the FY2020 DC HOPE Community Grant can be found at FY2020 DC HOPE Community Grant Recipients.
DC East of the River Small Business Economic Relief Microgrant Program for Wards 7 and 8 (DMPED & DHCD)
Following on Mayor Bowser’s DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants Program, the Department of Housing and Community Development launched an additional grant opportunity specifically for small businesses in Ward 7 and 8.
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) made available approximately $800,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding allocated from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to eligible for-profit small businesses.
Businesses must demonstrate a need for short-term working capital to retain jobs held by low- and moderate-income employees that may be lost due to business closures related to COVID-19. The program will provide support up to $10,000 for short term working capital to fund wages to avoid job loss caused by business closures or reduction in business due to social distancing, rent, utilities, interim operating expenses.
Applications were accepted until 10 am on Friday, May 29, 2020.
DC Child Care Provider Relief Fund (DMPED & osse)
As part of the District’s coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery efforts, the DC Child Care Provider Relief Fund provided $5 million in emergency operational funding to local child care facilities. Relief funds will be granted to all licensed District child care providers to ensure a supply of child care for families during the public health emergency and recovery period.
The funding was authorized by “COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020” effective March 17, 2020 (D.C. Act 23-247) (and extended by the Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-0326), Coronavirus Support Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-332), Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-0334), the Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-0328), and the Coronavirus Support Second Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-0405), the “Fiscal Year 2020 Revised Local Budget Emergency Act of 2020” (A23-351), and any subsequent emergency, temporary, or permanent versions of the Acts, and Mayor’s Order 2020-079 and Mayor’s Order 2020-094.
DC Child Care Provider Relief Fund Report
All information is based on data as of 2/9/2021. Final grant awarding is still in progress.
DC Child Care Provider Relief Fund Recipients
View grant recipient list here.
Breakdown of DC Child Care Provider Relief Fund Awards
Note: The difference in the Child Care Businesses who were conditionally awarded vs. awarded are the providers who declined the grant, were non-responsive, or ineligible (i.e. permanently closed their facility).
DC Child Care Provider Relief Fund Awards by Type of Provider
DC Child Care Provider Relief Fund Awards by Ward
