(Washington, DC) – Mayor Bowser today announced that local organizations can now apply for $1.5 million in grants to provide technical assistance that will help support the start-up, growth, and expansion of small businesses in the District. This grant will be administered through the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
“Mayor Bowser is committed to not only producing and preserving affordable housing, but also revitalizing neighborhoods across the District through a strong small business community,” said DHCD Director Polly Donaldson. “Having strong local businesses is vital to helping a community thrive. Our small business technical assistance (SBTA) program helps ensure that entrepreneurs in neglected commercial corridors get the right resources and support to start, maintain, and build their businesses.”
DHCD’s SBTA program is accepting applications from community-based non-profit organizations seeking to revitalize commercial corridors of which 51 percent consist of low- and moderate-income persons. However, the agency will give strong consideration to proposals that complement the Great Streets initiative administered by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED).
The types of assistance that the nonprofits can provide through the SBTA program include micro-loan packaging, business planning, entrepreneurial training, one-on-one business technical assistance, tax preparation assistance, accounting assistance, or legal assistance.
In a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) published in the June 29, 2018, D.C. Register, DHCD specified that the grants are from federal Community Development Block Grant and/or local funds.
Request for Applications (RFA) packages are available on DHCD’s website. There is no application fee. The application deadline is August 13, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. EST. DHCD expects to announce awards in late summer and execute grant agreements by October 1, 2018. For more information contact [email protected] or 202-442-7178.
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