Washington, DC

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser was joined by Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) Brian Kenner to announce over $5.3 million in FY2016 awards for the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Reimbursement Grants. The investment continues the Bowser Administration’s effort to support local businesses, create new job opportunities for DC residents, and grow the District’s emerging neighborhoods.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the District’s economy and Great Streets is a great resource to help them thrive,” said Mayor Bowser. “Today’s announcement is a welcome boost to our emerging corridors. The grants delivered today will help District businesses grow the local economy, hire residents for good paying jobs, and give more Washingtonians a fair shot.”

The announcement was made at Crossfit Petworth, a grant recipient in Ward 4, where the Mayor awarded 94 competitive grants to small business owners looking to improve their place of business. Awardees represent the District’s diverse business community, from restaurants, to retail, tech centers, and creative economy spaces.  

Mayor Bowser also announced $300,000 in the first-ever Emerging Business Improvement District (BID) grants. They were awarded to:

• Historic DuPont Circle Main Street
• H Street Main Street
• Shaw Main Street
• Congress Heights Community and Training Development Corporation
• Mid-City Business Improvement District

There are currently 13 Great Streets corridors located across the District that aim to transform developing commercial corridors into thriving and inviting neighborhood centers. They are: Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Georgia Avenue, NW; Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE; 7th Street, NW, North Capitol Street, NW & NE; Rhode Island Avenue, NE; Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE & South Capitol Street, SE; Minnesota Avenue & Benning Road, NE & SE; Bladensburg Road, NE; Connecticut Avenue, NW; U Street – 14th Street NW; Wisconsin Avenue, NW; H Street-Bladensburg Road, NE.

Since 2012, the District has helped over 220 local businesses create over 2,000 jobs through the Great Streets program.

A list of all FY16 Great Streets recipients can be found below.