Dear Washingtonians,
This summer has flown by and as we prepare for the end of the fiscal year, it seems like a good time to reflect on FY18 and get excited about FY19. The DSLBD team stayed busy all summer working on behalf of the small business community and here are some of our highlights:
- Through District Capitalized, and in partnership with 3 local CDFIs we have moved $50,000.00 -$500,000.00 in affordable loans to over 50 businesses across the city with a strong representation of East of the River businesses.
- Our Made in DC Market that we piloted in partnership with The District Wharf, created an opportunity for over 60 makers to access a new market resulting in cumulative sales of over $100,000.00 within the first 9 weeks.
- We piloted the DC Bond Program to provide SBEs with information about and access to the SBA’s Office of Surety Bond Guarantees (OSG) and other SBA counseling and training resources which can help develop the capacity of SBEs to complete for District-funded construction contracts.
- Awarded 17 Dream Grants for small businesses in Wards 7 & 8
- Announced the creation of 2 new Main Streets to help augment our commercial corridors in the city.
- Held matchmaking sessions to ensure that the DC Plug 100% CBE requirement would be met.
- DC PTAC conducted 52 Workshops and training sessions, as a result 2,339 attendees were able to gain business knowledge and information regarding contract opportunities.
- Generated over $2M in contracts for small businesses in partnership with the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU).
- Supported 11 CBEs on Export DC trade missions.
As your advocate, it is our responsibility to open the doors of opportunity for local business to compete. It is also our job to hold folks accountable. This year, DSLBD has collected more fines than ever before and our compliance team is out and about doing spot checks and investigations to make sure that everyone is playing by the rules.
While we are wrapping up FY18, the DSLBD team is geared up for an exciting FY19 with the following announcements:
- 2019 Green Book-FY19 Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Opportunity Guide will be released on November 13, 2018.
- 2018 Art All Night: Made in DC on September 29, 2018
- First annual DSLBD Business Contracting Conference on October 9, 2018
- Release of the Small Business Toolkit
- Release of the second phase of the DSLBD Enterprise System
- Launch of DSLBD's brand new - Mentor Protégé Program
- Second round of Ward 7 & 8 Microbusiness Dream Grants
I would like to thank the DSLBD staff for their commitment to assisting small businesses and ensuring that we continue to accomplish our agency goals. I look forward to continued feedback from small business owners and community leaders as we strive to create an environment of connectivity to local, federal, and global opportunities, and access to capital for DC businesses.
Sincerely,
Director Kristi C. Whitfield
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Section I
: DSLBD In The Community
Section II
: What’s New?
Section III
: See What We've Been Up To!
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SECTION I: DSLBD IN THE COMMUNITY
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2019 Green Book - FY19 Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Opportunity Guide
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Green Book Season is upon us!
As DSLBD is diligently working on the 2019 Green Book, we are expanding the range of new SBE procurement opportunities to include Regional Agencies. Stay tuned for the new and improved 2019 Green Book- scheduled for release on November 13, 2018.
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DC Start Up Week - September 24-28, 2018
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As part of
DC Startup Week
,
202Creates
teamed up with various DC Government agencies to bring you DC Gov Day! Similar to the
Co-working Day
format, DC Gov Day will feature an array of workshops, networking opportunities, and drop-in sessions all hosted by various DC Government organizations.
To Attend, Please RSVP
Here
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2018 Art All Night: Made in DC
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Art All Night: Made in DC is Washington, DC’s free overnight arts festival, starting at 7:00 PM on Saturday, September 29, 2018 and running until 3:00 AM the following morning. The festival will take place in eight DC Main Streets neighborhoods, bringing visual and performing arts, including painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, fashion, music, dance, theater, film, and poetry, to indoor and outdoor public and private spaces, including businesses.
To Attend, Please RSVP
Here
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Access To Capital: Small Business Development Grants & Loans Event
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Save The Date!
District Connect: DC Business Contracting Conference
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SECTION III: SEE WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO!
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Made In DC at The District Wharf
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The Department of Small and Local Business Development Made in DC program in partnership with The District Wharf presents:
MIDC in The Park @ The District Wharf.
MIDC kicked off their first pop up shop with several vendors located at The District Wharf - 7
th
Street Park SW (next to Hanks Oyster Bar) on July 4, 2018.
As summer comes to a close, the pop up shop will continue at The District Wharf through September 30, 2018.
About Made in DC
Made in DC is a program of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development which aims to support and promote businesses that design, make, produce, and/or assemble products in the District of Columbia. As a response to the momentum and growth of the maker and creative economy in Washington, DC, Made in DC functions as a citywide campaign and platform to create opportunity for maker businesses. Made in DC brings businesses together for resource and experience sharing, as well as function as a conduit and messenger between makers and local government.The Made in DC Program promotes Member products, makers, and events across the District, and provide exposure to vital business development resources. Opportunities for capacity building workshops, networking, and resource-sharing are also provided to members. There is no cost to enroll in the Made in DC program. Made in DC enrollment is valid for three (3) years.
About The District Wharf
The Wharf reestablishes Washington, DC, as a waterfront city and destination.This remarkable, mile-long stretch along the Potomac River comes to life with restaurants, retailers, residences, and businesses—all complemented by monumental views and a vibrant culture.
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DSLBD Awards $1.9M in Funding to D.C. Small Businesses
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We are pleased to announce that DSLBD has awarded $1.9M in funding to local businesses and area organizations through the following grants and programs:
2018 Emerging Business District Grant
Ward 8 Grocery Grant
Ward 8 Equitable Food Incubator Grant
Grown in DC Pilot Program
Ward 7 & 8 Microbusiness Dream Grant
District Capitalized Program
Loan Loss Reserve Fund Grant
2018 Emerging Business Grantees
:
Historic DuPont Circle Main Streets
H Street Main Street
Marshall Heights Community Development Organization
Mid-City BID (working through Barracks Row Main Street as a fiscal agent)
North Capitol Main Street
Rhode Island Avenue Main Street
Shaw Main Streets
Tenleytown Main Street
Ward 8 Grocery Grantees
:
Capital Area Food Bank
Community Connections
Good Food Markets
Ward 8 Food Incubator Grantees
:
Dreaming Out Loud
Washington Business Group
Ward 7 & 8 Microbusiness Dream Grantees
:
Angelique iCONiQ
Haul Master's
Madelynn's Bake Sale
Wanda's World
Penny Brew
Pinke's E.A.T.S.
Plum Good
SMILE Therapy Services
Define Design Group
Brightspring Solutions
Consalt
Little Big Chair Farm
MW Consulting
TBL Paintball
The DC Event Planner.com
MBI
Trajectory Learning Partners
Grown in DC Grantees
:
Congress Heights Community Development Corporation
Dreaming Out Loud
District Capitalized Program:
Awarded $500,000 to the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WAICF) to manage micro-loans for small businesses that have trouble accessing capital, with a focus on Wards 7 & 8.
Loan Loss Reserve Fund Grant
Awarded $200,000 in grants for collateral support to three SBA micro lenders so that they can offer $1.3M in microloans to DC businesses and DC residents exploring entrepreneurship that traditional lenders may not consider or may deem at risk.
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The DSLBD Enterprise System (DES) is HERE!
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In April, DSLBD released the first phase of the DSLBD Enterprise System (DES). The objective of DES is to streamline the processes within DSLBD’s business areas (Certification, Compliance, Grants Management, and Business Opportunities) and integrate collaboration between our external (DC Government and DC Community) users. The DES will help us respond to questions about supply (who are our SBEs and CBEs) and demand (where are they needed in DC Government). By answering these types of questions, we will be able to funnel more contracting opportunities to SBEs and CBEs as well as develop programs targeted to the needs of the government which will prepare more businesses for DC Government contracting opportunities.
The first phase of our city-wide system (DES Release 1.0 Certification) was released to the public on Monday, April 30, 2018. The city’s investment is set to start paying off dividends for our CBEs and new applicants for certification.
Highlights:
- Certification through the DES is compatible with Chrome, Safari, and all other commonly used browsers.
- The certification application process has been reduced from 16 steps to 8 steps.
- The recertification process has been streamlined significantly to focus on the change the business has had since their last certification.
- The DES can be accessed using mobile devices.
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