Program Overview

With support from the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), the Minnesota Avenue Main Street (MAMS), a program of the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif), is excited to launch the 2020 Minnesota Avenue Small Business Resilience Fund, a new initiative to help small businesses along the Minnesota Avenue commercial corridor prosper in place. 

Grant fund uses include, but are not limited to:

1) Working capital to help existing businesses adapt their business model and meet changing customer demand.

2) Financial assistance to small businesses (including stores and restaurants) distressed by disruptions, or that have experienced significant financial losses, resulting from District-financed capital infrastructure project of District-owned property.

MAMS intends to fund a total of $80,000 in grants, with individual awards ranging from $2,500 to $15,000. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the funding is exhausted. All pre-approved projects must be completed and all paid invoices submitted to the program by July 31, 2020.

Eligibility Criteria | Small businesses must:

• Be a business located in the Minnesota Avenue Main Street boundary. To check your geographic eligibility for assistance click HERE .
• Be in Good Standing with the District of Columbia,
• Be a small, DC-based for-profit businesses with an active DC business license for that location, and
• Have Clean Hands, a DUNS number, and active general liability insurance.

Additionally, tenants applying for funding must:

• Receive consent from property owner to be eligible for certain projects (i.e. tenant fit-outs, permanent fixtures, and/or exterior building improvements). 
• Submit a proposed scope of work, budget and schedule with the final grant application, and receive approval via a signed contract and notice to proceed letter.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through July 31, 2020. Pre-approved projects that aren't closed out by July 31, 2020 will be in jeopardy of loss of grant assistance. If any issues are arise that will prevent the project from being completed on time, grant recipients must notify the program manager no later than 30 days before the agreed project completion date.

Application Process

1) Interested applicants should contact the Main Street Manager to determine eligibility. Scheduling a business consultation with the Main Street Manager, is the first step to understanding your business needs. Book your appointment online. 

2) Once eligibility is approved, applicant will submit a complete application with supporting documentation to the Main Street Manager.

3) Project Scope, budget, and schedule will be pre-approved and grant recipient will be mailed a notice-to-proceed letter and project agreement to sign and return to Main Street Manager. 

4) Grant recipient will complete project and submit all paid invoices to Main Street Manager, no later than July 31, 2020.

Restrictions:

MAMS remains committed to supporting small businesses that provide an environment free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or age.

Only one grant request per small business. MAMS’ grants are unable to fund religious-based or sectarian requests, individual requests for personal loans, political organizations, candidates, causes, entities, or campaigns. MAMS recognizes it may receive more grant requests from potential grantees with needs that far exceed available resources.

MAMS reserves the right to consider, approve, decline and/or fund, in whole or part, any grant applications.

TO CHECK YOUR GEOGRAPHIC ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE, CLICK HERE