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DSLBD outlines Main Streets and small‑business programs; committee presses for clearer oversight and data

2357819 · February 19, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Director Rosemary Suggs Evans reviewed DSLBD programs including Main Streets, the Empowerment Fund and district loan activity. Councilmembers used the hearing to press DSLBD on Main Streets oversight, board composition, reporting and CBE compliance related to a separate settlement involving lottery vendors.

Director Rosemary Suggs Evans told the Committee on Business and Economic Development on Feb. 19 that the Department of Small and Local Business Development had expanded programs and grants for FY24, including funding to support commercial corridors, workforce reentry entrepreneurship and sustainability training for Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs).

Programs and outputs cited by DSLBD: - Made in D.C. and retail supports: The department said it helped operate a “Made in D.C.” holiday booth and reported supporting 31 artisans and creators, generating more than $50,000 in sales for those participants. - Main Streets and grants: DSLBD said the Main Streets program awarded more than 900 subawards totaling roughly $1.3 million in FY24 and that the retail grant program disbursed $10,000…

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