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Main Street leaders praise DSLBD improvements, ask for clearer rules and interagency 'ombuds' role
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Summary
Directors from the District’s Main Street programs told the council DSLBD’s recent Main Street grant enhancements have strengthened corridor operations, but they asked for clearer expense rules, more training for new directors and a stronger DSLBD role as an interagency liaison.
A broad group of Main Street directors and small-business advocates told the Committee on Business and Economic Development that the Department of Small and Local Business Development’s (DSLBD) recent grant enhancements yielded tangible improvements — but they asked the council for clearer administrative rules and more interagency coordination.
Yvette Banfield, chief economic development officer for the Coalition (formerly CNHED), said Main Streets used enhancement grants to hire staff, expand events, make technical-assistance grants to corridor businesses and support small emergency repairs. “The Main Streets indicated that they used their enhancement grants to strengthen their capacity,” Banfield said.
The nut graf: Witnesses credited DSLBD with improving reporting platforms and expanding unrestricted grant categories, but said the department should provide a clear manual on allowable expenses, supply regular training for new Main Street directors and act as an ombudsman to coordinate with agencies such as the Office of Planning and the Department of Licensing.
Multiple Main Street directors from across the city — including Rachel Schenk of Georgetown Main Street, Christopher Hitt of Logan Circle Main Street, Shelley Walker of Lower Georgia Avenue Main Street and Rachel Mowery of Chevy Chase Main Street — described direct outcomes from the enhanced grants. They cited more technical-assistance hours provided to businesses, façade projects, subgrants that helped businesses repair equipment and increased event attendance that drove foot traffic.
Shaw Main Street executive Alexander Padro and Tenleytown Main Street’s Noah Getz said Main Streets also spend significant time helping businesses address public-safety, permitting and permitting-bureaucracy delays. Padro expressed concern about the new competitive element of the Main Street enhancement program that changed equal funding practice and noted that DSLBD invited main streets to compete for additional project funds.
Two community members raised concerns about DSLBD processes: Commissioner Troopdi Patel questioned the transparency of the Foggy Bottom/West End Main Street selection process and asked the committee to investigate whether the ANC and other local participants had been excluded from decision-making. Jaren Hill of Dreaming Out Loud and others asked DSLBD and the council to connect Main Streets and local businesses to procurement opportunities in large projects such as Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center.
Ending: The Main Street network credited DSLBD’s recent reforms and one-time enhancements for measurable corridor results. Directors asked for clearer administrative guidance, routine capacity-building training and stronger DSLBD leadership in interagency coordination; the committee said it will follow up with DSLBD during formal oversight appearances.
