If you are living in the Washington, DC area, then this grant is one you should consider applying for. For those who are just looking to start their own business online, look no further. This grant would help you to get started in making your business dreams come true. You have to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria for the business grant to quality.
If you already have a business, and would like to explore other funding options, like the Amber grant for black women business owners, or the 31 ultimate grants that support black women businesses in 2023. These grants have diverse funding options such as grants to help you grow your Black-owned businesses in 2023.
Grants of up to $7,500 to Washington, DC small businesses for operating expenses during the current crisis. Funding is intended for consumer-facing businesses with 25 or fewer employees. Eligible expenses include rent and utilities, payroll, insurance, inventory, cleaning supplies, new delivery and online costs, and taxes and debt services.
Grant Overview
Only for-profit consumer-facing, small and independent retail businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees (FTEs), with a licensed retail location in DC are eligible for Robust Retail Citywide Grants. Home-based, online-only, and non-profit businesses are not eligible for this grant opportunity. Applicants must be compliant with the Office of Tax & Revenue’s Clean Hands requirements, be licensed as a retail business in the District, and have maintained active general liability insurance during the time for which they are requesting reimbursement for expenses.
The grant funds cannot be used for any of the following:
1. Expenses incurred before July 1, 2020 or after January 28, 2023.
2. Expenses that are reimbursed by a different grant from DC Government.
3. Any interior or exterior construction not permitted by DC Code.
4. Assistance to bring legal charges against the District of Columbia.
5. Any undocumented expense.
Grant Description
There are three deadlines that applicants should monitor.
– Eligibility Pre-review: Applicants who complete eligibility documentation by before or January 8, 2023 will receive a courtesy review and determination of their eligibility on a rolling basis.
– Question Deadline: The last date to ask questions about the grant application is January 25, 2023, 2 pm eastern. Questions asked after this time cannot be guaranteed a response prior to application deadline.
– Final deadline: The final deadline is January 28, 2023, at 2 pm eastern. No Exceptions
The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) will be accepting applications for the 2023 Robust Retail: Citywide grants starting December 7, 2020 and closing January 28, 2023 at 2 pm eastern. Applications will only be accepted through the online application system listed in the Request for Applications (RFA) on DSLBD’s website.
This grant will be operated as a reimbursement grant, awarded via lottery, to DC retail businesses that have met all eligibility requirements by the final deadline.
Grant recipients will be selected through a lottery process, with a mechanism for ensuring at least half of the grants are evenly distributed across all 8 DC Wards. All applications deemed eligible and received by or before the deadline will be entered into the lottery system. The Director of DLSBD will make the final approval of grant awards. Announcements of selected awards will be made on or around February 5-15, 2023.
Grant Application
There you have it! Grants for African Americans who are looking to start a business in 2023. AfricanAmericanGrants.org is committed to helping you connect with funding opportunities that exist out there. If you would like help with starting a business, writing a business plan or getting grants to help kickstart you business dreams, we can help! Click here to contact us.
Applications that are submitted prior to January 8, 2023 will receive a courtesy eligibility review on a rolling basis. It is recommend to submit at least 24-48 hours before the final deadline to ensure that you are able to resolve any technical difficulties if they arise. DSLBD will not accept late applications for any reason.
If you have checked the eligibility criteria, and you meet them, then you are ready to apply for your grants. The next step for you is to fill out the required information below to begin the process of applying for your grant.
