Shaw, Dupont Circle, Mid-City BIDs Win Grants From Mayor’s Office

Today, we are awarding $300,000 for the first ever Emerging Business District Demonstration Grants. pic.twitter.com/1fqKjeXU5d

— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) April 19, 2016

Some fledgling business improvement district (BID) organizations in Dupont Circle, Shaw and along the 14th and U Street corridors were officially awarded a boost from the Mayor’s Office earlier today.

Mayor Muriel Bowser doled out more than $300,000 across five planned BIDs as part of her office’s first-ever “Emerging BID” demonstration grant program. According to the Mayor’s Office, the purpose of the grants “is to subsidize the organizing operations necessary to establish a Business Improvement District.” In other words, hand out cash to help up-and-coming BIDs fund their operations while they get off the ground.

The five “Emerging BIDs” that were awarded grants today are:

• Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets
• H Street Main Street
• Shaw Main Streets
• Congress Heights Community and Training Development Corporation
• Mid-City Business Improvement District

“It’s a boost to our budget and to all of the Emerging BID’s grantees,” said Aaron DeNu, executive director for the Mid-City BID. DeNu added that the money will help his BID plan community meetings during its petition period and fund its day-to-day operations, among other things.

Bowser also handed out more than $5.3 million in Great Streets grants to 94 small businesses earlier this morning.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the District’s economy and Great Streets is a great resource to help them thrive,” Mayor Bowser said in a statement. “The grants delivered today will help District businesses grow the local economy, hire residents for good paying jobs, and give more Washingtonians a fair shot.”