The Great Streets Retail Small Business Grant provides funding for small businesses in designated commercial corridors to make capital improvements in their business and create new job opportunities for District residents.
Donor Name: Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED)
State: District of Columbia
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/16/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The purpose of the Program is to emphasize retention and innovation within commercially underserved corridors, supporting projects that foster the long-term sustainability of essential goods and services in vital retail areas. The Program aims to strengthen and revitalize commercially underserved corridors by supporting new and existing businesses through investments that go beyond traditional capital improvements. Funding will prioritize innovative projects and collaborations that foster long-term business retention, attract new opportunities, and drive corridor wide transformation. The goal is to create vibrant, resilient commercial corridors where businesses and community stakeholders work together to generate lasting economic impact. The funding opportunity is to fund businesses that are proposing the following: in the District of Columbia.
The funding opportunity is to fund businesses that are proposing the following:
- Revitalize commercial corridors by activating vacant storefronts and underutilized retail spaces.
- Support transformative businesses that go beyond serving their own operations to improve their surrounding neighborhoods.
- Encourage innovation and collaboration between local businesses, residents and stakeholders.
- Strengthen neighborhood identity and character by supporting businesses that reflect the unique culture of each area.
- Establish a new location or broaden operations and services to strengthen the vitality of the commercial corridor.
Funding Information
The total amount of funding available for this Program is $2,500,000. DMPED anticipates making awards up to $90,000. The applicant may request up to a standard $70,000 plus request an additional $20,000 through the Great Streets Innovation top-up.
Grant Period
All grant activities must be completed in 18 months from conditional award unless such date is extended by DMPED in its sole and absolute discretion.
Uses of Funds
Grant funds may be used to support the following project costs:
- Up to 100% of the grant can be applied towards the following hard costs:
- Up to 35% of the grant can be applied towards the following soft costs:
- Point-of-sale and inventory management hardware and software
- Marketing materials and services, this can include a temporary marketing consultant
- Purchase and installation of movable equipment and furniture
- E-commerce sales systems to support existing operations, including B2C5 and B2B6 retail and wholesale activities.
- Public safety equipment.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for a grant under the Program.
- Status: Applicants may be new or existing and must be one of the following:
- Retail business (engaged in the sale of home furnishings, apparel, books, art, groceries, liquor store and general merchandise goods to specialized customers)
- Retail-service business (sit-down restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, bar, and other specialty food retailers)
- Child or elder care (businesses providing goods or services geared toward the enrichment of children, families, and adults)
- Arts and humanities non-profit.
Ineligibility
The following applicants are not eligible to receive a grant under the Program:
- Adult entertainment
- Auto-body repair
- Bank
- Construction/general contracting/architecture/design-build
- E-commerce business
- Financial services
- Home-based businesses
- Hotel or lodging business
- Nightclubs that do not serve food
- Professional services
- Real estate development/property management/realtor
- Businesses that have received funding from the Great Streets in the last 5 years are not eligible.
For more information, visit DMPED.
