The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (“DMPED”) invites the submission of applications from qualified organizations for the 2026 Chinatown Lease Incentive Grant Program
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: 06/22/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The purpose of the Program is to provide grants to support small businesses that (i) have or will sign long-term leases of at least five (5) years in the Chinatown neighborhood in the District of Columbia (“District”) and (ii) maintain or enhance the cultural heritage of the neighborhood.
The Program will provide up to $125,000 in total grant funding in FY2026 to Eligible Entities to offset the costs of rent or eligible tenant improvements, contingent on the availability of an appropriated budget in such amount. Successful applicants may receive the awarded amount annually for a total of up to five (5) years, subject to the availability of funds and annual certification that the awardee remains in the lease agreement outlined in this RFA, and compliance with the terms and conditions of the grant agreement.
Funding Information
$10,000 – $125,000.
Uses of Funds
Grant funds may be used to support the following costs:
- Eligible rent payments.
- Eligible tenant improvements. Grant funds may be used to fund eligible tenant improvements costs incurred from the release date of this RFA until the end of the initial period of performance. Examples of eligible tenant improvements include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Interior facade improvements that do not impact structure (i.e lighting, open layouts, carpentry, cabinets, countertops, room partitions, flooring, painting/wall coverings, ceiling fans, doors, windows, hardware);
- Plumbing and electrical installations;
- Engineering or architectural design fees;
- Built in fixtures or millwork; or
- Large immovable furniture.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered an eligible entity
- Applicants must be an Eligible Entity and shall:
- Be registered as an entity in the District of Columbia;
- Be in good standing with the District of Columbia’s Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Department of Employment Services (DOES);
- If the applicant is a for-profit entity, be registered as, or be eligible to be registered as, a certified business enterprise;
- Have fewer than 30 full-time employees;
- Sign or intend to sign a long-term lease of a commercial property; and
- Offer retail, educational programs, entertainment, food, or other services or activities that maintain and enhance the cultural heritage of the Chinatown neighborhood.
- Applicants must demonstrate that the property where the business is or will be located is an eligible property (“Eligible Property”) located within the Chinatown neighborhood.
Ineligibility
The following applicants are not eligible to receive a grant under the Program:
- Adult entertainment
- Auto body repair
- Bank (retail)
- Cannabis or entheogenic plants and fungus businesses
- E-commerce business without a brick-and-mortar location
- Home-based businesses
- Insurance office
- Medical office provider (except urgent care center)
- Nightclub (CX/DX license from ABCA)
- Phone store
- Realtor office
- Seasonal business (only open part of the year)
- An electronic equipment facility that is primarily occupied by electronic and computer equipment that provides electronic data switching, transmission, or telecommunication functions between computer, both inside and outside the facility
- Other entities that do not maintain or enhance the cultural identity of the Chinatown neighborhood
- Entities otherwise not included in the list of eligible entities
- Any entity that has previously received funding from the Chinatown Lease Incentive Program.
For more information, visit DMPED.
