Ward 8 Community Investment Fund Grant

The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) of the District of Columbia is administering the Fiscal Year 2025 Ward 8 Community Investment Fund Grant Program (Ward8CIF) to support Ward 8-based businesses owned by Ward 8 residents. The program aims to enhance the ease of doing business by providing equitable access to capital, fostering sustainable business growth, and promoting long-term success for the targeted local business community. Applications open on July 17, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time and close on August 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Between forty-three and eighty-six grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded from the total $430,000 available. All reimbursable business expenses must have been incurred between January 1, 2025, and July 17, 2025, and recipients must meet reporting requirements through September 30, 2025. Eligible applicants must be for-profit businesses incorporated with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, actively operating in Ward 8, selling legal goods and services, and licensed to provide those services at their Ward 8 location. The business must have fewer than twenty-five full-time employees and not be a FY24 Ward8CIF awardee. The majority owner must reside in Ward 8, hold at least 51% ownership, and not have received FY24 Ward8CIF funds. Businesses must meet good standing, licensing, and clean hands requirements, have completed an Equitable Access to Capital survey within the last 18 months, and have no suspensions or terminations from District grant programs within the past five years. Ineligible businesses include non-independent franchises, nonprofits, and those engaged in illegal activities. Applications must be submitted via the online portal, and materials will not be accepted outside this platform. An optional early submission and eligibility review deadline is set for July 31, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Questions may be submitted by email to Inno.ED@dc.gov until August 14, 2025, at 2:00 PM. DSLBD will hold virtual information sessions on July 21, 23, and 29, and optional drop-in office hours on August 6 and 13. The selection process involves an eligibility review, followed by a lottery to determine finalists, who will be invited to submit receipts totaling up to $10,000 in allowable expenses for review. Allowable expenses include administrative costs such as rent, wages, insurance, software, utilities, and inventory purchased within the eligibility period. Disallowed uses include debt repayment, expenses outside the allowable period, costs already reimbursed by other DC grants, personal expenses, alcohol, prohibited construction, donations, lobbying, real estate purchases, vehicle purchases or leases, and undocumented expenses. Finalists must submit proof of expenses and payments by deadlines stipulated in their notification. Disbursements are anticipated in a lump sum via electronic funds transfer or third-party payor by September 30, 2025, with award notifications expected by September 29, 2025. The program requires that awardees maintain eligibility until funds are disbursed, comply with DSLBD’s reporting and survey requests, and provide additional pre-award documents as requested. Applicants must adhere to all requirements in the RFA and NOFA, and DSLBD reserves the right to amend, suspend, or terminate the funding opportunity. The program is funded through local appropriations under the FY25 Local Budget Act of 2024 and is subject to applicable District and federal laws. Applicants bear all costs of application preparation and must ensure the accuracy of submitted information, as false statements can lead to forfeiture or penalties. Contact for the program is via email to Inno.ED@dc.gov. All applications and required documentation must be complete, compliant, and submitted within deadlines to be considered. The grant offers a targeted investment in Ward 8’s business ecosystem, aiming to strengthen local economic resilience and equitable access to capital for small business owners residing in the community.