The Vitality Fund is a multi-year, performance-based grant program administered by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) to support businesses in relocating to or expanding within Washington, DC. The program prioritizes companies that will occupy commercial office space, particularly those moving to or remaining in the central business district, referred to as the “Vitality Fund Target Area.” The initiative aims to boost economic growth by incentivizing job creation, capital investment, and business attraction within the District.
To be eligible, applicants must be for-profit or nonprofit entities that plan to expand or relocate their operations within Washington, DC. Preference is given to businesses committing to occupy at least 15,000 square feet for a minimum of five years, create at least 30 new jobs within three years, and invest at least $2 million in capital improvements. Companies operating in key high-growth industry sectors—such as consulting services, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, financial technology, life sciences, and education and research—are strongly encouraged to apply. Furthermore, applicants must demonstrate site control of their proposed office space and provide evidence that their expansion or relocation will have a significant economic impact on the District.
Grant recipients must adhere to several program requirements, including ensuring that employees collectively spend at least 50% of their working hours on-site, engaging in workforce development initiatives for District residents, or allocating at least 5% of annual contracting to local business enterprises. Companies receiving more than $300,000 in funding must comply with the First Source requirement, mandating that 51% of new hires be DC residents.
The application process begins with an eligibility intake form, after which qualified applicants are invited to submit a full application. Submissions will be evaluated based on company overview, project description, job creation potential, and capital investment. The review process consists of multiple phases, including pre-screening, review panel scoring, and final award decisions by the Deputy Mayor. Awards will be distributed over three years based on performance milestones.
The grant application process officially opens on December 13, 2024, with a final submission deadline of August 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with evaluation periods occurring quarterly. More information, including details on grant information sessions, can be found on the DMPED website.
For additional inquiries, applicants may contact the DMPED Business Development team at (202) 727-6365 or via email at bizdev@dc.gov.
