D.C. gives $600,000 to Small Businesses in Retails Grants

In the first week of May, D.C. has given out $600,000 to small businesses in retails grants while aiding one business uplift Black women entrepreneurs in the process i.e., The Blackbone Project, which is amongst one of at least 64 businesses that has received $10,000 grant from the District during Small Business Week.

Rosemary Suggs-Evans, Acting Director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development has stated that a least of 3 businesses received a grant in each of the eight wards. According to her, those businesses can use the grants at their discretion and cover extra costs which shall weigh them down, like equipment, software, rent, etc.

Stephanie Campbell, Executive Director of Blackbone also said, “What we do is we take Black women-owned businesses and build them from the ideation phase, all the way up until their business is on track to hit a million dollars. And so they don't leave with us with a million dollars, but they're on track to do a million dollars in revenue based on the education we give them, the certifications they've received... and [we] just give them all the tools they need to succeed, how to be grant ready, how to provide access to capital, what does it look to be ready to confront a bank for a loan.”

Moreover, Rosemary added, “It’s important to make sure our businesses know that the District is there for them. Mayor Bowser, again, understands how difficult it is to run a small business. And sometimes you need that little bit of help to get you over to the next week or the next month.”