Director's Letter Thank you for visiting the website of the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). Over the last eight years, the District of Columbia has made extensive efforts to generate greater economic participation by Certified Business Enterprises (CBE). These businesses make significant contributions to our local economy through job creation and business and tax base expansion. To that end, the District passed the “Small, Local and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Act of 2005,” which, among other things, converted the former Office of Local Business Development into the Department of Small and Local Business Development while providing the Department with greater tools and resources to assist CBEs in accessing a full range of economic opportunities in both the public and private sectors. DSLBD looks forward to working closely with the local business community, other District agencies, and numerous public and private sector partners to ensure that CBEs are well-prepared and well-informed to be significant participants in the robust local and regional economies. We are an agency committed to superior service, so please do not hesitate to contact us for assistance.