The District of Columbia (“DC,” “D.C.,” or the “District”) Department of Small and Local Business Development (“DSLBD” or the “Department”) is excited to announce that it will begin accepting applications for the Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2026 Residential Energy Contractor Support Grant (“RECS Grant”) Program, beginning March 2, 2026 at 10:00 am ET. 

The RECS Grant Program is a DSLBD initiative created to support DC Sustainable Energy Utility (“DCSEU”) Train Green program participants, as well as District-based businesses engaging in other Energy Efficiency, 1 Renewable Energy, 2 and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) training or contracting opportunities. In partnership with DC’s Department of Energy and Environment (“DOEE”), DSLBD seeks to position eligible businesses to deliver group and one-on-one trainings to District-based businesses and prepare District-based businesses for subcontracting opportunities, through back-office support (i.e., proposal/grant writing, marketing, customer recruitment, and account management). 

DSLBD intends to award up to two (2) grants of up to $48,500.00 each, with $97,000.00 in total funding available for FY26. More information about the grant opportunity is listed below. 

For this grant program, DSLBD seeks up to two (2) District-based businesses to provide back-office support (i.e., proposal/grant writing, marketing, customer recruitment, and account management) for at least 30 DCSEU Train Green program participants and District-based businesses engaging in other Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and HVAC training or contracting opportunities (with preference granted to FCSEU Train Green program participants). 

DSLBD intends to award up to two (2) grants of up to $48,500.00 each from $97,000.00 in available funding for FY26. 

The Period of Performance for the FY26 RECS Grant Program will begin on the effective date of the relevant grant agreement and will end on September 30, 2026. 

Applicants must submit all documents and attestations within the District Enterprise System (“DES”). Only one application is allowed per applicant. Applicants can save progress on an application and return to make edits before final submission. Applications will not be accepted if submitted outside of DES or after the FY26 RECS Grant Program deadline. 

DSLBD anticipates reviewing grant applications beginning on April 2, 2026, and notifying awardees on May 16, 2026, but this timeframe is subject to change.

Look for FY26 RECS Grant Program information sessions on the DSLBD EVENTBRITE page.  Outside of an information session, send all questions in writing to [email protected]. DSLBD will not take questions via telephone. The last day to submit questions is March 13, 2026, at 2:00 pm ET. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NOFA

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RFA