dslbd

Department of Small and Local Business Development

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MadeInDC: Pull Up and Pitch Series

2024 Made in DC: Pull Up & Pitch Series

This is an exciting opportunity for Made in DC Certified maker businesses to showcase their innovations, network with fellow entrepreneurs, and gain valuable insights from industry experts.

FY24 Green Book

Mayor Muriel Bowser released the Fiscal Year 2024 Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Opportunity Guide, also known as the Green Book, and, for the first time ever, announced a spending goal of $1.2 billion.

District CBE Law Reform

The Executive has listened to the small and local business community and has been working hard on strengthening the current CBE Law to weed out non-local CBEs, streamline payments to CBE subcontractors, and increase penalties for bad actors, among other comprehensive changes.

CBE Eligibility Wizard

Using the CBE Wizard, you can begin the process of helping your business become a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE).

DSLBD Updates Regulations Governing Local, Small, And Disadvantaged Businesses Enterprises Contracting

Small and Local Business Development, Department of - Notice of Final Rulemaking - Amending 27 DCMR Ch 8 - Amending rules to reflect changes made by the Small and Certified Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Amendment Act of 2014

All-New District CBE Waiver Portal

DSLBD is proud to announce that we have improved the Agency Subcontracting Requirement Waiver Requests Page by creating an all-new District CBE Waiver Portal (made possible through the District Enterprise System).

Featured Services

Current DSLBD Small Business Grants.

Certification, Joint Venture

How to apply for a Joint Venture.

DC APEX

DSLBD offers personalized business counseling and competitive insights for navigating the...

Commercial Revitalization

Our revitalization programs help retail corridors and neighborhoods.

File a Complaint with DSLBD

Complaints regarding the CBE Program can be filed with DSLBD via phone, email or mail.

District CBE Waiver Portal

Latest

Jul 18 2024

Celebrating the 2024 Olympics in the #SportsCapital: District Announces Extended Venue Hours During Upcoming Special Events

(Washington, DC) – Today, with the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics less than two weeks away, the...

Apr 29 2024

Mayor Bowser Kicks Off Small Business Week with Small Business Showcase on Rhode Island Avenue Main Street

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Department of Small and Local Business...

Apr 28 2024

Mayor Bowser to Kick Off Small Business Week with Small Business Showcase on Rhode Island Main Street

(Washington, DC) – On Monday, April 29 at 11 am, Mayor Muriel Bowser will kick off Small Business...

Apr 24 2024

Mayor Bowser Celebrates Digital Empowerment Day and DC’s Status as a Top Tech Hub with Donation of 160 Chromebooks to Local Businesses

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser proclaimed and celebrated ‘Digital Empowerment Day’...

Apr 23 2024

Mayor Bowser to Celebrate Digital Empowerment Day

Event to Celebrate DC as a Top Tech Hub with Donation of 160 Chromebooks to Local Businesses

Jan 9 2023

Wishing You A Prosperous New Year

Sep 16 2020

Letter from the Director - CBE Law Reform

Click Here To View The Mayor's Press Release Click Here To View The Official Letter from the...

Apr 29 2020

DSLBD: Small Biz Quarterly | FY20 Q2

DSLBD SmallBiz Quarterly FY20 Q2 Download PDF (with access to links via online viewing) View in...

Feb 13 2020

DSLBD: SmallBiz Quarterly | FY20 Q1

DSLBD SmallBiz Quarterly FY20 Q1. View newsletter in Slideshare. Download newsletter...

Oct 15 2019

DSLBD: The Small Biz Quarterly I FY19-Q4

DSLBD FY19 Q4 Small Biz Quarterly Newsletter: https://www.slideshare.net/DSLBDDC/dslbd-...

Feb 14 2024

Fiscal Year 2023 Performance Oversight Hearing Testimony of Acting Director Rosemary Suggs Evans

Good morning, Chairperson McDuffie, members of the Council, my colleagues in the local business...

Feb 8 2023

Fiscal Year 2022 Performance Oversight Hearing for: Department of Small and Local Business Development

Before the Committee on Business and Economic Development The Honorable Kenyan McDuffie,...

Feb 9 2022

Fiscal Year 2021 Performance Oversight Hearing Testimony of Director Whitfield

February 9,2022 Before the Committee on Business and Economic Development Kenyan McDuffie,...

Jun 14 2021

Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Oversight Hearing for the Department of Small and Local Business Development

Statement of Kristi C. Whitfield, Director, Before the Committee on Business and Economic...

Feb 10 2021

Fiscal Year 2020 Performance Oversight Hearing Testimony of Director Whitfield

Good Morning, Chairman McDuffie, members of the Committee, staff, and residents of the District of...

Feb 3 2023

Bowser Administration Cuts the Ribbon on the First Black-owned Restaurant in Woodley Park

Sep 22 2021

Mayor Muriel Bowser Kicks Off 10th Anniversary of Citywide Art and Cultural Festival - DC Art All Night

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES: September 22, 2021

Jul 27 2020

Public Notices: Proposed Rulemaking (N0094810)

The Director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development (“Director”), pursuant to...

Mar 22 2020

Small Business Recovery Microgrants

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Mar 18 2020

Update on DSLBD's Operating Status During COVID-19 Emergency

While the District of Columbia Government began modifying its operations starting Monday, March 16...

Feb 13 2020

DSLBD Director Kristi Whitfield Hosts 2nd Episode of Mayor Bowser's Every Opportunity to Rise Podcast

Access to capital is critical for many small business owners and DSLBD Director Kristi Whitfield...

Feb 13 2020

DSLBD Director Kristi Whitfield Hosts Mayor Bowser's Every Opportunity to Rise Podcast

DSLBD Director Kristi Whitfield was honored to host Mayor Bowser's Every Opportunity to...

Dec 6 2019

Director Whitfield, Culture Coffee Too Owner Join DC Storefront Podcast

This is a fantastic episode featuring DSLBD Director Kristi Whitfield and Ms. Veronica Cooper,...

Aug 1 2019

Anacostia Residents Seek Development Without Displacement

Anacostia Residents Seek Development Without Displacement WAMU.com, 8/1/19 Most D.C....

Aug 1 2019

Kojo In Your Community: Small Businesses, Entrepreneurship And Employment East Of The River

Kojo In Your Community: Small Businesses, Entrepreneurship And Employment East Of The River WAMU....

Department of Small and Local Business Development

Office Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm

Connect With Us
441 4th Street, NW, Suite 850 North, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 727-3900
Fax: (202) 654-6032
TTY: (202) 727-3900
Email: [email protected]

Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)

Current Funding Opportunities

Just Cannabusiness RFA Medical Cultivator Grant

The District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that it will be soliciting applications for the Fiscal Year 2024 Just Cannabusiness Medical Cultivator Grant. DSLBD intends to award grants in amounts ranging between $2,000 and $50,000 from the total $300,000 available for medical cannabis cultivator grants.