dslbd

Department of Small and Local Business Development

Agency Home Responsive

#IbuyDC Challenge

Residents are encouraged to showcase their local finds by posting their purchases on social media with the hashtag #iBuyDC, inspiring others to shop small and local. More information about the #iBuyDC Challenge, click here!

ReFashion Pitch Competition

The FY 25 ReFashion Pitch Competition allows businesses to pitch a problem or opportunity in the sustainable fashion market with a viable solution. APPLY NOW!

ReFashion Pitch Competition

The FY 25 ReFashion Pitch Competition allows businesses to pitch a problem or opportunity in the sustainable fashion market with a viable solution. APPLY NOW!

SmallBiz Assist

In celebration of National Entrepreneur Month, DSLBD invites DC-based entrepreneurs to book a one-on-one meeting to explore our programs, connect with local resources, and grow their businesses.

To sign up, CLICK HERE.

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).

Featured Services

Current DSLBD Small Business Grants.

DC APEX

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

File a Complaint with DSLBD

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

Certification, Joint Venture

How to apply for a Joint Venture.

Commercial Revitalization

Our revitalization programs help retail corridors and neighborhoods.

District CBE Waiver Portal

Latest

Dec 2 2024

Mayor Bowser Announces Holiday Safety Initiatives and Encourages DC to Shop Local

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Director Rosemary Suggs-Evans of the Department of...

Nov 27 2024

Mayor Bowser Encourages Residents to Shop Local and Support DC Small Businesses This Holiday Season

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

Sep 23 2024

Mayor Bowser Invites Residents to Attend Art All Night 2024

Art All Night is a Celebration of Creativity, Culture, and Community in All 8 Wards

Sep 19 2024

Mayor Bowser Kicks Off Dine All Night and Celebrates the Asian Night Market Pop-Up in Downtown DC

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

Sep 18 2024

Mayor Bowser To Kick off Dine All Night at Asian Night Market Pop-Up in Downtown DC

(Washington, DC) – On Thursday, September 19 at 11 am, Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Department of Small...

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)

District CBE Waiver Portal

As the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) continues to identify and implement new ways to increase the transparency businesses have into the District's contracts & procurement process and simplify their ability to find current District government opportunities, 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 Enter