2025 Ward 8 Community Investment Fund Grant Program
The Department of Small and Local Business Development is excited to announce that it will begin accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2025 Ward 8 Community Investment Fund Grant Program (referred to as "Ward8CIF") starting on July 17, 2025. The Ward8CIF Grant Program is an initiative by DSLBD aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business in Ward 8. It provides funding opportunities that support equitable access to capital and promote sustainable business growth and long-term success, specifically for businesses in Ward 8 that are operated by residents of Ward 8 in DC.
The Ward8CIF Grant Program is a DSLBD initiative created to enhance the ease of doing business through funding opportunities that support equitable access to capital and promote sustainable business growth and long-term success, specifically for Ward 8-based businesses operated by Ward 8 DC residents.
DSLBD intends to award between forty-three (43) and eighty-six (86) grants of up to $10,000 each from the $430,000 in available funding for FY25. All business expenses reimbursed by the FY25 Ward 8 Community Investment Fund Grant must have occurred between January 1, 2025, and July 17, 2025. In addition, FY25 Ward8CIF grant recipients will be expected to comply with reporting requirements ending on or around September 30, 2025.
Businesses interested in applying must register and apply online using the following link: https://bit.ly/FY25Ward8CIFGrantApplication. Note: If typing the link in a browser search bar, the address must be typed with the exact case and capitalization as written above.
Applicants must submit all documents and attestations using the online application portal. Applications or application materials will not be accepted if submitted outside the online application portal or after the FY25 Ward8CIF Grant Program application deadline.
Application Process and Key Dates
DSLBD anticipates reviewing grant applications in late August 2025 and notifying awardees on or around August 28, 2025. This timeframe is subject to change.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 18, 2025, 2:00 PM ET
DSLBD will offer several opportunities for prospective applicants to receive guidance about the grant program, application process, and receipt submission, as described in the table below:
July 21 at 11 AM https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/ae323aee-ad72-43e7-9568-38452f8bf374@8fe449f1-8b94-4fb7-9906-6f939da82d73
July 23 at 10 AM https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/9dff62a8-d522-498c-af85-2276ebd8d802@8fe449f1-8b94-4fb7-9906-6f939da82d73
July 29 at 5:30 PM https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/f1219f76-964d-4478-b5e1-8cca93c253c6@8fe449f1-8b94-4fb7-9906-6f939da82d73
UPDATE REGARDING BUSINESS to BUSINESS: Service Providers Grant (May 28, 2025):
DSLBD has rescinded the Request for Applications for the Business-to-Business ("B2B") Service Provider Grant Program that was posted on January 17, 2025. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to check the Department's Current Funding Opportunities page for information on future grant opportunities.
