(Washington, DC) – On Monday, April 29 at 11 am, Mayor Muriel Bowser will kick off Small Business Week, joined by the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), DC², and the Rhode Island Main Street. While touring local businesses, Mayor Bowser will join the ribbon cutting of Bandura Designs, a women-owned interior design firm and Certified Business Enterprise (CBE), announce the recipients of the Robust Retail grants, and spotlight DC’s investments in our small and local business community. 

This showcase will celebrate small businesses and highlight investments in Mayor Bowser’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget that support small business, including:

• $4.9 million to support the Main Streets Program to promote the revitalization of business corridors; 
• $26 million to implement the BEST Act, which will simplify the business licensing process;
• $1.5 million for the DC Business Portal, which also streamlines the licensing process;
• $6.7 million for Clean Teams, which ensure our commercial corridors remain beautiful and inviting;
• And $7 million for retail grants through programs like the Great Streets initiative, the Locally Made Manufacturing program, and the Neighborhood Prosperity Fund, which help transform emerging corridors into bustling neighborhood hubs. 

WHEN:   

Monday, April 29 at 11 am

WHO:   

Mayor Muriel Bowser   
Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, At-Large and Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development Nina Albert, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Rosemary Suggs Evans, Acting Director, DC Department of Small and Local Business Development  Michaela Blanchard, Executive Director of DC² 

WHERE:    

Bandura Designs 
2216 Rhode Island Avenue NE 
*Closest Metro Station: Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood station*   
*Closest Bikeshare: 24th St & Rhode Island Ave NE*   

Press interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP to [email protected].  

The DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment will provide a live feed of this event. To view the event, visit mayor.dc.gov/live, tune in on Channel 16 (DCN), or watch on Mayor Bowser’s Facebook or X.   

Mayor Bowser X: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser
Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser
Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos