Information Session: Great Streets Capital Improvement Funding
Here’s the latest information on the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Funding program: As mentioned in a previous post, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development (DMPED) has released the first round of grant applications for the Small Business Capital Improvement grants, with funding up to $85,000 to use for starting or improving small businesses. The funds can be used for such projects as facade improvement, renovations, and some equipment purchases. There will be a series of information sessions for small businesses, including one for Rhode Island Avenue at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 22nd, at the Woodridge Library (1801 Hamlin). If you are a small business on Rhode Island Avenue NE, and are interested in pursuing this fantastic grant opportunity, please plan on attending the the information session on Monday. Additionally, FoRIA is available to help you with the application process, along with our parters at Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) and the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce...
Read MoreRIA Businesses: “Great Streets” Grants Now Available!
Great Streets Funding Announcement Released Today’s issue of Funding Alert, from the Office of Partnerships and Grant Services (OPGS), included the release of the funding announcement we’ve been waiting for – the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Grant. This is a phenomenal opportunity for Rhode Island Avenue business grantees to get reimbursed for renovations and certain pieces of equipment and fixtures. To find out more and download the complete application, visit www.greatstreets.dc.gov. Got questions? Email us! ...
Read MoreWMATA: Rhode Island Ave-Baltimore Ave Study Update
As mentioned earlier this month, WMATA has launched a study of the Rhode Island Avenue and Baltimore Avenue bus lines. Yesterday, we received this update from WMATA representative Douglas Stallworth: “Since we had our project kick-off meeting with other Metro staff and representatives from DDOT, Maryland DOT, Prince George’s County Department of Transportation & Public Works and Maryland National Capital Park and Planning yesterday, I thought you would like a status update on the project. We discussed the following: Scope of the project including an analysis of the following which will lead to improvement recommendations: Assessment of current transit service in the corridor on Routes G8, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86 and T18 Traffic operations assessment Condition of bus stops and shelters Condition of the bus fleet Availability of transit information Bus fare payment characteristics and issues Safety and security concerns Tentative date of on or about July 10 for a rider survey on the above routes Focus group meeting would be held in late July at a location to be determined First series of public meetings would be held in late August at locations to be determined after schools reopen in the District and Prince George’s County to avoid rider vacations” The rider survey, scheduled for July 10, will included a blitz of survey forms available on all of the bus lines listed. Additionally, WMATA has set up a website for this project, where the survey will also be available electronically and you can track the progress of the study, including dates and locations of public meetings. It is critical to have your voice be heard in improving the bus line access along our corridor. Be sure to take part in the survey and public meetings – we’ll help keep you updated with information about this project as it becomes available....
Read MoremoveDC Public Workshops: The Future of Transit in the District
Tonight’s meeting at the Lamond Riggs Library marks the beginning of the 2nd round of the moveDC public workshops. The strategic planning initiative, developed by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is intended to develop long range plans for multimodal transportation in the District. Transportation plans affect everyone in the District. This is a particularly important topic for those of us living along a major corridor like Route 1/Rhode Island Avenue. With significant development happening on the Maryland side of Rt. 1, it is critical to to develop a plan that will reduce traffic congestion. There are multiple public workshops scheduled during the month of June, including two webinars for any community members that are unable to attend any of the public events. For more details about the programs, as well as dates, times, and locations of the workshops, please visit www.wemovedc.org. Information for tonight’s meeting is: When: June 6, 2013 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Where: Lamond Riggs Library – 5401 S. Dakota Ave....
Read MoreWMATA to begin Rhode Island Avenue/Baltimore Avenue study
WMATA is scheduled to begin a Metrobus study soon, with an eye towards improving the bus lines on the Rhode Island Avenue/Baltimore Avenue corridor. Currently, there are no Rhode Island Avenue NE bus lines that travel between downtown DC and along Baltimore Avenue in Maryland. To get from a location such as the new apartments in Hyattsville to downtown DC, a commuter using public transportation cannot simply take a bus down what appears to be a very direct route to DC. Instead, they must take at least one bus trip and transfer to a metro station, or make multiple bus transfers to get to their destination downtown. What could be a simple 20-30 minute bus ride ends up taking up to an hour and a half, depending on the mode of commute. As development in Mt. Rainier, Hyattsville, and College Park increases, it is critical to have smart options available for commuters to reduce the number of cars being added to the roads. According to Douglas Stallworth of WMATA, they are hoping to begin the process in June. There will be public meetings to give everyone an opportunity to speak out on any proposed changes. We’ll keep you posted on any news or developments, and you can also follow the progress via a WMATA web page for the study: The Metrobus Rhode Island Avenue Line...
Read MoreFoRIA earns a coveted technical assistance opportunity
We are very pleased to announce that today we received notification that FoRIA has been selected as one of the teams to participate in the DC Vibrant Retail Streets Technical Assistance program. The DC Office of Planning, in conjunction with Streetsense, will be holding customized workshops to help selected areas throughout the District apply the retail diagnostic assessment and the DC Vibrant Streets Toolkit to retail streets. After the workshops, two technical assistance sessions will be held with each community. The workshops will also leverage the Toolkit’s research on best practices, metrics, and innovative approaches for successful management of commercial districts. This is a very exciting opportunity, and we look forward to getting your feedback along the way. Many thanks to the DC Office of Planning and the entire Vibrant Streets team for coordinating this program! We’ll be sure to keep you all updated at each stage of the project, so be sure to check back here often! And if you haven’t done it already, make sure you sign up for our email list, and you can also follow us on Facebook and...
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