DDOT/Great Streets: Streetscape Improvements Public Meeting Information
As we mentioned last week, DC Dept. of Transportation (DDOT) will be hosting the first public meeting (“open house” format) to solicit community input for streetscape improvements on RIA-NE on December 11th. The time and location for the meeting has now been set: 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Woodridge Library. Additionally, an information website has been set up: www.RIAnortheast.com Don’t miss this VERY important opportunity to be a part of the discussion! It is critical that the voices of members of the communities that surround RIA-NE be represented on this project. ...
Read MoreDMPED Grants of Small Business Improvements: Round 2
On Friday, the office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) announced the launch of the second round of Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Grants. The first round of this program was particularly beneficial to RIA businesses, with 7 grant awardees announced. The second round is open to any qualifying businesses that weren’t able to submit an application by the first round deadline. Additionally, if a qualifying business submitted an application and was denied, they may re-submit a revised application during this second round. The closing date for applications for the second round is February 17, 2014. Representatives from the DMPED Great Streets program will be at Tuesday morning’s Business Bites meeting to provide more information and to answer your questions. Great Streets FY14 Round 2...
Read MoreMore RIA Development Coverage
After last week’s announcement of 7 new Great Streets grants being awarded to RIA businesses, we are thrilled to see an increase in press coverage for our community’s commercial district. The latest is a series of articles by ElevationDC, a weekly online magazine that focuses on “the people, ideas, neighborhoods, companies and institutions that make D.C. great.” They have written several articles about Ward 5 businesses, and about the RIA corridor in particular. Yesterday, ElevationDC posted an article about DC Dragons/Dancarate. The article includes a profile of the business and its owners, as well as the facade improvements they planning to make with their Great Streets grant. Next up, the future restaurant, The Public Option, gets profiled (and FoRIA gets a nice shout-out!). Check out the article and this Facebook post: Post by Elevation...
Read MoreCongratulations to RIA Businesses!
Earlier this summer, we reported that the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) announced the first round of grant applications for the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Grants. At Monday’s Great Streets Award ceremony, Mayor Vincent Gray, Deputy Mayor Victor Hoskins, and our own Council member Kenyan McDuffie announced that seven Rhode Island Avenue NE businesses have been awarded grants totaling over $567,000 to improve their properties. The ceremony, which took place at DC Dragons Martial Arts Studio, was packed with business owners and community members, all celebrating this great opportunity for some much-needed improvements to retail properties along the Rhode Island Avenue NE commercial corridor. Take a look at some of the improvements you’ll see coming to the Avenue soon: The Avenue Day Spa, located at 2125 Rhode Island Avenue NE, is a new salon that will use its $85,000 award for store improvements and to install new signage. DC Dragons Martial Arts Training Center, a long-time business located at 1731 Rhode Island Avenue NE, is a family owned and operated martial arts studio that will use its $69,500 award to renovate its facility. The Material World Boutique, located at 2121 Rhode Island Avenue NE, a new retail store on the Rhode Island Avenue corridor will use its $85,000 award for façade improvements and equipment upgrades. Provost, located at 2129 Rhode Island Avenue NE, is a new restaurant that will use its $85,000 award for façade and space improvements. AA Enterprise, located at 3010 Rhode Island Avenue NE, is an automobile repair shop that will use its $73,000 award to install digital signage. ICHPROP, located at 1601 Rhode Island Avenue NE, a new restaurant that will serve the RIA communities, will use its $85,000 award for streetscape and rear outdoor area upgrades. P & G Counseling and Educational Institute, located at 2218 Rhode Island Avenue NE, is a mental health services company that will use its $84,996 award to renovate both its interior and exterior space. Stay tuned – we’ll be posting photos of the various projects as they get under way. Plus, additional rounds of grant opportunities are expected soon, so it is perfect time to think about investing on the Avenue! We’ll be helping to spread the word as soon as the next round is...
Read MoreGreat Streets Awards Ceremony!
Join us on Monday to learn which RIA businesses will be receiving grants to improve their buildings and businesses! For more information about the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement grants, visit DMPED‘s Great Streets website. And congratulations to the winners!...
Read MoreInformation 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...
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