Information Meeting for Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvemen​t Grants

Do you own a business on (or near) RIA-NE? Are you interested in opening a business on (or near) RIA-NE? Come learn how you can access up to $85,000 in grant money for building improvements to grow your business! On Thursday, December 19, from 8 - 10 a.m., representatives from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) will be at Zeke's Coffee of DC (2300 RIA-NE) to share information and answer your questions about applying for this 2nd round of Great Streets Capital Improvement grants. The 1st round has already helped 7 RIA-NE businesses, so don't miss this opportunity! The application deadline is February 17 - don't wait until the last minute! This is an informal, "drop-in" event, so stop by at any point between 8 and 10 a.m. Thursday morning. To see the boundaries for eligible business addresses, to download a copy of the funding announcement, and to learn more about the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement grant, visit www.greatstreets.dc.gov and stop by Thursday morning! What: Information session with DMPED representatives When: Thursday, Dec. 19, from 8 - 10 a.m. Where: Zeke's Coffee of DC, 2300 RIA-NE

Notice of Funding Availability Issued by DSLBD for a Rhode Island Avenue NE Main Street Operator

DEPARTMENT OF SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

 

NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY

 

DC Main Streets 

(Rhode Island Avenue, NE - Ward 5 Target Area)

 

The Department of Small and Local Business Development is soliciting applications from qualified 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations that are incorporated in the District of Columbia to operate a DC Main Streets program for the Rhode Island Avenue, NE commercial corridor in Ward 5.

 

The designated DC Main Streets program (organization) will receive $200,000 in grant funding and technical assistance to support commercial revitalization initiatives. The Rhode Island Avenue Main Streets organization will develop programs and services to: (1) assist business districts with the retention, expansion and attraction of neighborhood-serving retail stores; and (2) unify and strengthen the commercial corridor. The DC Main Streets grant award is a recurring grant.

 

The grant recipient will be selected through a competitive application process and announced September2013.  Interested applicants should review the Program’s Guidelines and submit a complete application form for receipt via email on or beforeWednesday, August 28, 2013, at 4:00 p.m.

 

The Request for Application (RFA), which comprises the application form and program guidelines, will be available on July 26, 2013 at www.dslbd.dc.gov .

 

Instructions and guidance regarding application preparation can be found in the RFA. DSLBD will host an Information Session on August 8, 2013 at 3:00 pmat DSLBD’s office (441 4th Street, NW, Washington DC 20001; photo required to enter building).  All applicant organizations must attend.  This session will be your finalopportunity to get answers to your questions.

 

For more information, contact Cristina Amoruso, DC Main Streets Coordinator, Office of Commercial Revitalization, Department of Small and Local Business Development at (202) 727-3900.

RIA Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Grants

Here's the latest information on the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Funding program:

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 partners at Washington Area Community Investment Fund and the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, visitwww.greatstreets.dc.gov orwww.friendsofria.org

Great Streets Grant Initiative-For Immediate Attention

PFrom: McDuffie, Kenyan (Council)
Subject: Re: Great Streets Grant Initiative-For Immediate Attention

Hello Ward 5 Residents,  

Over the past several months, I ushered through the Council legislation designating three Ward 5 corridors as a Retail Priority Areas: Bladensburg Road, North Capitol Street, and Rhode Island Avenue. These corridors are deeply deserving of investment by the city, and Retail Priority Area designation allows that investment to occur.

I am pleased to announce that the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) is taking advantage of these new Retail Priority Area designations by making grants available to businesses on Bladensburg Road and Rhode Island Avenue (a similar program was previously offered to businesses on North Capitol Street). The Great Streets Grant Initiative is now accepting applications for grants of up to $85,000 to support and foster growth amongst small businesses.

Eligible applicants must own retail or service business within DMPED’s specified boundaries and must satisfy other eligibility requirements. An applicant may be a property owner or a lessee. Interested business owners must submit their application online by visiting www.greatstreets.dc.gov. The deadline to submit an application is September 9, 2013 at 6:00pm.

I am pleased that, in partnership with DMPED, we are able to dedicate public resources to enhance the offerings and amenities available to our Ward 5 businesses.

Please share this announcement with business owners and entrepreneurs in the ward.

Best,

Kenyan

Exciting News for Edgewood and Ward 5

Today I stopped by Chez Hareg to grab some cookies and ran into Hareg herself.  She shared some very exciting news about her business.  She is acquiring a warehouse in Ward 5 off of Mt. Olivet Road NE not far from the intersection of Bladensburg Road because she will soon be selling her cookies in Costco!!!  I am so happy for her as her business keeps growing and anyone who stops by and tastes her pastries knows why!

What makes this even more exciting is she is planning on turning her current location on 4th Street NE into a coffee and sandwich spot!!!  Hareg also talked about her ultimate goal to open a place similar to Tryst!!

So go stop by Chez Hareg- congratulate her, encourage her interest in the coffee/sandwich/Tryst-like shop on 4th Street then treat yourself to some amazing cookies! 

Lots of exclamations points in the post but I think it is because I am just so happy for a local business that keeps growing and all that it means for Ward 5 and Edgewood!

Excel Pilates Special Offer

Hey neighbors! Our new session of classes begins today, and we're excited to involve our community! Our Pilates, Yoga, Mat and 1-on-1 training sessions provide strength, wellness, and overall health to all participating, so to give more people this opportunity, we're offering a discounted offer of 50% off a second class with the sign-up of a first class, offer ending this Friday, April 6th.

Please feel free to contact us via phone (202.269.3020), or email (info@excelpilates.com). Also, please visit our site for more information about our studio: www.ExcelPilates.com.

Thanks!

Guest Post: Introducing a Neighborhood Healing & Arts Practice

Introducing a Neighborhood Healing & Arts Practice
By Melanie St. Ours

As a little girl, I accompanied my mother on more than one occasion to welcome a new neighbor who'd just moved in to our subdivision. Mom would always bake something and walk over to the our new neighbor's house with kind words and a treat. It was an early lesson that building community and a sense of trust in a neighborhood begins with kindness, sharing, and consideration. It was a lesson in giving.

So today I am practicing what I learned from my Mom all those years ago and writing to introduce myself---and to share something with you, too. I'm a brand new neighbor at 4th and Franklin NE. My life's work is as a healing & arts practitioner and I've just opened a beautiful home studio here where I practice massage therapy, herbal medicine, personal training, and community-based theater arts. You can learn more about me and my practice at http://www.MelanieStOurs.com . Instead of bringing over a tin of cookies, I'd like to share with you five of my best tips for healthy living. My goal is to be a resource for the community. Please let me know how I can be of service through
my newsletter, blog, and through my practice itself. I'm looking forward to meeting you and sharing this neighborhood with all of you.

So with no further ado, here's the list!

Melanie's Top 5 Natural Health Tips:

Get enough sleep. Chronic sleep debt causes incredible hormonal shifts in the body that affect everything from our metabolism to our mood and mental performance. Going without sleep sets you up for weight problems, depression, anxiety, poor performance at work, increased stress hormones and a decreased tolerance for pain. The average person needs 8.5 hours of sleep each night. Our chronic lack of sleep (under 6 hours for most Americans each weeknight!) contributes directly to the epidemics of obesity, heart disease, and mood disturbances like anxiety and depression.
       
Take action. Make an effort to get to bed just 15 minutes earlier aach night. Work up to getting enough sleep so that you wake up feeling rested. If you have a hard time winding down and getting ready for sleep, drink a cup of chamomile and lavender tea with dinner and another cup about 30 minutes before bed to help aid with relaxation.

Add before you subtract. When people decide to clean up their diets, they often start aggressively, removing every food and drink that could be considered unhealthy. They clean their cabinets of packaged treats, skip their morning doughnut, cut out coffee, swear off sugar and dive headlong into dietetic purity. Even the most resolute of dieters will almost inevitably succumb to cravings or overeating on these same foods that they've banished. To make a real change we have to address why we reach for those foods in the first place and slowly transition away from them. Fatigue, stress, nutrient deficiencies, insulin resistance, and emotional eating are often at the root of poor eating. If unhealthy foods, cigarettes or caffeine is a crutch for you, the way to permanently recover is to build up your strength so you don't need the crutch anymore. It's no use to throw your crutches away when your legs are still broken; you have to recover your strength first.

Take action. Increase the nutrient dense foods in your diet. Add as many green leafy veggies as you can, and be sure to include a wide variety of natural foods that are brightly colored. Consult with a qualified provider to see if you could benefit from any supplements or special foods. Get the good stuff into your diet each day and after a few months of better nourishment you'll be amazed at how much easier it is to let go of the cookies, chips, and soda. When you are ready to start letting go of unhealthy foods, start with the ones that you're least passionate about. Love chocolate but can live without chips? Then let the chips go and let yourself enjoy small servings of chocolate.

Move your body every day. You already know how beneficial exercise is for almost every parameter of human health. Why is there such a large gap between our knowledge about the benefits of exercise and the amount of exercise that most of us do on a daily basis? I think it comes down to one thing: joy. When we exercise because it's another obligation, another “must do” to check off the list, it's easy to want to skip your workouts.

Take action. Find an activity that you enjoy---and that's challenging enough to bring a flush to your cheeks and some sweat to your brow. Focus on how good it feels to move your body---or how good you feel when your workout is over. If you still don't look forward to your workouts, build in some social support. Try something new with a friend. You can motivate each other and enjoy spending time doing something that's good for both of you.

Give and receive nurturing touch. The cascade of “feel good” hormones that your body releases when you give and receive nurturing touch is truly impressive. Massage, hugs, back scratching, light touch with the fingertips---all of these produce major benefits in terms of mental health, feelings of love and acceptance, and even boost your immunity. Don't wait to be in a romantic partnership to get the benefits of nurturing touch. If you're single, find a friend to trade backrubs with or get a professional massage.

Take action. Give and receive hugs. Get a  massage. Exchange massages with your partner. Give your best friend a backrub when her shoulders hurt and ask her to do the same for you. And yes---petting your dog or cat counts, too!

Connect to something larger than yourself. This is by far the most important of all. Human beings are seekers, meaning-makers. We naturally long to be connected to something larger than ourselves, whether that is a Higher Power as we understand it, an inspiring project, or a sense of service to others. Health is not an end in and of itself; the purpose of health is to allow us to be as strong as we can be in order to make a difference in the world and give the unique gifts that we are here to give.

Take action. Remind yourself of what matters most to you. Connect to your spirituality. Seek out activities, people and places that make you feel whole and alive. Enjoy the beauty of the natural world. Play with a puppy or a child. Embark on a creative project that excites your spirit. Dance. Give generously of yourself. Remember your ancestors, your mentors, the people who have supported you. Practice gratitude for all that you have, all that you are, all that you've
learned, and all that is coming.

Thank you for welcoming me into our neighborhood and for taking the time to read this post. I hope that you've found something here that will inspire you to take even better care of yourself and I look forward to meeting and working with you in the near future. 

WACIF's 2nd Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction

WACIF's 2nd Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction

This year’s event will be at the wonderful and beautiful Atlas Performing Arts Center in the Atlas District of H St. NE!Join us for a night of wine, music, fun and more! Enjoy the evening with an array of wine, local food from around the burgeoning H Street corridor, and a variety of numerous silent auction items for you to bid on.Who will be in attendance:Community leadersStrategic partnersPublic officialsSmall Business OwnersInterested in becoming a sponsor?! Individual, Small Business and Corporate sponsorships available! See the benefits and 'how to' by checking out our event page on WACIF's website!


Should you have any questions please contact Jeremy Cullimore at jcullimore@wacif.org or 202-529-5505.

Seminar/Ne​tworking in Ward 5-Finding Your Business a Home, Sept. 26

WACIF September Events

Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) Events

Small Business Loan Day
September 17, 2011 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Sit and speak one-on-one with a lender!Reserve your spot today for a one-on-one session with a small business lender - FREE, tailored and honest, financing advice.

Location! Location! Location!
September 28, 2011 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Need to find a home for your business? Thinking about relocating? Join us for this free seminar on small business real estate.Every business - from Walmart to McDonalds to YOURS - needs to put time and effort into the thought of where to open. Learn the tried and true principles used when choosing the best place for your business.

The Day Has Come - Chocolate City Beer Launch Party

The guys at Chocolate City Beer have finally made it through all the hurdles to open their brewery in Edgewood!!!  Come support them and help them celebrate at their official Launch Party at RFD next Thursday.  Here are the details and I hope to see you there!!!

When: Thursday night August 18th, 9pm- Close.


Where: RFD's Backroom (Chinatown- 810 7th St NW)

$4 Pints all night long and DJ O'Scool will be there!

Chocolate City Beer Update

As I am still catching up on everything from my vacation I wanted to share all the pieces of news that suggest (fingers crossed) Chocolate City Beer will be up and running this month.  Here is a little news round up on where they stand with equipment, approvals and production.  They tweeted yesterday that they would have launch party details by the end of the week!!!!!

My First Interview

Their Website Updates

City's Best Article  (I especially love them because they mention Edgewood!)

DCist Article

Councilmember Thomas' Ward 5 Community Development Expo and Small Business Emporium

Mark your calendar to attend Councilmember Thomas' Ward 5 Community Development Expo and Small Business Emporium, on Saturday, March 12, 2011. Details are listed below.

Ward 5 businesses interest in exhibiting at the Small Business Emporium (space is limited so don't delay!) or attending the mini workshops should contact Victoria Leonard at 202.727.6132 or vleonard@dccouncil.us .


Where

Kellogg Conference Center
Gallaudet University
900 Florida Avenue, NE



When

Saturday, March 12, 2011
9:30 am to 4:30 pm



Event Description
Morning Highlights (9:30 am - 12:30 pm)


·Remarks: Victor Hoskins, Nominee, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development


·Development Runway: Significant Retail Projects in the Ward 5 Pipeline
Moderator: Steve Moore, President, Washington DC Economic Partnership
Panelists:

-- Cel Bernardino, Shops at Dakota Crossing
-- Michael Henehan, South Campus
-- Scott Nordheimer and Vicki Davis,
Rhode Island Station


·Panel Discussion: Transformational Transportation-Striving to Keep Ward 5 Walkable and Pedestrian Friendly

Moderator: Harriet Tregoning, Director,
DC Office of Planning

Panelists:

-- RJ Eldridge, Director of Planning, Toole Design Group
-- Cheryl Cort, Policy Director, Coalition for Smarter Growth
-- Marlene Berlin, Chair, Connecticut Avenue Pedestrian Action
-- Scott Kubley, DC Department of Transportation


Boxed Lunch (12:30 pm to 1 pm)

Afternoon Highlights (12:30 pm - 4:30 pm)


·Small Business Emporium: Showcasing the Restaurants, Galleries, Bakeries, and Other Retail Shops of Ward 5 (featuring live jazz from David Cole and the Main Street Blues)
·Mini Workshops for Ward 5 CBEs:
-- How to Pitch Your Business in Five Minutes
-- Navigating the GSA Procurement Process--St. E's and Beyond
-- Demystifying the DC Government Procurement Process

Chocolate City Beer Brewery

I was lucky to get to meet Ben Matz and Jay Irizarry at Chocolate City Beer Brewery last Friday and get to see the building and taste their product (it was really good and not even carbonated yet!). I am impressed with both their knowledge of their craft and their commitment to grow a business that is part of the community. They have spent a lot of time cleaning out the building to get it ready and are currently waiting on electrical upgrades before they can officially start brewing for production.

While they are waiting they have been working on recipes, testing products and looking into ideas for improving their business. A few things that they are thinking of doing are adding beehives on the roof to harvest their own honey and recycling their waste products as fertilizer for local farmers or community gardens. They have also talked to DDOT about the expansion of the Met Branch Trail behind their brewery. I must admit that my favorite idea of theirs is to make a seasonal hard cider from local apples. While I am a huge beer fan I am an even bigger cider fan, so I was very excited.

A Spring launch is their hope and they will be having a launch party as well as selling to bars all over the District. I was told that we will most likely be able to sample their products at RFD, Looking Glass, the Pug and Wonderland. They will be posting a list of the bars selling their beer on their website as it becomes available. They may be able to sell kegs and large bottles from their brewery directly depending on production.

I am looking forward to them getting up and running and cannot wait to sample more of their products! I think that they are an excellent addition to our neighborhood.

New Edgewood Business T - Nails

I tweeted a couple of weeks ago about a new business that opened up in Edgewood called T - Nails at 329 Adams Street NE. I was able to stop by yesterday and check it out. The place is not fancy, but everything is clean and new. They offer hair, nail and waxing services at very reasonable prices. I did not see the hair prices, but manicure and pedicure together was listed at $30. I did not have time to get my nails done, but did get my eyebrows waxed and she did a great job and it was only $8. They are open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Free Services for Small Businesses in Edgewood

The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) is offering free business services to small businesses in the Edgewood community. They offer seminars as well as training in technical assistance, budgeting, marketing, legal advice and securing financing to name a few items.

Here are the upcoming seminars that they are offering.

Finding your Business a Home
Tips on seeking a small business commercial space,Signing a new lease or renegotiating an old one and more!
Speaker: Cyril Crocker, The Menkiti Group
September 9, 2010
6:00-8:00pm
Location: TBD

Small Business Loan Day
Meet with a panel of community small business lenders to discuss your financing needs.
September 11
11:00-1:00pm
September 25
11:00-1:00pm
Location: 1150 Varnum Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017

Know Thy Financials!
Cash Flow Statement, Balance Sheets, and Income Statements – everything you need
to know!
September 28, 2010
6:30-8:30pm
Location: 1150 Varnum Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017

Please contact them at 202-529-5505 to use their resources and ask questions! We are very lucky to have such a great community resource!

Free Services for Edgewood Small Businesses

The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) is offering free business services to small businesses in the Edgewood community. They offer seminars as well as training in Technical Assistance, budgeting, marketing, legal advice and securing financing to name a few items.

Here is an upcoming seminar that they are offering.

Starting your Small Business
A Legal Perspective
August 25, 2010 6:30pm-8:30pm
1150 Varnum Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017
Call WACIF to RSVP: (202) 529-5505

Please contact them at 202-529-5505 to use their resources and ask questions! We are very lucky to have such a great community resource!