The 2025 Robust Retail Citywide Grants program, administered by the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), aims to support existing retail businesses in Washington, D.C. by providing financial assistance to maintain their operations and long-term viability. This initiative recognizes the challenges faced by small businesses due to ongoing economic pressures and seeks to strengthen the local retail sector. Through this grant, DSLBD hopes to sustain business activity across the city and support vibrant neighborhood economies.

The total available funding for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) is $570,000, which will be distributed across two primary funding categories:

Citywide Grants: $480,000 is allocated for 48 eligible businesses, with each receiving up to $10,000. These grants are awarded through a randomized lottery system.
North Capitol Main Street Corridor Grants: $90,000 is designated for 9 businesses located along the North Capitol Main Street Corridor, with each award amounting to up to $10,000.
The grant operates as a reimbursement program, meaning businesses must provide proof of expenses incurred between October 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. Eligible expenses include rent, payroll, office equipment, business software, utilities, inventory purchases, and similar costs necessary for business operations. However, expenses such as real estate purchases, vehicle leases, legal proceedings, and home-based business operations are not eligible for reimbursement.

To qualify for the grant, businesses must be for-profit, public-facing, and physically located in a brick-and-mortar commercial retail space in Washington, D.C.. Applicants must also hold an active D.C. business license, be in good standing with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), and provide proof of a Certificate of Clean Hands (CCH). Businesses that received a Robust Retail Citywide Grant in FY2024 are not eligible for the FY25 funding.

The application period opens on February 25, 2025, and closes on March 31, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Applicants must submit their applications online via the designated portal. DSLBD will hold virtual information sessions for interested businesses, with the last date to submit questions set for March 26, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET. The lottery selection process will take place the week of March 31, 2025, and award notifications are expected to be sent on or around April 10, 2025.

All grant-related inquiries must be directed to DC.MainStreets@dc.gov, as DSLBD will not accept phone calls for questions. Additional details, including the full Request for Applications (RFA) and Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), can be accessed via the DSLBD website. Awardees must submit receipts and proof of payment within ten business days of being notified, and grant funds will be disbursed as a one-time lump sum. Failure to comply with reporting and documentation requirements may result in forfeiture of the grant.