The Pepco Energizing Small Business Grant Program, in partnership with Hello Alice, is designed to provide financial support to businesses that aim to enhance access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food options in specific neighborhoods of northeast Washington, D.C. The program will award a total of eight grants, amounting to nearly $600,000. This initiative is part of Pepco's commitment to fostering economic development and community support in areas surrounding its Benning Service Center. The program seeks to strengthen the local food economy and promote a more equitable food system.

The primary purpose of the grant program is to support for-profit businesses that provide consumer-direct services related to food. The objectives include expanding or relocating these services to designated neighborhoods, thereby improving access to nutritious food for residents. The targeted areas for this initiative include Parkside/Mayfair, Marshall Heights, Carver-Langston, River Terrace, Kingman Park, Eastland/Kenilworth, and Deanwood. By focusing on these neighborhoods, the program aims to address food equity and enhance the overall health of the community.

Eligible applicants for the Pepco Energizing Small Business Grant Program must meet specific criteria. The applicant, referred to as the Officer, must be the leading executive of a for-profit business that is licensed and registered in the District of Columbia. Additionally, the Officer must be a legal resident of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, and at least eighteen years old. The business, referred to as the Entrant, must have been operational for at least two years and must be in the food or food service industry. Furthermore, the business must plan to use the grant funds to improve access to food in the specified neighborhoods.

The grant program does not require a matching contribution from applicants. The funding range for each grant is between $500,000 and $1 million. The program is open to all states, and there are no specific geographic restrictions beyond the requirement that the business operates in the District of Columbia. The application process includes submission requirements that must be adhered to, and any entries that do not comply with the program's terms and conditions may be disqualified.

Applicants will need to answer specific questions as part of the application process, which will help evaluate their eligibility and the potential impact of their proposed projects. The evaluation criteria will focus on the business's ability to provide equitable access to food, the feasibility of the proposed project, and the overall benefit to the community.

The deadline for submitting applications for the Pepco Energizing Small Business Grant Program is October 11, 2024. It is important for interested applicants to prepare their submissions in advance to ensure they meet this deadline. For more detailed information about the grant program, including application procedures and additional resources, applicants can visit the Hello Alice website.