Press Release: Councilmember McDuffie’s Bill Paves the Way for New COVID-19 Relief Grants for Small Businesses
News Release — Ward 5 DC Council member Kenyan McDuffie
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Contact: Narrean Marsden
Washington, D.C. — Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chair Pro Tempore of the Council and Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, and his Council colleagues unanimously passed legislation that amends grant-making authority provided to the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) for small business COVID-19 relief.
This amendment clarifies that the $40 million placed in DMPED’s fiscal year 2022 (FY22) budget shall support the reopening, recovery, and long-term viability of small businesses operating in the restaurant, retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectors that have incurred revenue declines, costs, or financial losses due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses from these sectors can use awarded funds to support their outstanding rent, payroll and labor, inventory, and operating expenses (i.e., utilities, insurance, and PPE). Grantees must be District-based small businesses that made less than $5 million in gross revenue each year in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Following passage of this legislation, Councilmember McDuffie said:
“During the FY22 budget season, the Council heard resoundingly from small businesses that the revenue declines borne by the impact of COVID-19 left them needing financial assistance to cover rent and other expenses. The ongoing pandemic and impact of the new Omicron variant have only exacerbated these challenges. This impact has stifled many small business’ ability to pay and retain staff, invest in inventory, and pay ongoing rent. So, these emergency grant funds are essential to helping meet the needs of small businesses and the workers whom they employ, as they struggle to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. I am grateful for the support of my Council colleagues who voted unanimously in support of this amendment.”
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Time is of essence. The time to start the process of actual application and disbursement of these funds is way past due. Today I was in Landlord Tenant court on an eviction hearing. I had hoped to safe my business from this but too late now.
After my court hearing I went by Naan and Beyond the best Indian Cusine in DC for the last 25 years only to find a note at the door that December 31 2021 was their last day in business in DC due to COVID.