Press Release: Mayor Bowser Funds Councilmember McDuffie’s $100 Million Business Support Grant Legislation

News Release — Ward 5 DC Council member Kenyan McDuffie

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 18, 2020

Contact: Jonathan McNair

Washington, DC – Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chair of the Council of the District of Columbia’s Committee on Business and Economic Development, announces that the Business Support Grants Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 will be fully funded. This legislation establishes a Business Support Grant Program to provide eligible businesses financial support to aid in their recovery from the public health emergency. The emergency authorizes up to $100 million from the CARES Act to provide COVID-19 related relief.

Following this announcement, Councilmember McDuffie said:

“When I introduced this 100m relief bill in July I knew then that this investment would not meet the needs of all of our workers and business owners. Now that another four months have passed since introduction, the situation is even more dire and the need even greater. We know that black owned businesses have been the hardest hit and are more likely to close due to the pandemic. So, while there remains much work ahead, today marks a clear commitment to continue to do all that I can to support our workers in DC and the small businesses that employ them.”

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