LGBTQ+ Business Improvement Grant

Eastern Market Main Street

Fiscal Year 2025

Eastern Market Main Street is offering a Technical Assistance Subgrant from our annual DC Department of Small and Local Businesses Main Streets DC grant and a one-time Ward-6 specific enhancement from the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs. This grant is available only to Brick & Mortar businesses within the Eastern Market Main Street Corridor. Available funds will be divided among all qualified applicants that submit complete applications by the deadline of midnight, May 9th.

You must submit the following information to our online form linked below. Please ensure you have everything together before applying.

Business Name
Business Address
Best Contact Name, Number, and Email
Short Description of Project
Documentation of Cost Estimate (a quote, sales listing, invoice)
Copy of current Basic Business License if brick & mortar location
W9
Answer a short questionnaire.

Qualifying Projects Include:

Hard costs: Space build-out and renovations; façade improvements; and purchase and installation of heavy equipment and fixtures permanently attached to a wall, floor, or ceiling.

Soft costs: Point-of-sale and inventory management hardware and software; fees associated with expanding the business to e-commerce sales; and purchase and installation of movable equipment and furniture.

Branding and marketing support: costs including radio, TV, print ads, social media platforms of businesses, and event for businesses support.

Direct reimbursement to business owners: rent, utilities, employee wages, new product lines, costs associated with opening a new business on Corridor.

Projects must have a timeline of work between October 1st, 2024, and September 30th, 2025. All awardees must deposit the grant check within 30 days of receipt or forfeit award. All awardees are required to submit proof of grant spent by September 30th, 2025 or awardee may be subjected to return of grant funds.

Applicants must provide tangible examples of how their project/work/business supports the LGBTQ+ Community of Washington, DC. Applications without answers to these relevant questions will not be considered.

Apply Here