2024 mams small business Grant IS OPEN.

Grant Opens:  Tuesday, May 28th

Grant Deadline: Friday, June 14th @ 5:00 PM

Project end date: Friday, June 21st 

I.  About Minnesota Avenue Main Street (MAMS)

Minnesota Avenue Main Street (MAMS), a program under H Street Main Street, Inc. (HSMS) works with corridor businesses and stakeholders to strengthen the commercial district at the heart of our community.  The Minnesota Avenue corridor is one of the largest historic commercial districts located east of the Anacostia River, home to downtown Ward 7. Minnesota Avenue Main Street is committed to ensuring that the small businesses and residents who have long anchored the community can benefit from and help accelerate its significant growth, with new and planned developments. Minnesota Avenue Main Street is a designated DC Main Streets program, which is funded by the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development.

II.  About the Grant:

The MAMS 2024 Small Business Grant provides  funding  to  businesses  located  within  the  Minnesota Avenue Main Street corridor.  The grant will operate as a reimbursement grant for eligible expenses incurred to maintain business operations and viability between October 1, 2023, through May 15, 2024.

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2024.

APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THEIR AWARD STATUS BY FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2024.

III.  Application Process:

All awards are subject to approval by Minnesota Avenue Main Street and the availability of funds. Submitting an application does not guarantee a grant award. MAMS reserves the right to amend this announcement and program description after its issuance.

Applications should be submitted electronically via the online application form. Submitting an application does not guarantee a grant award. All documentation is subject to verification.  

Businesses that apply and meet all eligibility requirements by the final deadline, June 14, 2024 by 5:00 p.m. ET, will be placed in a lottery for a MAMS Small Business grant. All required documentation listed in the application must be submitted for the application to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. MAMS will evaluate applications and determine eligibility based solely on the documents provided by the applicants and the availability of funds. 

IV.  Eligibility:

To qualify for a grant, the applicant must:

• Be incorporated in the District of Columbia as demonstrated by a current DC business license.
• Be a for-profit entity; non-profit organizations are not eligible.
• Have a physical presence located within the boundaries of Minnesota Avenue Main Street. Businesses can verify whether their business is within the boundaries here.
• Have at least 3 years left in their lease, verified by submitting a copy of the lease. For businesses thatown their own property, they will need to provide proof of ownership.
• Complete a Business Health Check (BHC) administered by MAMS by June 14, 2024.
• Submit a complete application and all required supporting materials by the deadline of June 14, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

The following types of businesses are not eligible to receive grant funding:

• Adult entertainment and/or other age restricted businesses
• Gas stations or automotive repair
• Banks or other financial services
• Home-based businesses
• National chains or regional chains with more than 5 locations
• Seasonal businesses
• Any organization that discriminates against individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, nationalorigin, age, marital status, personal appearance, gender, sexual orientation, family responsibilities,political affiliation, physical handicap, or any other protected class under the DC Human Rights Act and/or any federal anti-discrimination statute or regulation
• Churches and nonprofit organizations
• District of Columbia government agencies
• 
  

V.  Required Documents:

1. Active DC Business 
2. Office of Tax & Revenue (OTR) Certificate of “Clean Hands” issued April 2024, or later
3. IRS W-9 Form - 2018 or later
4. Complete a Business Health Check (BHC). To complete a business health check, contact Kesia Minor at  mams@hstreet.org.
5. Lease agreement or proof of ownership.

VI.  Disallowed Use

MAMS  will not allow the use of the grant funds for reimbursing disallowed costs which include, but are not limited to, the following:    

• Expenses incurred before October 1, 2023 or after May 15, 2024
• Expenses that are reimbursed by a different grant from DC government  
• Any interior or exterior construction not permitted by DC Code 
• Costs to bring legal charges against or to lobby or influence the District of Columbia government  
• Any undocumented expense 
• Donations or charitable giving to non-profits organizations
• Vehicle purchase
• Real estate purchase
• Any activity, goods, or products deemed illegal by the District of Columbia 
• Any activity, goods, or products deemed ineligible by MAMS in its sole discretion

VII.  Selection Criteria and Review Process  

MAMS will select grant recipients through a lottery process. Eligible applications will be assigned a number. MAMS will use a random number generator to develop an ordered list of selected recipients. Selected grantees will need to complete reimbursement expenditure reporting for qualified business expenses from October 1, 2023 through May 15, 2024.

VIII.  Contact Information

Businesses interested in learning more about the grant program or who have questions can contact Minnesota Avenue Main Street at 202-543-0161 or mams@hstreet.org.