Deadline: 7-Jan-22
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) is soliciting applications from qualified food-related businesses seeking to expand their existing operations through the opening of a new business location in an area designated as having low food access, with priority given to locations in Ward 7 and 8.
The purpose of the Food Access Fund (FAF) Grant is to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food by securing grocery stores, and restaurants; support existing small businesses; attract new businesses; increase the District’s tax base; create new job opportunities for District residents; and transform designated emerging commercial corridors into thriving and inviting neighborhood centers.
Funding Priorities
The FY22 FAF Grant identified the following program funding priorities:
- To improve access to food options for residents of areas that currently have low food access by encouraging existing food-related businesses to expand their operations to a new location in areas with low food access, with priority given to locations in Ward 7 or Ward 8.
- To expand the local food ecosystem and support fresh food retailers and providers through grants.
- To invest in businesses, particularly small businesses:
- That are food-related businesses (see Eligible Applicants);
- That has at least two (2) years (for existing businesses) and three (3) years (for new concept brands3 ) of revenue generating operations and commit to expanding into an area with low food access;
- That maintain and/or create new jobs, with a commitment to hire District residents;
- That serves or may serve as a community anchor and impacts the community by its presence; and
- That can support existing food-related businesses and the designated area’s economic vitality by attracting new consumers and/or visitors to the area.
Funding Information
- DMPED will award up to a maximum of $7,000,000.00 in grants to successful grantees under this program.
Eligibility Criteria
- For the purpose of this RFA, Eligible Applicants will be defined as the following: Existing food-related businesses with at least two (2) years of revenue generating operations and new concept brands of existing food-related operators, which are expanding to a new business location in an area with low food access, with priority given to Ward 7 or Ward 8. Food-related businesses shall include, but not be limited to:
- Full-service grocery stores;
- Restaurants, including new concept brands by existing restaurant businesses4 or food operators, prioritizing those with a dine-in component;
- Taverns;
- Neighborhood-based eligible food operators;
- Local Business Enterprise (LBE) eligible food operators;
- Food Halls; and
- Property owners, on behalf of food-related business tenants, which must be identified. (Preference will be given to property owners who commit to securing locally minority-owned or women-owned businesses.)
- For all applicants:
- The property owners/landlords/development team of the associated project must demonstrate a commitment to support the sustainability of local business tenancy by providing specific amenities and inducements, which must include improvements, rent concessions and/or abatements. The amenities and inducements must be summarized within the Landlord Affidavit.
- Applicants must commit to commence construction on the project within eighteen (18) months of the date of the executed grant agreement.
For more information, visit https://dmped.dc.gov/page/food-access-fund