March 8, 2023

Updates from Adams Morgan

Click Here to see previous updates in our newsletter archive

Check ObviouslyDC.com for the latest in DC government funding and grant opportunities for businesses.

Be prepared. Visit to Ready.DC.gov for preparedness information for a

variety of hazards including manmade and natural disasters.

2023 Annual Meeting on Tuesday

Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District’s (AMPBID) Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 14th, from 8:45am to 11:00am at Roofers Union , 2446 18th Street NW. A breakfast buffet will be available from 8:45am and presentations will begin at 9:30 am. Contact Kristen Barden for more information and to RSVP. The meeting will be streamed online. More details about the meeting and elections can be found on our website .

It's Time To Vote!

Board Elections: AMPBID holds elections every year at our annual meeting in March. The board consists of 15 seats, nine of which are reserved for commercial property owners and six for business owners. Board members are elected to serve three-year terms (unless they are replacing a board member who resigned before the end of their term). This year's election will be for 6 positions on the Board of Directors (4 property owners and 2 business owners). The nominations committee has concluded their work and no further board nominations will be accepted for this election.

Ballots for the election were mailed last month to all commercial property owners and businesses. If you haven't received your ballot yet please contact Brian Barrie .

Hate Bias Task Force Meeting

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia Hate-Bias Task Force Meeting

Learn how communities can come together, develop solutions to conflict, and empower themselves to prevent and resolve future conflict independently. There will be speakers from the Department of Justice Community Relations Service and the Anti-Defamation League .

Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.

Click here to join this online event.

Event Number: 2761 564 4261; Event Password: FaBPnPVp823

Join by Phone: 1-929-251-9612

Community Conversation on Public Safety on Monday at The Line Hotel

On Monday, March 13 at 6:30pm a community conversation will be hosted by the Adams Morgan Partnership BID (AMPBID) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice – Community Relations Service (DOJ-CRS) to discuss Public Safety in Adams Morgan. Speakers will include the AMPBID Executive Director Kristen Barden, Denise Nazaire from DOJ-CRS and the Ward 1 DC Council Member Brianne Nadeau. There will be presentations and opportunity for Q&A with DOJ-CRS, Miriam's Kitchen, Mayor's Office of Nightlife & Culture, the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs, and the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.

Monday, March 13; 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Adams Morgan Community Center at The Line Hotel DC

Space is limited, click here to reserve your spot.

We are working to set up a live stream for the event -- check our social media for more details closer to the event.

There will be second meeting on March 27 with different speakers and represented organizations. There will be more information about the second meeting soon.

Nightlife Task Force to Deploy in Adams Morgan

On Monday March 6, AMPBID staff and Board Members joined Mayor Muriel Bowser in Adams Morgan, along with MPD Chief Robert Contee, Ward 1 CM Brianne Nadeau and members of the public safety and community outreach teams to announce the expansion of two multiagency task forces and to raise awareness about resources and services available to improve public safety. We have been asking the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice (DMPSJ) to add Adams Morgan to the Nightlife Task Force for months now since there has been an increase in property crimes and are very pleased the Mayor heard our requests and took this action.

“When MPD has deployed targeted, multiagency task forces to specific areas of the city, we have seen how these teams can work to drive down crime,” said Mayor Bowser. “Now, we are working with the community to expand those efforts. As we expand, I remain committed to ensuring MPD has the officers the Chief needs to make these types of strategic deployments and have a strong presence in our community.”

In June 2022, Mayor Bowser launched the Multiagency Nightlife Task Force, managed by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice (DMPSJ) to bring a collaborative government approach to address violent crime and other concerns occurring in three key corridors and nightlife areas: U Street NW, Connecticut Avenue NW, and H Street NE. Starting this month, the Adams Morgan corridor will be added as a nightlife area that will undergo crime observation by the Multiagency Nightlife Task Force.

On Friday and Saturday nights, this team focuses on preventing violent crime, the operation of and seizing of illegal ATVs operated on public spaces, addressing harmful traffic conditions, and reducing general disorder and criminal activity in key corridors. Between June and December 2022, there was a 28% decrease in total crime in the U Street Corridor; a 20% decrease in total crime in the H Street Corridor; and a 616% decrease in total crime in the Connecticut Avenue corridor.

Click here to read the full press release.

We are working with the DMPSJ to set up a kick-off meeting for this task force in Adams Morgan to enable businesses to ask questions and understand the role of the task force and what to anticipate will happen.  The details for that meeting will be announced here.

Adams Morgan Date Nights Continues

Love is in the air in Adams Morgan, whether you’re looking to impress a first date, take your family out for a night on the town, or want to celebrate the "Galentine" in your life - Adams Morgan is the perfect place to show that someone special just how much you care.

Continuing through March 17, Adams Morgan restaurants and retailers will provide date ideas for every kind of relationship and occasion.

Details are available at ADMODC.ORG/DATE where you can register to win one of four fabulous Date Night prize packages! Full details and entry form are available on the website.

2023 AdMo Art Walk; Applications Now Open

DC Arts Center , in partnership with AMPBID, is proud to present the 2023 AdMo Art Walk — a free, new way to experience art! Every year, local businesses in Adams Morgan are partnered with local artists in DC, who are invited to display their work all month long in the business’ storefront. The result is a neighborhood-wide public art exhibition where Adams Morgan becomes your own personal art gallery!

This year's AdMo Art Walk will run from April 3 through April 30.

This year we have more artists and businesses participating than ever before, and while you’re free to walk the streets of Adams Morgan and admire an impressive selection of artwork displayed in various storefronts in a self-guided walking tour, members of The DC Arts Center will be offering guided tours on select weekends in April!

Join us for the biggest AdMo Art Walk ever!

Attention Artists: Applications Are Now Open

Applications Due 11:59 PM on March 16, 2023

APPLY TO EXHIBIT TODAY!

WETA's "If You Lived Here!" to feature Adams Morgan

Get ready for new episode of If You Lived Here! Guided by realtor David Bediz, join John and Christine as they visit Adams Morgan, a popular entertainment destination in D.C. with both diverse housing options and a diverse community. Tour a one bed/one bath apartment that overlooks Meridian Hill Park, a Beaux-Arts style co-op in the heart of the neighborhood, and a 100-year-old town house on a quiet street.

Watch If You Lived Here featuring Adams Morgan, D.C. on Monday, March 13 at 9pm on WETA PBS (Channel 26 in the DMV) and at 8pm on WETA Metro, or stream with the free PBS app.

Preview the episode here!

Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon returns on Saturday, March 18

The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon will once again make its way through Adams Morgan this year. As in previous years, the runners will enter the neighborhood via the Ellington Bridge and Calvert Street, continuing to the corner of Adams Mill Rd. and Columbia Rd. where they will turn left (east). The course continues east on Columbia Rd. before turning right on to Harvard St. and on into Columbia Heights.

Most road closures and detours on Saturday will be in effect between the hours of 7:00am and 2:00pm. Streets will reopen on a rolling basis as soon as the last participant has passed and all course support materials have been removed. Please review the road closure grid and course map for more information. Residents and businesses located near the race course are urged to plan ahead and be aware of road closure schedules and alternate access routes.

Click here for more information about road closures.

Fundraising Event for Joseph's House

This year, Joseph’s House will celebrate 33 years of providing holistic care to unhoused individuals by hosting Shepherding Hope, a Fundraising Event. The event will be held Thursday, May 11, 2023, at The Generator Hotel (1900 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009) from 6pm - 8pm. Tickets will be available to purchase soon! Support Joseph's House by sponsoring the event through different sponsorship levels. Email us at info@josephshouse.org to inquire about details.

Bike to Work Day is on May 19 -- Registration is Now Open!

The League of American Bicyclists began Bike to Work Day as part of Bike Month in 1956. Over the years, Bike to Work Day has grown into a widespread event with countless bicyclists taking to the streets nationwide in an effort to get commuters to try bicycling to work as a healthy and safe alternative to driving alone. In the Metropolitan Washington region, Bike to Work Day has grown from a small group of a few hundred in 2001 to an all-time high of 18,700 participants in 2017.

The Adams Morgan pit stop will be at Unity Park again this year. Adams Morgan regularly has one of the highest registration rates in the city and we plan on having refreshments and other goodies available to riders in addition to the free t-shirt. We'll be updating you with more information as the event gets closer.

Click here to register.

2023 CSA/Licking Creek Bend Farm Membership Now Open

From our friends at Licking Creek Bend Farm (from the Adams Morgan Farmers Market):

All pesticide-free vegetables and pesticide-free and IPM fruit are picked the day before. Pick ups on Tuesdays at the evening Brookland Farmers Market and in Takoma Park; Saturdays in Adams Morgan and Takoma Park

FEW THINGS FIRST:

• We're starting in May this season!
• If you don't feel you can meet the prices, PLEASE contact us and well work with you to ensure you can participate in our CSA
• Please share this with your neighbors and friends
• We appreciate volunteers at our markets
• Mark your calendars for our Annual Farm Visit Day, Sunday, June 4. More details will follow

**The CSA season is divided into 5 sessions for one a week pickups:

1. May (new this season)
2. June-July (Tuesday or Saturday)
3. August-September (Tuesday or Saturday)
4. October (Tuesday or Saturday)
5. November (Saturday only)

Membership fee:

May's fee is $100

$360.00 (9 week session); $320 (8 week session)

Click here for more information and to sign up.

Great Streets Retail Small Business Grants deadline extended to March 10

Great Streets is the District’s commercial revitalization initiative designed to support existing small businesses, attract new businesses, increase the District’s tax base, create new job opportunities for District Residents, and transform 13 emerging corridors into thriving and inviting neighborhood centers. Learn more at greatstreets.dc.gov .

Grants can be used for a variety of improvements, including storefront renovations, equipment purchases and technology enhancements to support e-commerce.

Applications are now open and will be accepted until March 10 at 5pm. Click here to view the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)

All businesses within the boundaries of the Adams Morgan Partnership BID are in a Great Streets Corridor. Click here for more information about other qualifications.

DC Attorney General’s Guidance on Disclosing Restaurant Fees

To DC Restaurant Operators: As you know, there have been a lot of questions locally and nationwide from customers, guests, and in the media about service charges and other fees added onto checks.

In response, the DC Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection sent out information this week about how restaurant fees should be disclosed on your menus. This is a move we’ve seen in a few other cities as more and more restaurants have turned to adding fees to help cover necessary costs, recovery during the Pandemic, and to support changing wage models. See below for details on the information released.

We are surprised, disappointed, and frustrated that the Attorney General’s Office issued these requirements without firstvbc engaging our industry. They reached out to us just a few days ago and we worked quickly to provide our feedback in a few key areas that would have caused unnecessary confusion.

Now we must make you aware of what has been put in place by their office so that you are in compliance. We are continuing to advocate on your behalf to provide feedback and opportunities for open lines of communication with the Attorney General’s Office.

Save the Date: There will be a webinar for restaurant operators, with staff from the Attorney General’s office at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, for you to get more information and to get all your questions answered. Register here .

Regarding the information distributed, per the Attorney General’s Office:

Restaurants and businesses are not prohibited from charging fees, but by law they should be clear, and diners should know them before they order. They should never be hidden or obscured.

Per the Attorney General’s office, restaurants should:

• Clearly and prominently disclose at the beginning of the ordering process the type and amount of all fees that may be charged. (For example, orally by servers and or in bold large print on a menu.)
• Accurately describe the reason for the fee, either by clearly naming the fee (for instance, "worker health insurance fee") or by adding text explaining how the fee is used or distributed.
• Use any fees collected from diners exclusively for the purposes disclosed (for example, by ensuring that "service fees" go fully and directly to service workers, unless other uses are prominently disclosed).

Have questions or are looking for more info? Be on the lookout for the Attorney General’s business advisory and restaurant fee disclosure brochure coming this week.

Lunch & Learn: Marketing Strategies that Work

Put your small business on the fast track to raising money and gaining new customers.

Join CNHED & SMBX as we host a free workshop and information session for DC-based small businesses where entrepreneurs, marketing gurus, and industry experts will share new approaches for driving sales and accessing capital.

Best of all - CNHED and SMBX are providing free marketing support and accounting services to eligible businesses interested in raising money on the SMBX platform. More information will be shared about this opportunity at the event. Lunch and networking opportunities will be provided.

Monday, March 20; 11:00am - 1:00pm

Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health

700 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 2000

Click here to register (space is limited)

Funding, Resources, and Opportunities from LEDC

Food Venture Initiative: Selected food entrepreneurs will have access to a commercial kitchen for 5 months as well as workshops on finance, marketing, restaurant operation, and licensing. Additionally, they will be connected with chefs and industry insiders to help refine their product and learn more about the restaurant business. This program is open to English and Spanish speakers. Applications are open until March 20th. Click here for more information.

Keeping it Cool Grant: The Keeping It Cool Grant Program will provide $400,000 in grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to support cold storage infrastructure and equipment needs of food businesses and nonprofit organizations providing food-related goods and services in the Washington, D.C. region. Eligible locations include Arlington, VA; Alexandria, VA; Fairfax County, VA; Montgomery County, MD; Prince George's County, MD; and Washington, D.C. The primary uses of this grant include investments in cold storage equipment, refrigeration infrastructure, and innovative cooling solutions. The grant will be open from March 6th-March 31st. Click here to visit the Nourish DC webpage and to apply.

Growth and Startup Loans: LEDC provides alternative financing to help build and grow local businesses in DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Puerto Rico. To learn more about our loan programs, click here .

Women's Small Business Loan: up to $2,500: Supported by the Tory Burch Foundation and Bank of America, this loan program is open to applicants from all local women-owned businesses in the DMV & Puerto Rico. The funds can be used for business needs, including purchasing equipment, inventory, hiring personnel, marketing, and more! There is no minimum revenue or minimum credit score requirement. This is a 0% interest rate loan with no application fee, no closing costs, and a 6-month repayment grace period. You will also receive 1-on-1 technical assistance from our loan officers. Learn more and apply .

Small Business Advice Program: Are you interested in starting or expanding your business? Our team of business coaches can provide you with one-on-one advice and training to help you manage and grow your business. Click here to apply.

American Small Business Growth Program: Loans and One Year of Support

Apply for the American Small Business Growth Program, get one of 700 slots! Get a full year of business support at a pay-what-you-can rate, no credit checks, personal guarantees or collateral thanks to Wells Fargo and Silver Lining. Learn more and apply.

$5K Grant Opportunity: The Catalyst Fund

Mastercard, in partnership with Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and Hello Alice, is offering $5,000 grants to help Black entrepreneurs in DC to achieve their next milestone. Deadline: March 31, 2023, at 6 p.m.

To be eligible, a business must be majority owned (51+%) by a Black-identifying entrepreneur(s), have between 1 and 10 employees, have a commitment to their customers and community, and have a clear plan to use the grant funds. Apply now

Daylight Saving Time Guidance

Daylight Saving Time will begin at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 12.

Clocks must “spring forward” or be turned ahead by one (1) hour. Any licensee that normally ends alcohol service at 3:00 a.m. is eligible to operate until 4:00 a.m. to compensate for the loss of one (1) hour.

Settlement Agreements and Board Orders may affect eligibility.

Submit your events and specials!

List your Adams Morgan events and business specials on our webpage for free! Click here to go to the event submission form, fill it out completely, and click on "submit event." Event submissions are reviewed to ensure the events either take place within the Adams Morgan business district or are being put on by an Adams Morgan business, and once approved should appear on the website within 48 hours.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sponsor one of our community events! Partner with our community while reaching some of the city's most desirable demographics. For details, contact Kristen Barden at 202-997-0783.

BOARD MEETINGS

The Board of Directors of the Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District meets on the second Tuesday of every month (except August). Meetings are currently being held online and begin at 5pm.

Our Annual Meeting is held in March. Contact Brian Barrie for information about attending board meetings.

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