September 14, 2022
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.
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We need your Adams Morgan Pedestrian Zone (AMPZ) feedback!
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Attn: Adams Morgan Businesses, residents, and visitors
This year’s series of pedestrian zones is basically a pilot project and we need your input to help determine its future. There are three available surveys -- please fill only those that are appropriate for you, and please encourage your friends and contacts to do the same.
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Business survey, AMPZ#1
(August 21) -- this survey is specifically for businesses in Adams Morgan (not just in the Pedestrian Zone area), just for the 1st AMPZ
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Business survey, AMPZ#2
(September 4) -- this survey is specifically for businesses in Adams Morgan (not just in the Pedestrian Zone area), just for the 2nd AMPZ
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Visitor Survey
- This is for residents, visitors, etc. who attended one or more of the Pedestrian Zones.
All of these surveys as well as more information about the Adams Morgan Pedestrian Zone (and a
FAQs page
) can be found on our website at
admodc.org/ampz
.
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The DC Office of Planning is hosting a survey on their website to get the public's feedback on Streets for the People events including the Adams Morgan Pedestrian Zone. This feedback is very important to help inform future programs.
The survey can be found here.
The Adams Morgan Pedestrian Zone will return on Sunday, October 23 with more fun activities and a few surprises.
Watch this space and our social media for updates as we get closer.
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Adams Morgan PorchFest returns on Saturday, October 1!
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Everyone's favorite single-day music festival is returning to Adams Morgan on Saturday, October 1, so mark your calendars now and make plans to join us.
We're partnering with
Cultural Tourism DC
again this year and they're recruiting volunteers to help put on the show. Join the fun! Help us make Adams Morgan PorchFest an amazing experience. Check the volunteer positions and register to volunteer
here
.
Bring PorchFest Attendees Into Your Business
We're bringing back the popular
wristband discount program
again this year. It's free for Adams Morgan businesses to participate and the wristbands will be distributed for free to attendees. Participating businesses will be highlighted on the printed and digital map as well as in our social media posts.
Click here
to download the flyer (including sample discounts from last year) or
email Brian Barrie
for more information.
Deadline to participate is Monday, September 26,
but we are beginning to roll out our event marketing that mentions the specials, so the sooner you sign up, the more people will see your specials.
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The Adams Morgan Farmers Market is open for the season on
Saturdays from 8:30am – 1:00pm
, rain or shine, at UNITY PARK, Columbia Rd and Euclid St. NW. The market will be open every Saturday through December.
Music at the Farmers Market
With help from a grant from the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), we have hired a musician to perform at the farmers market on Saturdays. On most days, Brandon Woody will be playing his trumpet at the market.
Click here
to read a profile of Brandon in BmoreArt.
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Updates from the Small Business Administration
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SBA Microloan Program
Looking for capital for your small business? The SBA Microloan Program provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit childcare centers start up and expand. The average microloan is about $13,000.
Click here
for more info.
SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program
Do you have questions about SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program?
Get them answered during our office hours on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. EDT
. Call in only: 202-765-1264; Phone Conference ID: 217121169#.
Click here
for more info.
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Comcast RISE Investment Fund grants
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Comcast is doing a second round of its
Comcast RISE Investment Fund grants
in Washington, DC. This means they are awarding 100 DC small businesses owned by People of Color and Women with $10,000 each. Comcast awarded $10K grants to 100 DC small businesses in 2021. This represents a $2M investment by Comcast in the success of DC small businesses!
Important dates:
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October 1-14, 2022 – RISE Grant Application Window
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The RISE grant application window for small businesses will be from October 1- October 14.
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November 22, 2022 - RISE Grant Winners Announcement
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Winners will be announced on November 22nd.
Click here
for more information and to apply.
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Your Input Matters!
Building Permitting Experience for Small Business Owners
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The Department of Small & Local Business Development is sharing this message on behalf of the Mayor's Office of Policy and Innovation, inviting feedback from DC small businesses to help improve permitting processes.
The
Mayor's Office of Policy and Innovation
is collaborating with all district agencies and partner organizations to improve small business owners' building and public space permitting processes. With this focus, they will ensure that any innovations from this project will positively impact small business owners permitting experience while also improving everyone's permitting experience.
They can't do this work without you! They need to gather information directly from small business owners about their experiences with the permitting process. Please complete this survey to share your experiences. The data collected from this survey will be a critical input to proposed innovations to the process.
Please complete this survey by midnight, Sunday, September 18th.
If you have any questions about the survey, please get in touch with Dr. Lindsay Quarles via email at
Lindsay.Quarles@dc.gov
.
Take the Survey Now!
Crowdbuilding for Capital
Crowdbuilding for Capital seeks to make equity investment via crowdfunding accessible for women and BIPOC owners of DC-based businesses.
Free Pilot Services to help democratize the starting line for DC business founders often excluded from investment financing with priority for women, black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) founders.
All are welcome to the webinars!
Click here
for info and to register.
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2022 DC Chamber of Commerce Retail Summit: The Future of Retailers - In-Person - September 27, 2022
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Join the DC Chamber of Commerce for the 2022 Retail Summit: The Future of Retailers hosted in partnership with DMPED. This in-person conference features panel discussions addressing what the future holds for the retail industry and opportunities for growth. Take advantage of networking opportunities & connect with local businesses during the Vendor Showcase. Featured Sessions include Cyber Safety & Continuity Planning; Retail Readiness; Legal Do’s and Don'ts; and Innovation in Marketing: Personalizing the Ever Changing Consumer Experience. The luncheon keynote will feature remarks from Mark Mathews, VP of Research Development and Industry Analysis at the National Retail Federation (NRF). Participants will also participate in a vendor showcase.
Click here
for more information and to register.
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2022 State of the District and Region Conference - Virtual - September 30, 2022
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The 2022 State of the District and Region Conference is the DC Chamber of Commerce annual conference featuring panelists and speakers including prominent business representatives and leaders, health directors, higher education administrators, workforce development leaders, regional and local elected officials. This year’s keynote speaker is Sheree Anne Kelly, President & CEO, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Event panels include:
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State of Business Recovery and Economic Development (Presented by DMPED)
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State of DC Health (Presented by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield)
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State of Education & Workforce Development
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State of the District and Region (Presented by Exelon)
Click here
for more information and to register.
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Credit Card Swipe Fees: Take Action Today
There recently was an important piece of proposed bipartisan legislation introduced - the
Credit Card Competition Act of 2022
– which would increase competition among payment processors by allowing restaurants and other businesses to choose which networks to process their credit card transactions, ultimately driving down fees.
Accepting credit cards is a necessary cost of everyday business. But those swipe fees are one of the highest costs for every restaurant owner, and there is no ability to negotiate or find competitive solutions for rates other than the ones set by the credit card companies.
RAMW's national partners have been working on this issue for years and earlier this summer joined Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Roger Marshall to help introduce the
Credit Card Competition Act of 2022
.
RAMW and other restaurant associations and industry voices across the country are engaged now in efforts to urge Congress to act on this now.
Let Congress know how important this bill is for you and
take action today
.
Other items:
The deadline for employers of DC tipped workers to certify they have a sexual harrasment policy in place has been extended to September 30.
Learn more and self-certify here
. Our partners at CPA Eats posted a good summary of the requirements, which you can
read here
. Contact us for referrals to RAMW Allied Members if you need assistance.
DC Council holds a hearing about the Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act on Sep. 22. The far reaching proposal could possibly affect operators who use direct mail or purchase ads on social media. Contact
che@ramw.org
to learn more.
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DC Circulator: Virtual Public Meetings for 2022 Proposed Service Changes
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The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) invites you to attend virtual office hours to learn more about the
2022 Proposed Service Changes
. These office hours allow the public to ask questions and provide feedback regarding the recommendations. The following are the remaining dates and access links for the virtual office hours.
Click here
for a list of virtual office hours and meeting times.
Submit Your Feedback
The public comment period for feedback on the final recommendations will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 23, 2022.
For details on the proposed service changes, project virtual office hours and meeting dates, or additional information, visit the
TDP Proposed Service Changes website
. Please utilize the comment form if you request DDOT staff to attend a standing community meeting or event to share more about the proposed changes.
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Extended Holiday Hours
There are four (4) holiday weekends remaining in 2022 that are eligible for extended hours. They include:
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Indigenous Peoples' Day Weekend
| Friday, October 7 – Monday, October 10
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Veterans Day Weekend
| Thursday, November 10 – Sunday, November 13
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Thanksgiving Day Weekend
| Wednesday, November 23 – Sunday, November 27
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Christmas Day Weekend
| Friday, December 23 – Monday, December 26
Establishments registered in the program may sell and serve alcohol until 4:00 a.m. and operate 24 hours a day. Extended hours start the evening of the first date and end at 4:00 a.m. on the last date.
To register, licensees must submit an
Extended Holiday Hours Application and Public Safety Form
at least 30-days before the first approved holiday that they would like to participate. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. There is no fee to participate.
Alcohol License Renewal Deadline | Friday, September 30
Alcohol licenses for all B&Bs, nightclubs, and taverns expire at the end of September
. Licensees who do not renew timely will be subject to a late fee of $50 per business day, not to exceed the annual license fee, starting on Monday, October 3.
The Alcohol Beverage Control Board will issue Cease and Desist and Cancellation Orders on Wednesday, October 19 and Wednesday, November 2, respectively. MPD and wholesalers will be provided copies of the Orders. Licensees who have questions about attaining Certificates of Clean Hands from the District’s Office of Tax & Revenue are encouraged to listen to the
recorded information session
.
If you hold a license expiring on September 30 and you have not yet received your renewal packet in the mail, please email abc@dc.gov with "Missing Renewal Packet" in the subject line. License and endorsement fees are detailed on
ABRA’s website
.
Trainings & Presentations
ABRA hosts trainings and information sessions on an ongoing basis. All sessions are offered virtually and are free with advanced registration. Upcoming sessions include:
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MPD Reimbursable Detail Officer Program
:
Thursday, October 13 at 10:30 a.m.
Get an overview of the program which enables alcohol licensees to hire off-duty police officers at a subsidized rate. Co-hosted by the Metropolitan Police Department.
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ABC 101
:
Tuesday, October 25 at 10:30 a.m.
An introduction to ABRA, key alcohol laws and regulations, and best practices.
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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.
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©
Adams Morgan Partnership
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