Home Sweet Home

July 31, 2020

Phase 2:

Updates from Adams Morgan

Click Here to see previous updates in our newsletter archive

For the latest from the DC government, refer to: https://coronavirus.dc.gov


CALL TO BUSINESSES TO SIGN UP: District Bridges Partners with DC Shop Small for DC Dog Days : An Event To Encourage Virtual Shopping Across the District! PLUS, Pups in the Parklets !

Dog Days DC will take place online on Saturday, August 8th and Sunday, 9th. Businesses across the District are encouraged to participate, and many will be offering special sales, gifts with purchase, discounts, and more. Business owners must sign up to participate using this form and have an online e-commerce presence (products sold online can be anything from gift cards, retail products, electronic services, and carryout/delivery food options). To assist businesses who are not currently using an e-commerce platform, District Bridges will put together a webinar on its educational platform Access Point to help business owners get started.

The Adams Morgan Partnership is an organizational partner with the event this year and is encouraging neighborhood businesses to participate. It is FREE for businesses to participate . We will be promoting the participating businesses via social media and our consumer email list.

And, we can’t host a DC Dog Days Sidewalk Sale without DOGS ! In honor of the sale, we’re hosting a Pups in the Parklets event that same weekend - Saturday, August 8th and Sunday, 9th! We are encouraging people to bring their dogs to Adams Morgan that weekend while they enjoy the outdoors. If your business has a water bowl for pets, please let us know so that we can promote your dog-friendly business. If you have dog treats, please be sure to offer them to guests that visit with their pup! If you'd like the Adams Morgan Partnership to purchase a box of dog treats for you to distribute that weekend , please email bbarrie@admodc.org . Let guests know that they can share their favorite pet photos by tagging @admobid!



Announcing 5th Round of LISC Small Business Relief Grants

LISC is now accepting applications for its fifth grant round; the deadline is August 3rd.

LISC Small Business Relief Grant

LISC national office has opened up a fifth round of its small business grant funding, and is accepting applications through Monday, August 3. In the past four rounds, 8-12 DC businesses have received grants and we expect that trend to continue in this next round.

  • Grants will be made in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. Here is the link to apply .
  • Priority is given to entrepreneurs of color/women/veteran owned businesses
  • A subset of the funding is being directed specifically to women and people of color owned salons, barbershops and child care centers.
  • Award winners are selected via a lottery process.

Further details on the program can be found here .


Extended PPP Deadline:

Funding assistance is still available!

The new deadline to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan is August 8, 2020. If you have any questions or are unsure whether or not you qualify, please contact us for assistance.




New Hours at Kalorama USPS

The Kalorama USPS located at 2300 18th Street will have new retail hours effective September 1, 2020.


The new retail hours will be:

Monday - Friday: 10am to 5pm

CLOSED for lunch from 2pm to 3:30pm

Saturday: 9am to 12pm


PO Boxes will be accessible:

Monday - Friday 10 am to 5 pm

Saturday 9 am to 12 noon



Update from RAMW

We know you all treaded lightly this week and assessed service options waiting for any updates on operational allowances, and we are relieved that officials across the region were all on the same page in terms of not dialing back in this region at this time. As of now, DC and MD have not dialed back at all and VA only saw a dial back for the specific region of Hampton Roads, as we shared earlier in the week. This is positive news as leaders are watching cases very closely, and do not feel that current status, though continuously focused on health and safety, warrants any changes at this time . It is also good news on timing as we officially announced the dates today for our Summer Restaurant Week program, which will be held August 17-30 across the region. This long-running promotion has been completely retooled to include a new focus on takeout packages, curbside pickup, cocktails to go, and on-premise dining. Restaurants can dial up or dial back as needed to accommodate their operations and comfort level. More on Summer Restaurant Week at RWDMV.com , or email rw@ramw.org for questions or to sign up as a participant.

In DC, Mayor Bowser said there is no imminent plan to roll back dining activities or allowances. As always, this is subject to change if we see an increase of cases in the city. It is critical that you continue to enforce the latest mask order to ensure community spread does not increase. As a reminder, guests of your restaurants are ONLY permitted to remove the mask when they are eating or drinking, which means guests and employees MUST wear a mask at all other times whether indoors or outdoors. Businesses are now required to post signage on their exterior doors stating that a person may not enter unless the person is wearing a mask. In Wednesday’s press conference, the Mayor stated businesses can call 911 to make a complaint, if a customer refuses to wear a mask.

Earlier this week, the Council held the final vote on Councilmembers McDuffie and Allen’s Business Support Grants Amendment Act that creates a new grant program for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 and the public health emergency. The legislation provides a number of measures of relief for our community, and while this is a HUGE win for our industry, the legislation requires funding up to $100 million from the CARES Act, and today’s passage does not guarantee that this grant program will be fully funded. The legislation passed with unanimous consent, which sends a strong message to the Mayor’s Office regarding the need for funding. We will be firmly advocating to ensure this grant program is funded, and may need your engagement, so please stay tuned.

Finally , new RAMW member, Whole Armor Security Services, can assist you with enforcing social distancing and face mask requirements, which we know can be challenging at times. They specialize in restaurant, bar and venue security, and are offering a promotional discount to all RAMW members. You can contact them directly at 202.570.5360 or visit their website . Additional resources for PPE and other products, vendors, and services are available here .

As a reminder, the Adams Morgan Partnership distributed table tents a couple weeks ago to remind patrons to wear masks at restaurants. If you are interested in receiving more (or didn't get any in the first printing), please email us at bbarrie@admodc.org .



Help Strengthen the Call for Federal Funding for DC

Let’s make sure Congress hears how important COVID-19 relief funding is to the District of Columbia.

Key Updates on the FC2’s Federal Funding Efforts:

  1. On July 10th, the FC2 re-sent its letter on behalf of more than 425 regional businesses in support of funding for the District .
  2. On July 21st, Mayor Bowser sent a new letter calling on Congress to Provide Equal Funding for DC in Next Coronavirus Relief Bill .
  3. On July 23rd, Congresswoman Holmes Norton held a press conference with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senator Tom Carper and Senator Chris Van Hollen to preemptively advocate for equal treatment of DC in the next coronavirus response bill .
  4. On July 24th, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, sent a letter making the case for DC funding as a matter of civil rights and racial justice .

Federal City Council Needs Your Help! Take Action:

As Federal City Council heads into a final week of negotiations, the need to show diverse constituent support for local funding is more important now than ever. They invite you to support these efforts in two ways:

  1. The FC2 has built a tool, DistrictStrong.org , that will allow individuals to reach key members of Congress by sending letters. The letters urge quick action on the next state and local funding package, as well as equal treatment for the District.
  2. Send your letter using this link .
  3. SHARE this link with your family, friends and colleagues and encourage them to add their support.
  4. Share this issue with your network! Use DistrictStrong.org to connect with key elected officials, other business stakeholders and any media outlets who may be interested in elevating this issue.

If you would like to learn more about, or join the FC2’s efforts to secure adequate federal funding for the District of Columbia in coronavirus response, please contact Maura Brophy at mbrophy@federalcitycouncil.org .


 

Webinar: DCSEU Small & Medium Business Incentives

CNHED and District Bridges are delighted to partner with the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) to convene an information session ab out a new DCSEU program offering free remote energy audits and enhanced incentives on ene rgy-efficient equipment upgrades for the small and medium business market.

This webinar will provide local small and medium businesses considering and/or planning to make capital improvements an overview of DCSEU's incentives and rebate levels.


The incentives cover the following areas:

  • Lighting
  • Refrigeration
  • Commercial Restaurant Equipment

You’ll also have an opportunity to ask questions too!

Thursday, August 6, 10:00AM

Click Here to register



Metro to Add More Buses, Trains, and Extended Hours as Part of COVID-19 Recovery Plan Beginning Sunday, August 16

Last week, WMATA announced that they will be extending their hours beginning Sunday, August 16.

You can also sign up for the Lyft program , which has been enhanced to better meet the demand.

Click Here for more information.



Federal Assistance Needed for DC Metro & Transit

During a news conference earlier this week hosted by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) with industry leaders, Paul J. Wiedefeld made the following comments.

“Here at WMATA, the scale of the financial crisis we are facing is enormous -- on average we have been losing approximately $2M in revenues every weekday since March.

Thanks to the passage of the Cares Act by Congress in the spring, federal funds together with management reductions, have enabled Metro to provide critically needed service for essential trips during the peak of the virus.

The funding has also given us the ability to begin bringing back a large portion of our pre-COVID levels of service to support the national capital region’s economic recovery.  This is particularly important in Washington as we provide transportation to thousands of federal employees who are starting to come back to work to support our national economic recovery.

We also used Cares Act funds to keep our employees working, which avoided thousands more adding to the unemployment rolls facing the nation.  Importantly, these funds have allowed us to protect the health of our workforce and customers by allowing us to take actions such as altering work schedules and using rear door boarding to minimize exposure to the virus.

Unfortunately, the Cares Act funds to Metro will dry up later this year, at the same time our fare revenues are projected to continue to be down approximately 90%, and our local and state funding sources continue to face financial crises of their own.

The reality is that, without additional federal funds, we are left with some very difficult choices to deal with a looming financial crisis that run counter to the economic recovery we all want.”





#AdamsMorganStrong video launched to highlight Adams Morgan businesses, raise money for Adams Morgan Day

We've put together a short music video highlighting dozens of our 240+ small businesses that need your help during these difficult times so that we can have more laughs, more meals together, more fun, and more time TOGETHER. Consider making a donation at admodc.org/support to support Adams Morgan Day. We will send you a free #BuyRestaurantBonds poster with a $50 donation or all five of them with a $200 donation.


video

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