March 27, 2024
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.
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Welcome to our new Safety Ambassadors!
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We have two new Safety Ambassadors patrolling the streets of Adams Morgan this week! Jamal Winfield and Aja'Nae Swinney have joined current Safety Ambassadors Omar Castillo and Stephen Brice.
The Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District continues to strengthen their public safety efforts by hiring two additional Safety Ambassadors, growing their safety team from two to four people. A fifth person will be hired soon. The two new hires, Aja’Nae Swinney and Jamal Winfield will join existing ambassadors, Omar Castillo and Stephen Brice, in patrolling the streets of Adams Morgan, DC. The Adams Morgan Safety Ambassador program provides a highly visible presence at the street level throughout the neighborhood. They are deployed throughout the streets, alleyways, and business corridors. The Safety Ambassadors leverage the effectiveness of local law enforcement and work in collaboration with DC’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The new Ambassadors come to us through a partnership with Stealth Protection Services, a premier protection company for local, national and international needs.
In addition to supplemental safety services, the Safety Ambassadors also get to know Adams Morgan residents, visitors, and employees. They assist in providing an extra level of hospitality and help to address quality of life concerns in the community. Safety Ambassadors work seamlessly to provide in-person responses to non-violent calls for service, conduct safety escorts for businesses; and offer helpful guidance to community members and visitors about local information, directions, parking, and more. They are vital in communicating with business and property owners while keeping a pulse on neighborhood happenings. These individuals not only keep neighborhood streets safe - but they also are a liaison to people experiencing homelessness and meet with Miriam’s Kitchen outreach staff regularly.
The new safety professionals were hired and trained on Tuesday, March 26 and will be working through mid-September. Their 24 weeks of service is funded by the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety and Justice’s Safe Commercial Corridors Grant. In addition to expanding Adams Morgan’s Safety Ambassador program, the Adams Morgan Partnership BID plans to purchase new exterior security cameras for neighborhood businesses to assist with improvements to their security monitoring and safety protocols.
Between all four ambassadors, Adams Morgan has additional safety coverage daily. Sunday hours are 10am-8pm, Monday hours are 10am-8pm, Tuesday hours are 10am-12 midnight, Wednesday hours are 10am-12 midnight, Thursday hours are 10am-12 midnight, Friday hours are 12 noon-12 midnight, and Saturday hours are 12 noon-12 midnight. The Safety Ambassadors can be reached by calling 202-315-9069. In the event of an emergency, call 911 first, then call the Adams Morgan Ambassadors.
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(left to right) Jamal Winfield, Omar Castillo, Aja'Nae Swinney
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AdMo Art Walk returns in April
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Adams Morgan will soon become your own personal art gallery thanks to the
AdMo Art Walk
, a free, fun way to experience art brought to you by the
Adams Morgan Partnership BID
, The
DC Arts Center
, local artists, and neighborhood businesses! Walk the streets of Adams Morgan and admire an impressive selection of local artwork displayed in storefronts starting April 8 through April 30. Thanks to overwhelming support from the community since the event’s initial launch in 2020, the Art Walk continues to gain momentum – which enables us to bring you the biggest event yet with 19 participating businesses and 23 local artists.
The community is invited to attend the AdMo Art Walk opening reception on
Thursday, April 11 from 6:30-8pm
. The event will begin outside of DC Arts Center (2438 18th St NW). Attendees will take a free guided tour of the artwork alongside participating artists. Upon arriving at each artist’s “stop”, they will speak to the group about their art, process, and more. No tickets required - open to the public!
Each Saturday throughout the event, The DC Arts Center will be offering
FREE guided walking tours
of the AdMo Art Walk making brief stops at each location to discuss the artwork, artist, and local businesses. Space is limited so please
reserve your spot here
.
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Mayor Bowser's 7th Annual Spring Cleanup:
Saturday, April 27 at Unity Park
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The month of April presents organizations, individuals, and communities with the unique opportunity to take action across the district for Earth month. Mayor Muriel Bowser calls on all DC residents to get out and help keep DC trash free by participating in one of our 8 Districtwide cleanups. You can participate individually, with your family, or host a small group with your friends and neighbors!
WARD 1 location is at Unity Park – 1771-1795 Columbia Rd. NW
Register to participate here
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WMATA's Fleet of the Future Expo
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Metro is hosting the
Fleet of the Future Expo
on the National Mall now through April 3, 2024. We’re going back to the future and putting a model train on the National Mall for the first time since our first railcars were produced over 50 years ago!
The Expo provides family-friendly fun, giving you a sneak peek at our new 8000-series train mockup with open gangway design, new 60-foot electric bus, photo opportunities, and a pop-up shop selling Metro merchandise. We hope to see you there!
Dates and Times:
March 20-April 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
daily
Location:
On the National Mall at the intersection of 12th St and Madison Dr NW
Transportation:
Use the Smithsonian stop on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines. Take the 12th and Jefferson streets exit and take a left at the top of the escalator. Nearby bus routes include Metrobus 3F, 33, 52, 59, 63, 64, 70, 79, S2, and the DC Circulator National Mall Route.
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Columbia Road Bus Priority Project:
Comment Period Extended to April 1
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Information on the project can be found on DDOT's
Columbia Road Bus Priority Project page
. DDOT will be accepting public comments on this project through
March 15
April 1.
This plan will drastically change Columbia Rd., NW by eliminating most of the parking and isolating some businesses far away from loading zones. Additionally, the two blocks between 16th St. and 17th St. will have a center bus-only lane and no curbside parking or stopping of any kind.
To leave feedback about the project, visit
their website
, go to the Bus Priority Project Survey, select “Specific Project Feedback” and then select “Columbia Road NW from 16th St to California Ave” from the list.
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Save the Date! Spring PorchFest is set for Saturday, May 4
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We'll have more details as we get closer but we've set the date for the spring edition of DC's favorite neighborhood music festival -- Adams Morgan PorchFest! It'll happen on Saturday, May 4 from 2pm - 6pm, and we're working to make it the best one yet!
We've received tentative approval from the city to close 18th Street for the event again!
Want to participate?
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Performers
: The
band signup form is live here
for new and returning bands.
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Hosts
: Past hosts recruiting started last week. If you're interested in hosting, please email
Brian Barrie
with your street address and any relevant details. We're continuing to grow the event but we want to ensure that new hosts are far enough away from existing hosts to avoid music crossover but not so far away that it will draw attendees away from the rest of the event.
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Volunteers
: It takes a lot of people to make Adams Morgan PorchFest a success and we couldn't do it without our volunteers. If you're interested in helping out (at PorchFest or our other events) please fill out
this form
.
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The 2024 CSA/Licking Creek Bend Farm Membership Is Now Open
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All pesticide-free vegetables and pesticide-free and IPM fruit are picked the day before CSA pick ups
A Few Things First
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If you don't feel you can meet the prices, contact us and we'll work with you to ensure you can participate in our CSA
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Please share this with your neighbors and friends
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We welcome volunteers at our markets
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Mark your calendars for our Annual Farm Visit Day, Sunday, June 2. featuring the UKULECTIC UKULELE ORCHESTRA!
The CSA season is divided into 4 sessions for one a week pickups:
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June-July (Thursday or Saturday)
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August-September (Thursday or Saturday)
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October (Thursday or Saturday)
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November (Saturday only)
Membership fee:
We have not changed our prices from last season.
$360.00 (9 week session); $320 (8 week session)
Pick up places and times are on the
Membership Form
and below.
A CSA is a Partnership
As a "partner", we experience together the ebbs and flows of the season. Some weeks yield more than others, the weather plays a significant role in the yield, and as the season progresses, produce grows at its own pace. This is why some weeks there will be smaller yields and other weeks abundance. We've found that the weeks balance out in relation to the cost. By the end of the season, it had balanced itself out, so please be patient and we'll do our best to keep you informed of the ebbs and flows. If you are new to our CSA, please read some of the comments from our members below.
How to Sign Up --
2024 CSA Membership Form
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If you plan to pay by check, please send your Membership Form and check to the address on the form. Make out the check to: LICKING CREEK BEND FARM.
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If you plan to pay electronically (VENMO), email back your Membership Form using a simple Word document. Anything else will be a problem for us to open. The form is in Word, so fill it in, save it in the Word doc it already is in and email it back – and indicate which payment method on the form.
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Registration is open for Bike To Work Day
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Bike to Work Day is set for Friday, May 17
and our Adams Morgan Pit Stop will be set up in Unity Park from 7:30am - 9:30am.
Register now
and we'll have a free t-shirt along with refreshments and other goodies for you to enjoy.
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Unity Park Closed for Resurfacing
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The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the DC Department of General Services (DGS) would like to inform the community that Unity Park (located at Columbia Rd NW/Champlain St NW/Euclid Street NW) has closed for resurfacing. They will update the community once the renovation is complete.
Residents are welcome to contact DPR's Customer Care Center by phone at (202) 673-7647 or by email at
dprcustomercare@dc.gov
should you have any additional questions.
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Robust Retail Grant Applications Open
Grants of up to $10,000 are available to District small businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
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Background:
More than $4 million has been awarded to District businesses since the Robust Retail grant was launched in 2019.
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Apply Now:
Applications are
accepted until April 15
.
More Funding Alerts
Several other grant opportunities are also open for local small businesses.
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Food Waste:
The ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund supports restaurants to reduce food waste by preventing waste, donating surplus food, or composting.
Applications are open now
.
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Backing Small Business:
Supported by American Express, eligible small businesses can apply for up to $10,000 to expand their business.
Apply by April 7
.
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For Women Owned Businesses:
The
Angeo City FC Grant Contest
offers up to $1,000 to launch or grow their existing business.
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American Dream Awards:
Up to $1,000 in grants are available for businesses demonstrating innovation, outstanding contributions to the community, or sustainable practices.
Applications due April 30
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Reminder: Renew Streatery ABCA Endorsement by Monday
Friendly reminder: In addition to their ABCA license, restaurant and bar Streateries must renew their endorsements from the District Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration.
Apply Now for RAMW Internships
Applications are also open
for RAMW 2024 summer internships. This hands-on opportunity is ideal for students with a public policy interest in small business or hospitality industry.
Contact Che
with any questions.
Graduation & Spring Holiday Marketing
Let RAMW help you market your event spaces, menu offerings & large format catering options for the upcoming season to our audience of Metropolitan-area diners.
Sign up today
for our Private/Graduation & Spring Holiday Dining campaign. Graduation marketing registration deadline is April 15.
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Project Update For Your Area-Small Diameter Water Main Replacement Project
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Week of March 25
California Street NW, between 18th and 19th Streets NW
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Monday, March 25 – Friday, March 29:
Throughout this week, we are performing water service reconnections to individual properties at this location
Belmont Road NW, between Columbia Road NW and 18th Street NW
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Monday, March 25 – Friday March 29:
Throughout this week, we are performing water service reconnections to individual properties at this location
Week of April 1
California Street NW, between 18th and 19th Streets NW
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Monday, April 1 – Friday, April 5:
Throughout next week, we will continue with water service reconnections to individual properties at this location
Belmont Road NW, between Columbia Road NW and 18th Street NW
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Monday, April 1 – Friday, April 5:
Throughout next week, we will continue with water service reconnections to individual properties at this location
Please keep in mind that these construction activities are highly dependent upon favorable weather conditions. Questions should be directed to Director of Community Affairs Emanuel D. Briggs, (202) 787-2003 or
emanuel.briggs@dcwater.com
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Small Business March Webinars
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DC Small Business Tax Deadline Reminders with OTR
Thursday, March 28, 2024, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The tax filing deadline for calendar year filers is April 15, 2024!
The Department of Small & Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to host our government colleagues from the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) for this important reminder session about the upcoming general tax deadline of April 15, 2024.
For more information, please see the OTR website for business taxpayers: https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/service/business-taxpayers
For questions about accessing this session, please reach out to the DSLBD Inno.ED team at Inno.ED@dc.gov.
Register here
for Corporations on March 21 and Tax Reminders on March 28. We are here to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your filings, either directly or by routing you to the right support. Our offices, including DLCP and OTR, have partnered up to ensure that you have the information needed so that your filings are completed accurately and on time. We are committed to providing you with the support you need to get your filings done right.
DC Businesses Host a Summer Youth through MBSYEP (
Watch the Recording Now!
)
Session was held Monday, March 18, 2024, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Watch the video on YouTube
here
, for this session to hear from the Department of Employment Services (DOES) Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP) for this information session for DC employers interested in hosting youth in summer 2024.
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Discover how you can increase access to capital for your business
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SB Works offers tailored support services to the local small business community—specialized training, on-demand advisors, experienced consultants, subsidized facade improvements, and even community project management. From grant application assistance to website design, we are here to make the lives of small business owners easier, and their businesses more successful.
If you're interested in some of our services, or soliciting help with your small business, reach out! We are happy to help with:
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Registering your business
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Long term strategy and forecasting
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Grant application assistance
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Business Certification and Accreditation
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Marketing and Sales strategies
Storefront Improvement Program
Spruce up your storefront with new signage.
Contact SB Works
to see if your business is eligible.
Free Digital Marketing Assessment
Need basic website creation and social media management help for your business?
Contact SB Works
today!
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FY24 Business Funding Opportunities
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New and ongoing funding opportunities from the DC Government:
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Robust Retail Grants Commercial Property Acquisition Fund
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Applications are accepted until April 15.
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Creative and Open Space Modernization Tax Rebate
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Open for Applications
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Downtown Recovery Grant
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Open for Applications
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Great Streets Retail Small Business Grant
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Open for Applications --
Deadline extended to March 29
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Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund
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Open for Applications
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Locally Made Manufacturing Grant
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Open for Applications
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Neighborhood Prosperity Fund
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Open for Applications
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Special Event Relief Fund
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Open for Applications
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Vitality Fund
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Open for Applications
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Walter Reed Retail Opportunity Grant
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Opening February 2024
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All Things Green Grant (DSLBD)
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Open for Applications
Go to
ObviouslyDC.com
for more information on all of these programs.
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Upcoming DC Chamber Events
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SAVE THE DATE! Small Business Summit
The DC Chamber of Commerce 2024 Small Business Summit will convene leaders from across local & federal governments and the small business industry for a deep dive into the state of the District of Columbia’s small business industry and the future vision, policy, and programs for all businesses. Join us and be a part of shaping the future of small businesses in DC and beyond! Registrations are now open and sponsorships are available. This is an opportunity you won't want to miss!
WHEN:
April 30, 2024 / 7:30 am to 3:30 pm
WHERE:
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
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💸Shea Moisture Grant
Black-owned businesses who are registered and based in the U.S, in operation for at least two years, with at least $25,000 in annual revenue, are eligible.
More information
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💸Accion Opportunity Fund
The Accion Opportunity Fund grants small business loans ranging from $5,000-$250,000, along with educational resources, coaching, and support networks in both English and Spanish. This program offers mentorship programs, microloans, and a hubzone program for small business owners’ financial needs.
More information
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💸Funding for Latino-Owned Businesses
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.
Apply online
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💸 Amazon Black Business Accelerator
The Amazon Black Business Accelerator is dedicated to helping build sustainable equity and growth for Black entrepreneurs by enabling their success as sellers.
More information
.
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💸 Wish Local Empowerment Program
Wish is dedicating a $2M dollar fund to give roughly 4,000 Wish Local small business grants for black-owned biz. The selected recipients will receive between $500 - $2000. This program will only be open to Black-owned stores to help promote equality and diversity.
More information
.
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💸 2024 Amber WomensNet's Grant
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Rolling
Learn more here
In 1998, we gave our first Amber Grant in honor of 19-year old Amber Wigdahl, who died before fulfilling her business dreams. Today, we award three $10,000 Amber Grants each month. And three of our 36 monthly winners get an additional $25,000 Year-End Amber Grant.
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Additional Funding Opportunities:
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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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BOARD MEETINGS
The Board of Directors of the Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District meets on the second Tuesday of every month (except August, October, and December).
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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©
Adams Morgan Partnership
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