1
___________________________ 1
Councilmember Trayon White Sr. 2
3
4
A BILL 5
6
_________________ 7
8
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 9
10
______________ 11
12
To clarify, on a temporary basis, the Department of Small and Local Business Development’s 13
authority to issue grants to eligible entrepreneurs and for-profit businesses in Ward 8. 14
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA , That this 15
act may be cited as the “Ward 8 Community Investment Fund Temporary Clarification 16
Act of 2023”. 17
Sec. 2. (a) Notwithstanding section 1094 of the Grant Administration Act of 2013, 18
effective December 24, 2013 (D.C. Law 20-61; D.C. Official Code § 1-328.11 et seq.), in Fiscal 19
Year 2024 and each subsequent fiscal year, the Department of Small and Local Business 20
Development shall issue a grant in the amount appropriated for the Ward 8 Community 21
Investment Fund to the DC Community Development Consortium Institute to provide grants or 22
microloans, to eligible entrepreneurs and businesses seeking to establish or sustain for-profit 23
businesses in Ward 8. 24
(b) The following persons and entities are eligible to receive grants in the specified 25
amounts: 26
(1) Small grants and microloans of up to $5,000 in total to Ward 8 residents for 27
costs related to starting a business in Ward 8. Startup costs include business licensing and other 28
fees required to incorporate a for-profit business in the District, insurance required by District or 29
federal laws or regulations, and pre-operating costs; 30 2
(2) Grants and microloans not to exceed $10,000 in total to support small 31
businesses owned by Ward 8 residents operating in Ward 8 for at least 1 year prior to being 32
awarded the grant or microloan; and 33
(3) Grants and microloans not to exceed $20,000 total to support small Ward 8 34
businesses owned by Ward 8 residents operating in Ward 8 for at least 3 years prior to being 35
awarded the grant or microloan. 36
(c) The DC Community Development Consortium Institute may use up to 20% of the 37
total annual grant amount to support operating costs and to provide technical assistance to, 38
eligible applicants and grantees. 39
(d) The DC Community Development Consortium Institute shall submit a quarterly 40
report to the Department of Small and Local Business Development detailing: 41
(1) The number of applications received; 42
(2) The number of grants issued; 43
(3) The amount of money issued per grant; and 44
(4) A list of entrepreneurs and businesses who were awarded grants in the 45
past quarter, a description of the business or business proposal, and a copy of each grant-winning 46
application and supporting materials. 47
(e) The DC Community Development Consortium Institute shall 48
give Ward 8 residents control over the deployment of capital received from the grant 49
through a grant-review committee comprised of nine (9) Ward 8 residents 50
selected annually through an open application process. The DC Community Development 51
Consortium Institute shall establish procedures to identify and eliminate conflicts of 52
interest with potential recipients through the grant-review committee, and provide 53
technical and administrative support to the grant-review committee, as necessary. 54 3
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact. 55
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact 56
statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 57
October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1 301.47a). 58
Sec. 4. Effective date. 59
(a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by 60
the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review 61
as provided in section 602(c)(2) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 62
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(2)), and publication in the District of 63
Columbia Register. 64
(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect. 65
66