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A BILL 1
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25-498 3
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 5
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To clarify, on a temporary basis, the Department of Small and Local Business Development’s 10
authority to issue grants to eligible entrepreneurs and for-profit businesses in Ward 8. 11
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA , That this 12
act may be cited as the “Ward 8 Community Investment Fund Temporary Clarification Act of 13
2023”. 14
Sec. 2. (a) Notwithstanding section 1094 of the Grant Administration Act of 2013, 15
effective December 24, 2013 (D.C. Law 20-61; D.C. Official Code § 1-328.11 et seq.), in Fiscal 16
Year 2024 and each subsequent fiscal year, the Department of Small and Local Business 17
Development shall issue a grant in the amount appropriated for the Ward 8 Community 18
Investment Fund to the DC Community Development Consortium Institute to provide grants or 19
microloans, to eligible entrepreneurs and businesses seeking to establish or sustain for-profit 20
businesses in Ward 8. 21
(b) The following persons and entities are eligible to receive grants in the specified 22
amounts: 23
(1) Small grants and microloans of up to $5,000 in total to Ward 8 residents for 24
costs related to starting a business in Ward 8. Startup costs include business licensing and other 25 ENGROSSED ORIGINAL
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fees required to incorporate a for-profit business in the District, insurance required by District or 26
federal laws or regulations, and pre-operating costs; 27
(2) Grants and microloans not to exceed $10,000 in total to support small 28
businesses owned by Ward 8 residents operating in Ward 8 for at least 1 year prior to being 29
awarded the grant or microloan; and 30
(3) Grants and microloans not to exceed $20,000 total to support small Ward 8 31
businesses owned by Ward 8 residents operating in Ward 8 for at least 3 years prior to being 32
awarded the grant or microloan. 33
(c) The DC Community Development Consortium Institute may use up to 20% of the 34
total annual grant amount to support operating costs and to provide technical assistance to, 35
eligible applicants and grantees. 36
(d) The DC Community Development Consortium Institute shall submit a quarterly 37
report to the Department of Small and Local Business Development detailing: 38
(1) The number of applications received; 39
(2) The number of grants issued; 40
(3) The amount of money issued per grant; and 41
(4) A list of entrepreneurs and businesses who were awarded grants in the past 42
quarter, a description of the business or business proposal, and a copy of each grant-winning 43
application and supporting materials. 44 ENGROSSED ORIGINAL
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(e) The DC Community Development Consortium Institute shall give Ward 8 residents 45
control over the deployment of capital received from the grant through a grant-review committee 46
comprised of nine (9) Ward 8 residents selected annually through an open application process. 47
The DC Community Development Consortium Institute shall establish procedures to identify and 48
eliminate conflicts of interest with potential recipients through the grant-review committee, and 49
provide technical and administrative support to the grant-review committee, as necessary. 50
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact. 51
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact 52
statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 53
October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1 301.47a). 54
Sec. 4. Effective date. 55
(a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by 56
the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review 57
as provided in section 602(c)(2) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 58
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(2)), and publication in the District of 59
Columbia Register. 60
(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect. 61