Mayor Bowser Awards $1.8 Million to 17 Local Businesses Through the District’s Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund
Washington, DC – Mayor Muriel Bowser today announced the recipients of the first round of funding from the District’s Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund, a new $10 million fund aimed at providing capital to local businesses owned by people of color and women.
The 17 businesses will receive a total of $1.8 million in grants ranging from $50,000 to $200,000. The businesses are located in all eight wards of the District and represent a variety of industries, including tech, retail, manufacturing, and food service.
The Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund was created as part of Mayor Bowser’s commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable economy in the District. The fund is designed to address the systemic barriers that often prevent businesses owned by people of color and women from accessing capital.
“We’re committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable economy in the District,” said Mayor Bowser. “The Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund is one of the many ways we’re working to level the playing field for businesses owned by people of color and women.”
The businesses that received funding in the first round of the Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund include:
- BloomBars: A healthy snack bar company founded by two sisters of color.
- Capital City Cheesecake: A cheesecake company founded by a Black woman.
- District Doughnut: A doughnut shop founded by a Black woman.
- Flywheel Digital Media: A digital marketing agency founded by a Black woman.
- Hilltop 2.0: A community development organization founded by a Black woman.
- Identity, Inc.: A tech company founded by a Black woman.
- Mi Casa, Tu Casa: A restaurant founded by two Latina women.
- NativSol: A natural skincare company founded by a Black woman.
- One Love Yoga DC: A yoga studio founded by a Black woman.
- Parlour: A hair salon founded by a Black woman.
- Popville: A hyperlocal news website founded by a white man.
- Sweetgreen: A salad chain founded by a white man.
- The Smith Commons: A coworking space founded by a white woman.
- Transient Coffee: A coffee shop founded by a white man.
- Truxton Circle Market: A grocery store founded by a white man.
- Zawadi Books: A bookstore founded by a Black woman.
The Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund is administered by the District’s Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). DSLBD provides a variety of resources to small businesses in the District, including access to capital, technical assistance, and mentoring.
For more information about the Inclusive Innovation Equity Impact Fund, please visit the DSLBD website at dslb
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