WASHINGTON — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday that the city would be offering nearly $9 million in grants through the Food Access Fund to food businesses to open new locations in Wards 7 and 8.
The grants are part of Bowser's larger Fair Shot Budget initiative -- a $58 million project -- that she hopes eliminates food deserts and creates job opportunities.
“We have an incredible amount of entrepreneurial talent and creativity in D.C., especially in our restaurant and foodservice industries – it’s just not equally distributed or equally funded," Bowser said. "The Food Access Grants are going to change that."
The current Food Access Fund recipients include:
- DCity Smokehouse: opening a new location in Anacostia
- Fresh Food Factory: opening a new location in Kenilworth
- HalfSmoke: opening two new locations at Skyland Town Center and Downtown Minnesota Avenue
- Highland Café: opening a new location in the Penn Branch neighborhood
- MLK Deli: opening a new location in Deanwood
- Roots 657 Café: opening a new location at Skyland
- Sala Thai: opening a location in the Hill East neighborhood
- Sweet Tooth: opening a location in Anacostia
"With this $58 million fund, we can bring D.C. favorites, like HalfSmoke, that currently operate in some of our most popular corridors on the west side of the city and support them in opening new locations in Wards 7 and 8," Bowser said. "We can also support popular spots that are already in Wards 7 and 8, like MLK Deli, and make sure they have the resources necessary to expand and reach more Washingtonians ... The Food Access Grants are not only delivering more food options to Wards 7 and 8 -- they’re delivering new opportunities to stay local and shop local.”
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development opened up its next round of applications today. Grocery stores, restaurants, and fast-casual restaurants are encouraged to apply.
For more information on grant funding opportunities, visit obviouslydc.com.