What it is

The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is the District of Columbia agency that supports the development, economic growth and retention of District-based businesses and promotes economic development along DC's commercial corridors. Its divisions include CBE certification and compliance, the DC APEX Accelerator, Commercial Revitalization, Business Development, and Innovation and Equitable Development.

What it offers founders

Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) certification gives DC-based companies preference in District procurement. Local Business Enterprise status is the prerequisite, with subcategories including Small, Disadvantaged, Resident-Owned, Longtime Resident and Veteran-owned Business Enterprise. Certification lasts three years, and review can take up to 45 business days. The DC APEX Accelerator, formerly PTAP, offers no-cost one-on-one counseling on registration, market research, bids and proposals for federal, state and local contracts. DSLBD also posts small business grants and funding opportunities, and its Green Book outlines DC government spending with CBEs.

Commercial revitalization and Main Streets

The Commercial Revitalization division certifies Business Improvement Districts, runs Clean Teams that clean sidewalks and remove graffiti in retail corridors, and offers grants for storefront improvements. The DC Main Streets program, established in 2002, funds nonprofit Main Street organizations across 29 neighborhood corridors, from Barracks Row to Woodley Park, which act as a first point of contact for local businesses.

Who it is for and how to engage

To pursue CBE status, a company's principal office and top management must be in DC, and it must meet one residency standard, such as more than half of employees or owners being DC residents. Applicants use the CBE Wizard to check eligibility and build a checklist, then apply online. SmallBiz Assist offers free one-on-one meetings, mostly on Wednesdays at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, and CBE sessions run on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month.

Location and contact

DSLBD is at 441 4th Street NW, Suite 850 North, Washington, DC 20001, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm. Phone: (202) 727-3900; email: dslbd@dc.gov.

Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem

For DC-headquartered startups selling to government, CBE certification and APEX counseling are key routes into District and federal contracts.