Support

“Mayor Bowser Announces $100 Million “Bridge Fund” to Support Hospitality, Entertainment, and Retail Industries”


Photo by Jim Havard

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) announced the Bridge Fund, a $100 million investment in businesses and workers grappling with the COVID-19 public health emergency in the hospitality, entertainment, and retail sectors.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, DC businesses in the hospitality, entertainment, and retail sectors have made tremendous sacrifices to help us protect residents by combating and containing this virus,” said Mayor Bowser. “We remain committed to providing the support and resources that will help them get through these challenging times and eventually cross the bridge to normalcy.”

The Council of the District of Columbia passed the “Business Support Grants Emergency Amendment Act of 2020” to establish the Business Support Grant to provide businesses with financial support and aid in their recovery from the public health emergency. The legislation authorized up to $100 million from the federal CARES Act to provide COVID-19 related relief.

“When I introduced this $100 million relief bill in July I knew then that this investment would not meet the needs of all of our workers and business owners,” said Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie. “Now that another four months have passed since introduction, the situation is even more dire and the need even greater. We know that black owned businesses have been the hardest hit and are more likely to close due to the pandemic. So, while there remains much work ahead, today marks a clear commitment to continue to do all that I can to support our workers in DC and the small businesses that employ them.”

Through the Bridge Fund, the District will strategically invest to sustain the hospitality, entertainment, and retail industries to help mitigate the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on workers and businesses. Funds will be disbursed via four programs:

  • Restaurant Bridge Fund: $35 million
  • Hotel Bridge Fund: $30 million
  • Entertainment Bridge Fund: $20 million
  • Retail Bridge Fund: $15 million.

“In the midst of a global pandemic and a local hospitality recession, our residents need our support now more than ever,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio. “The Bridge Fund is a catalytic investment in our recovery and will preserve jobs that our residents rely on. If we do not act now, they may disappear for years to come.”

Disbursement will begin with the Hotel Bridge Fund. All full-service hotels, limited service hotels, extended stay hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, inns and motels located in DC, with at least 10 rooms, will be eligible for the Hotel Bridge Fund, including those that have temporarily suspended operations or are operating in a limited capacity. Grant funds will be allocated on a per-key basis. The Restaurant and Retail Bridge Funds will both operate as application-based grant programs in December. The Entertainment Bridge Fund will be launched later this year.

Since the COVID-19 public health emergency began in March, the District has made available more than $45 million to support small and local businesses and nonprofits through various funding opportunities , including the DC Small Business Microgrant Program, the Ward 7 and 8 Microgrant Program, the Small Business Resiliency Fund DC Child Care Provider Relief Fund, the Legacy Business Supplemental Microgrant Program, and the Streateries Winter Ready (in partnership with Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture).

For more information on the Bridge Fund, visit coronavirus.dc.gov/page/recovery-businesses.”

Recent Stories

From an email: “This month, I’ll be hosting free bike maintenance/repair classes and offering free basic bike repairs at the Adams Morgan Ace Hardware.

Thanks to Chris for sending this great shot from Harvard and Adams Mill. Friends of the White Whale Society is brought to you by the team behind Hawks*** around Town….

“Dear PoPville, What’s going on with Capital One Arena? How come so many artists are choosing CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore over the 6,000 extra seats at CapOne that has…

“This is Boop. She lives in LeDroit Park. She enjoys napping.” If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’…

Potomac Harmony is Back! Following a gap year of competing, then virtual rehearsals during the pandemic, followed by the well-earned retirement of our long-term director, a year of a director search, Potomac Harmony hit the regional contest stage in Concord, North Carolina in March for the first time since 2018! It was exhilarating, reaffirming, and rewarding!

The chorus hit all of its goals, the biggest of which was to have fun and sing our best on contest stage — we did both! Because we earned a score over 400 points, our new Director, Allison Lynskey, was awarded the Novice Director award, photo above. Additionally, one of our charter members, Jackie Bottash, was nominated for and honored with the Leadership Excellence award. It was a celebratory weekend!

What’s next? So much! We now look forward to upcoming performances, growing our membership, and expanding our musical product with new arrangements and an education component each week. It’s an exciting time to be part of this ever-growing ensemble!

Read More

Submit your own Announcement here.

Comedy Cabaret

Kick up your heels at Bad Medicine’s COMEDY CABARET extravaganza at the DC Improv Comedy Club on Tuesday, May 21st. Revel in the sights and sounds of this entertaining musical revue, with songs, dance and sketch comedy that will have

×

Subscribe to our mailing list