Please see coronavirus.dc.gov for the latest District updates & resources on COVID-19

Small Business Recovery Grant Program

Small Business Recovery Grants - The District's new small business recovery grant program has launched and is currently accepting applications. Created through emergency legislation passed by the Council last Tuesday, $25 million has been designated for the fund.

This grant program will offer grants to small local businesses, independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and nonprofits in order to meet their short-term financial needs. These grants can cover employee wages and benefits (including fringe benefits such as health insurance), accounts payable, fixed costs, inventory, rent, and utilities.

The deadline for grant applications has been extended to next Tuesday, March 31st.

The online grant application page is available here: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/dc-small-business-recovery-grants

For detailed instructions, technical tips, and answers to frequently asked questions, please see: Application Guide + Troubleshooting Tips.

Small Business Recovery Grant Eligibility Criteria:

Application Documents for

Small Businesses, Independent Contractors, & the Self-Employed

Small businesses, independent contractors, and those who are self-employed must provide the following documentation as part of their COVID-19 recovery grant application:

Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number
Documentation of the business owner or owners’ state residency
Payroll or roster of employees and their states of residence
Completed Revenue Loss Calculator (Available here: revenue loss calculator)
2017 and 2018 Federal Tax Returns
2019 income statement showing monthly sales
2020 year-to-date income statement showing monthly sales
Bank statements from January through March in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020
Other Supporting Documentation (For example, proof of canceled revenue-generating events)

Application Documents for Non-Profits

Non-profit organizations must provide the following documentation as part of their COVID-10 recovery grant application:

Federal Employer Identification Number
Payroll or roster of your employees and their states of residence
Completed Revenue Loss Calculator (Available here: revenue loss calculator)
2017 and 2018 Federal Informational Tax Returns
2019 statement of activities showing revenues less expenses
2020 year-to-date statement of activities showing revenues less expenses
Bank statements from January - March in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020
Other Supporting Documentation (For example, proof of canceled revenue-generating events)

More detailed information on eligibility requirements and the necessary application documentation is available online: Here.

If you have specific questions or need assistance with your application, please reach out to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development through their COVID-19 Business Inquiry Form.

Small Business Loans

Businesses May Apply for Low-Interest Federal Loans - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) accepted the District of Columbia’s declaration for assistance in the form of economic injury disaster loans for those businesses that have been severely impacted by COVID-19. Qualified small businesses in the District may apply for this assistance now.

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program provides working capital loans of up to $2 million. While the terms of these loans are determined on a case-by-case basis, they may be used to:

Pay fixed debts
Payroll
Accounts payable
Other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact.

For a link to the loan application and more information, please see: SBA Assistance for Small Businesses.

Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment Benefits Extended - The Council's recently passed emergency legislation included an important provision extending unemployment benefits to workers who have become unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19 public health emergency.

Directions on how to apply for unemployment insurance are listed on the Department of Employment Services (DOES) website: Here.

Councilmember Elissa Silverman, who serves as the Chair of the Committee on Workforce Development, has put together a useful guide (pictured to the right) on worker eligibility and legal resources.

DC Tax Filings

Filing Deadline Extended to July 15th - The deadline for taxpayers to file and pay their 2019 District of Columbia individual and fiduciary income tax returns (D-40, D-41, and D-40B), partnership tax returns (D-65), and franchise tax returns (D-20, D-30) has been extended to July 15th, 2020.

This means taxpayers will have an additional 90 days to file and pay, and there is no need to file an application for an extension.

The Internal Revenue Service has also extended the federal filing and payment deadline to July 15th, 2020
The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) encourages taxpayers who are able to file their returns electronically to do so through OTR’s online portal: MyTax.DC.gov
For additional information, please contact OTR’s Customer Service Center at (202) 727-4TAX (4829)

Our Office is Open!

Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is closed during the public health emergency, staff are teleworking and will remain accessible for residents.

You may continue to email the office directly or reach us via phone through our main line at (202) 724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent services requests.