Congratulations to RIA Businesses!

Earlier this summer, we reported that the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) announced the first round of grant applications for the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Grants. At Monday’s Great Streets Award ceremony,

Mayor Vincent Gray, Deputy Mayor Victor Hoskins, and our own Council member Kenyan McDuffie announced that seven Rhode Island Avenue NE businesses have been awarded grants totaling over $567,000 to improve their properties.

The ceremony, which took place at DC Dragons Martial Arts Studio, was packed with business owners and community members, all celebrating this great opportunity for some much-needed improvements to retail properties along the Rhode Island Avenue NE commercial corridor. Take a look at some of the improvements you’ll see coming to the Avenue soon:

• The Avenue Day Spa, located at 2125 Rhode Island Avenue NE, is a new salon that will use its $85,000 award for store improvements and to install new signage.

• DC Dragons Martial Arts Training Center, a long-time business located at 1731 Rhode Island Avenue NE, is a family owned and operated martial arts studio that will use its $69,500 award to renovate its facility.

• The Material World Boutique, located at 2121 Rhode Island Avenue NE, a new retail store on the Rhode Island Avenue corridor will use its $85,000 award for façade improvements and equipment upgrades.

• Provost, located at 2129 Rhode Island Avenue NE, is a new restaurant that will use its $85,000 award for façade and space improvements.

• AA Enterprise, located at 3010 Rhode Island Avenue NE, is an automobile repair shop that will use its $73,000 award to install digital signage.

• ICHPROP, located at 1601 Rhode Island Avenue NE, a new restaurant that will serve the RIA communities, will use its $85,000 award for streetscape and rear outdoor area upgrades.

• P & G Counseling and Educational Institute, located at 2218 Rhode Island Avenue NE, is a mental health services company that will use its $84,996 award to renovate both its interior and exterior space.

Stay tuned – we’ll be posting photos of the various projects as they get under way. Plus, additional rounds of grant opportunities are expected soon, so it is perfect time to think about investing on the Avenue! We’ll be helping to spread the word as soon as the next round is announced.