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Northern Half of 1900 Block of 7th Street, NW, East Side - 2004

Small Business Assistance

There are currently not enough small businesses to develop a diverse, sustainable commercial setting for the Shaw corridors or a sufficient pool of trained retail personnel living in Shaw able to fill positions in new businesses. The Shaw Main Streets' Small Business Development Assistance Program (SBDAP) will provide technical assistance through training and financial support via a small grants program to businesses in the commercial district, business networking and empowerment activities, and training for entrepreneurs and retail personnel.

The comprehensive small business assistance program will provide the following coordinated activities.

Develop a One-Stop-Shop approach to affect business retention, recruitment & sustainability.
Research and Analyze market conditions in the Shaw corridor to identify ways for existing businesses to capture new markets and more business.
Provide Self-Help programming that promotes local business capacity, leadership, and community-wide involvement to identify obstacles and encourage collective work for change.
Assist businesses to identify and make the best use of their unique offerings.
Find new economic uses for existing properties and provide business promotion/marketing.
Develop and Offer training opportunities:

Basic business skills
Customer service
Employee skills
Business infrastructure (laws, regulations, organizational structures, etc.)
Entrepreneurial endeavors

Conduct monthly technical assistance clinics.
Offer a Small Grant program, develop other financial assistance for business and building revitalization, and recommend building design improvement strategies.
Monitor economic performance of the Shaw corridor with help from Business Block Captains.

Program goals are to assist the maximum number of businesses and individuals, while still retaining program quality and relevance. Businesses will receive one or more of the following services, based on a needs assessment: accounting, business administration, business restructuring, property acquisition and commercial leasing, shopper increase and retention, customer service preparation, financial management and capital acquisitions, marketing, recordkeeping and reporting, regulatory compliance, retail merchandising and promotion, and façade revitalization design and improvement.

Entrepreneurs interested in starting new businesses in Shaw will be able to complete an entrepreneurship training that will ensure they have a high likelihood of success in starting new businesses. These prospective entrepreneurs will also receive counseling and other assistance through weekly program clinics in obtaining venture capital to launch and operate their businesses until they become self-sustaining. In addition, one of our over-arching intentions is to begin a business network that offers self-help to the businesses along the Shaw corridors.

All interested commercial stakeholders will be organized to ensure that: (a) assistance to current merchants increases their ability to remain in business and grow during the revitalization process; (b) training allows entrepreneurs starting businesses in Shaw to do so successfully; (c) residents are trained to obtain employment with businesses in Shaw; (d) business promotion generates the customer base to boost sales for current and new businesses; (e) infrastructure improvements in the district are made in a coordinated manner to create a clean, safe, and attractive environment to attract and retain customers; and (f) the historic appearance and character of the commercial corridors is preserved.

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NEW: Check out photos from recent Shaw Main Streets events in our Photo Album.

Check out the SMS Winter 2005-2006 Newsletter .... download it.

New Businesses on 7^th and 9th Streets, NW…Read More Here.

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1426 9^th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001-3330 ---- Phone: (202) 265-SHAW ---- Fax: (202) 265-7529 ---- info@shawmainstreets.com

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