To support small businesses in Historic Anacostia, the 11th Street Bridge Park (a project of the Ward 8 non-profit Building Bridges Across the River) is partnering with the Anacostia Business Improvement District and Booz Allen to focus on small businesses on Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE between Marion Barry Ave., SE and Howard Rd., SE. The Anacostia Small Business Preservation Program is a 12-month project where Booz Allen specialists provide pro bono retainer services tailored to each business's needs, including marketing and preparing materials so the companies can successfully apply for government grants and financial analysis.

Selected businesses will receive the following.

• Twelve months of support from Booz Allen volunteers in the three following areas: 1) Marketing, 2) Financial Analysis, and 3) Support in preparing materials and grant writing for local and federally funded grants (Volunteers will help strategize for other areas but the main focus will be the three areas listed above).

• A minimum of $5,000 in grant funds.

Selected businesses are required to:

• Meet monthly with the assigned Booz Allen volunteers (meeting frequency to be coordinated between the business and the Booz Allen volunteers).

• Attend an Informational Session, Kick-Off event, Closing Celebration event, and another informal gathering throughout the 12-month project.

• Participate in testimonial videos and evaluation and reporting tasks.

Program Timeline

• January 4th - January 17th, 2024: Applications Now Closed

• January 10th, 2024, 12PM: Program Informational Session via Zoom - VIDEO RECORDING BELOW

• January 20th, 2024: announceD!

• January 2024 - December 2024: Program Length

For any questions, please contact Kia Johnson at kia@bridgepark.org

Testimonials from the 2023 Small Business Preservation Pilot Program

JANUARY 10th INFORMATIONAL SESSION