The Best Business Grants in DC
July 30, 2026
Updated:
Securing capital is often the biggest hurdle for any founder. While loans and credit cards are common, they come with the weight of repayment and interest. Grants are the ideal alternative because they generally don't have to be paid back. However, there is a catch: grants are highly competitive and can be very difficult to find. We've built this guide to help you understand the grant landscape in Washington, DC.
DC's business grant ecosystem is built around one clear priority: supporting small retail, restaurant, and commercial businesses navigating one of the country's most expensive commercial real estate markets. The DC Commercial Property Acquisition Fund is the largest single grant, providing up to $300,000 in down payment assistance for DC-based businesses purchasing commercial property, a genuinely unusual program that most cities and states do not offer. Beyond real estate support, DC runs the DC Restaurant and Retail Stabilization Grant for restaurants and retailers experiencing revenue declines, the Robust Retail Citywide Grant supporting operational viability for existing DC retail businesses, and the DC Storefront Improvement Grant, which funds concentrated facade improvements in low- and moderate-income commercial corridors. Award sizes range from $5,000 storefront improvements up to $300,000 for major property acquisition projects, with a mix of rolling and fixed deadlines depending on the program.
DC's grant activity flows through three offices within the DC government: the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), which funds the largest grants; the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD); and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), which administers the storefront improvement program through partner nonprofits. All programs are administered directly by the DC government rather than through outside foundations or private funders, and eligibility is generally limited to businesses physically located and operating within DC.
DC businesses are also eligible for hundreds of national grant programs from federal agencies, corporations, and foundations. Those programs aren't covered on this page, but you can search our complete grant database to see every state and national grant your business qualifies for. You can also join our free weekly newsletter to get new DC grants delivered to your inbox as soon as they open.
DC GRANTS
DC Commercial Property Acquisition Fund
Washington DC
The DC Commercial Property Acquisition Fund (CPAF) provides down payment assistance grants of up to $300,000 (or 25% of the sale price, whichever is less) to DC-based businesses looking to acquire commercial property in the District. Funded by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) in partnership with the Council of the District of Columbia and administered by City First Enterprises, the program is designed to help businesses maintain and expand their operations by transitioning into owned commercial space rather than continuing to lease. Recipients must agree to own and occupy the property for at least seven years, ensuring long-term investment in the District's commercial corridors. The fund represents a strategic $1.5 million investment to support business stability and physical growth across DC.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$300,000
DC Robust Retail Citywide Grants
DC Department of Small Business
The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that we will accept applications for the FY 2026 Robust Retail Citywide Grants.
The FY 2026 Robust Retail Citywide grant(s) support existing DC-based retail businesses in maintaining operations and viability. DSLBD intends to award up to $10,000 per business to approximately 50 businesses from the $500,000 in available Fiscal Year 2026 funding.
This grant will be operated as a reimbursement grant, awarded via lottery to DC retail businesses that meet all eligibility requirements by the final deadline. Businesses that received a Robust Retail Citywide award in FY2025 are not eligible to apply.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$10,000
DC Storefront Improvement Grant
DC DHCD
DHCD provides funding to highly qualified community-based non-profit organizations to develop storefront façade improvement projects in low/moderate income retail/commercial areas in the District of Columbia. Typically, a project is comprised of between ten and twenty-five, preferably concentrated within a few blocks, storefronts selected by the participating non-profit. Qualified business and/or commercial property owners within the targeted area receive matching grants for general repairs/maintenance and for the installation of doors, windows, signs, storefront systems, awnings, and lighting. The non-profit organization provides the business and/or property owners with professional design and construction services throughout the storefront renovation.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
DC Restaurant & Retail Stabilization Grant
Washington DC
The DC Restaurant & Retail Stabilization Grant provides up to $50,000 in financial assistance to small restaurant and retail businesses in Washington, DC that experienced a revenue decline in 2025. Funded by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) and administered by Capital Impact Partners — a local nonprofit community development financial institution — the program is a $3.875 million initiative designed to help brick-and-mortar businesses remain operational and support long-term sustainability. Grant funds may be used to cover occupancy costs and payroll over a six-month grant period. Preference is given to businesses that lost more than 10% of gross revenue in 2025, did not receive prior DMPED funding in 2023–2025, have a positive impact on the local community, and purchase goods or services from the DC, Maryland, or Virginia economy.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$50,000
Don't stop at state-level funding
Most business grants aren't geographic, they're tied to your industry, your stage, or your team. Our database tracks 500+ programs across every category, and our free newsletter delivers new grants to your inbox each week.