RIA Radio

Once again, District leadership is stepping up to help strengthen the DC economy during this pandemic year. The DC Local Equity, Access, and Preservation Fund (DC LEAF) is open now, with $3.185 Million in funds available across 3 different programs. Stephanie Thomas, Director of Great Streets and Retail at the office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, joins us to talk about the grants. Listen now for details, and visit dmped.dc.gov to apply. But hurry - the grant deadline is March 15, 2021!

When Covid-19 led to the shut down of businesses around the world, one of the most severely impacted industries was restaurants. Food delivery quickly became the norm here in DC, but just as quickly, we realized that the traditional food delivery service via a 3rd party app, such as Uber Eats or GrubHub, was no the only game in town to access food from our favorite dining spots. Enter DC To-GoGo, offering affordable delivery rates to restaurants, and paying their drivers a living wage. Adam Fry, co-founder of DC To-GoGo joins us to talk about the newest food delivery app in town. Listen now!

In honor of Black History Month, we are excited to visit with Corey Griffin, President and CEO of Global Government and Industry Partners, LLC, and the Board Chair of the Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has a mission to "...promote black business growth in the District of Columbia through the facilitation of business opportunities and education," and they bring together an impressive network to make it happen. Tune in to hear Corey's take on the biggest challenges facing the Black business community in DC right now, as well as the opportunities the GWBCC is pulling together to educate, inspire, and promote entrepreneurship among Black business owners. 

As the COVID 19 pandemic continues to impact the economy, small businesses are among the hardest hit. The District of Columbia has implemented many programs to assist small businesses in DC, and the latest rounds of grants to help keep them afloat are out now. We're joined by Department of Small and Local Business Development Director Kristi Whitfield, and the Great Streets program director at the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development, Stephanie Thomas. We'll be discussing the Robust Retail Grant and the Bridge Fund Grants. Listen know to learn how your business can take advantage of some much-needed funding.

Coronavirus, or COVID 19, is here and already creating economic challenges. We're facing some uncharted territory in the small business world, but some strategic planning and some "outside the box" thinking may make all the difference for your business. Kyle visits with Sara Gibson of 20 Degrees about how to create some basic resiliency for your customers, employees, and cash flow. We'll also talk about some of the resources available to you at this moment in time, and some ways that you can maximize any slow times your business might be currently experiencing. Listen now, and subscribe for more updates.

Spring is just around the corner, and it couldn't be a better time to introduce one of the newest businesses on RIA Main Street! Olde City Garden is gearing up for their spring opening on Saturday, March 14th, at 9 a.m., and we visit with owner Pat Patterson, general manager Jeremy Gabriel, and business operations manager Tom Henry about their plans. If you ever visited their old location in Shaw, you know what a wonderful resource this will be for our community. In addition to meeting just about any gardening need you might have, they will have classes, special events, and fun activities for gardeners of all ages. We also chat with Stephanie Liotta-Atkinson of MidCity Development about some exciting art programming and more, all at the shared location of Olde City Garden. Listen now!

Sure, DC is full of beer breweries and distilleries, but we're also becoming known for cider! We visit with Will from Supreme Core Cider, and wow does it sound delicious. The cidery and tasting room is located just off Bladensburg Road on T St NE. Tune in now for details on their special recipes and more!

We're joined by Dionne Baux, Director of Urban Programs for the National Main Street program. Dionne talks about some of the challenges facing urban Main Street programs, from the unique challenges of doing business in a large city, to the ways our Main Street programs can help our businesses navigate a more complex regulatory environment while still growing and thriving. Tune in for this and more from Dionne!

The 2020 Census is just around the corner, and the DC Office of Planning has rolled out a robust program to help everyone prepare to participate in this federally required program. Many people have questions about the nature of the census, and there is a substantial amount of incorrect information floating around. To counter that misinformation, we visit with Office of Planning's Director Andrew Trueblood, and Melissa Bird, the program manager of DC Census 2020. Listen now to have your questions answered, and to learn why now more than ever your participation in the census is critical for the future.

Like any major metropolitan area, DC faces challenges in housing access for some of its most vulnerable citizens. Organizations like Pathways to Housing DC not only work to assist in placement, but also to deliver a variety of significant services before, during, and after placement. Executive Director Christy Respress and Donor Relations Officer Lina Permut stop by to talk about the programs they offer, including Housing First Teams, Urgent Care Clinics, Behavioral Healthcare, and Supported Employment. Visit www.pathwaystohousingdc.org to learn more, and tune in now to listen to the full interview!