H Street NE Small Business Grants: 23 Local Shops Awarded Up to $15,000 Each

Twenty-three small businesses along the H Street NE corridor were awarded grants of up to $15,000 each through the D.C. Department of Small and Local Business Development's neighborhood vitality program. Recipients include a family-owned Ethiopian restaurant, a vintage clothing boutique, a neighborhood bookstore, and a bike repair shop.The grants, totaling $287,000, are earmarked for facade improvements, equipment upgrades, and digital marketing — areas where small retailers say they struggle most against chain competitors. Applications for the next round open in October.