Vitality Fund Grant

Funder: District of Columbia: Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development

The FY25 Vitality Fund, initiated by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, aims to encourage business relocation and expansion in Washington, DC, particularly in the central business district. The program offers grants to businesses that commit to significant capital improvements and job creation. Preference is given to companies occupying at least 15,000 square feet and creating new jobs. The fund supports economic growth and aims to have a positive impact on the local community.

FY25 Vitality Fund
Background:
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (“DMPED”) invites the submission of applications from eligible businesses for the Employment Center Vitality and Local Jobs Creation Fund (“Vitality Fund” or “Program”). The purpose of the Program is to attract businesses to, or retain businesses in, the District of Columbia (“Project”).
Purpose: The Vitality Fund will provide grants to businesses that are relocating to, or expanding in, Washington, DC, with a preference of relocating or expanding in the central business district (the “Vitality Fund Target Area”), and that will occupy commercial office space and create new jobs. Please visit the following link to view the Vitality Fund Target Area map.
Anticipated Number of Awards:
DMPED expects to award multiple grants under this Program. Award sizes will vary by applicant based on the specific project investments. Awards are anticipated to be disbursed over a three-year period based on the awardee’s performance milestones related to capital investment and job creation. Based on an internal review panel of recommendations, the Mayor’s budget priorities, the available resources, and the goals of the Program, the Deputy Mayor will make the final funding decision.

Eligibility

To be considered for an award with a preference for applicants that meet certain thresholds described below: Applicants must either expand or relocate operations to commercial office space in Washington, DC. Applicants must commit to make significant capital improvements to the occupied office space, with a preference for applicants that intend to invest at least $2 million in improvements.Applicants must commit to create new jobs at the occupied commercial office space. Applicants may be for-profit or non-profit entities.Applicants must demonstrate site control of the commercial office space in which the applicant has or will expand or relocate. Site control may be evidenced by a signed letter of intent or other binding commitment, lease, contract of sale, or deed.Applicants must demonstrate that the expansion or relocation of their operations will have significant positive economic impact on the District, as further required by the RFA.Applicants must require their employees, in the aggregate, to be on-site at the occupied office space for at least 50% of their work hours. Applicants must agree to one of the following community benefits:develop or participate in a workforce development program that offers District residents opportunities for training or employment within the business or the industry in which it operates, orspend at least 5% of its total annual contracting with businesses eligible for certification as local business enterprises pursuant to D.C. Official Code §2-218.31. If award is greater than $300,000, comply with First Source requirement that 51% of new hires be District of Columbia residents.