Councilmember McDuffie Introduces Clean Hands Equity Legislation to Reduce Barriers for Obtaining Licenses and Permits

Councilmember McDuffie Introduces Clean Hands Equity Legislation to Reduce Barriers for Obtaining Licenses and Permits

Would help aspiring small business owners, low-income residents and returning citizens get the licensure they need to open or operate a small business in the District For Release: Friday, May 14, 2021 Contact: Malcom Fox, 202-227-1701, mfox@dccouncil.us Washington, DC – Last week, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie introduced the Clean Hands Certification Equity Amendment Act of 2021. If passed, this bill would reduce the barriers imposed on small business owners, returning citizens and low-income residents to obtain licenses and permits. The current certification process is particularly burdensome for low-income individuals as well as the service and hospitality industries who have…
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Committee on Business and Economic Development Budget Report Advances Councilmember McDuffie’s Racial Equity Agenda

Committee on Business and Economic Development Budget Report Advances Councilmember McDuffie’s Racial Equity Agenda

Invests in Black entrepreneurs by providing access to capital.Operationalizes racial equity by implementing the REACH Act.Funds a disparity study so more District procurement supports minority and women entrepreneurs. Washington, D.C. -- On Thursday, June 25, 2020, the Committee on Business and Economic Development, led by Chairman Kenyan R. McDuffie, passed its budget report for Fiscal Year 2021. The budget is the culmination of months of work including public hearings, engagement with advocates and stakeholders. This budget report is focused on advancing Councilmember McDuffie's Racial Equity Agenda. With today’s vote in support of the budget report, Councilmember McDuffie said: "Developed through…
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McDuffie on the release of the Disparity Report Framework and Recommendations and the Minority and Women-Owned Business Assessment

McDuffie on the release of the Disparity Report Framework and Recommendations and the Minority and Women-Owned Business Assessment

Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Statement on the release of the Disparity Report Framework and Recommendations and the Minority and Women-Owned Business Assessment Washington, DC -- Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie has issued the following statement upon the release of two reports from the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), the Disparity Report Framework and Recommendations and the Minority and Women-Owned Business Assessment: "The findings of these reports are troubling, and I am disheartened—not just by what the data revealed, but also because a thorough study could not even be completed due to a lack of data. The reports underscore the necessity of…
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McDuffie Introduces Bill to Help Long-Term Businesses Stay in DC.

McDuffie Introduces Bill to Help Long-Term Businesses Stay in DC.

Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Introduces Bill to Help Long-Term Businesses Stay in DC The ‘Affordable PLACE Act’ seeks to address the problem of long-term local businesses – many owned and operated by people of color – from being priced out of DC. The legislation would create a ‘Legacy Business’ certification, provide for grants and tax abatements to legacy businesses and/or landlords Washington, DC – Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development introduced the Protecting Local Area Commercial Enterprises (P.L.A.C.E.) Amendment Act of 2019 or the ‘Affordable PLACE Act’ [B23-432]. The bill supports both…
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McDuffie Introduces Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) and First Source Bill to Address Transparency, Accountability, and Compliance

McDuffie Introduces Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) and First Source Bill to Address Transparency, Accountability, and Compliance

Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Introduces Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) and First Source Bill to Address Transparency, Accountability, and Compliance Legislation would create an independent Chief Compliance Officer Councilmember McDuffie: “When it comes to compliance, the CBE program is broken.” Washington, DC – Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, introduced the Independent Compliance Office Establishment Act of 2019 [B23-471]. The legislation would create a new independent Office of the Chief Compliance Officer which would have purview of certification and enforcement over the Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) program and First Source employment program. Those…
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Statement on Securing Funds for Violence Prevention in the Upcoming Budget

Statement on Securing Funds for Violence Prevention in the Upcoming Budget

Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie has released the following statement on securing funds for violence prevention in the Council budget process: "We are in a state of emergency with regard to gun violence in the District of Columbia and, unfortunately, the Mayor’s proposed budget does not reflect the urgency I hear from residents who are sick of hearing gunshots in their communities and families who are heartbroken from burying family members.As the author of the NEAR Act and a champion for small business in the District of Columbia, I am proud that the Committee on Business and Economic Development’s Budget Report…
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Committee on Business and Economic Development Passes Budget Report Featuring Investments in District Small Businesses and Communities

Committee on Business and Economic Development Passes Budget Report Featuring Investments in District Small Businesses and Communities

Committee on Business and Economic Development Passes Budget Report Featuring Investments in District Small Businesses and Communities Investments for the upcoming fiscal year include support for District businesses and commercial infrastructure with funds that support Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) capacity building, Main Street revitalization and expansion, financial stability, workforce investment, small business lending, and significant capital project financing. On Wednesday, May 1, 2019, the Committee on Business and Economic Development, led by Chair Kenyan R. McDuffie, passed its budget report for Fiscal Year 2020. The budget is the culmination of months of work including public hearings, meetings with advocates and…
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McDuffie Introduces Bill to Support Small Businesses Suffering Financial Distress from District Infrastructure Projects

McDuffie Introduces Bill to Support Small Businesses Suffering Financial Distress from District Infrastructure Projects

McDuffie Introduces Bill to Support Small Businesses Suffering Financial Distress from District Infrastructure Projects The bill would provide immediate relief for qualifying small businesses including those impacted by the DC Water Northeast Boundary Tunnel construction at 4th Street NE and Rhode Island Avenue NE; as well as businesses impacted by Monroe Street NE bridge reconstruction Washington, DC – Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chair Pro Tempore and Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, introduced The Small and Certified Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Emergency Amendment Act of 2019. These pieces of legislation would provide emergency financial assistance…
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McDuffie Champions Amendment to Ensure Minority-Owned Small Businesses are a Part of New Sports Wagering Industry

McDuffie Champions Amendment to Ensure Minority-Owned Small Businesses are a Part of New Sports Wagering Industry

Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Champions Amendment to Ensure Minority-Owned Small Businesses are a Part of New Sports Wagering Industry Amendment Prioritizes Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs) and Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) and Establishes Capacity Building and Pipeline Program The Underlying Bill, Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018, Already Included McDuffie Proposal that Revenue be Directed Toward Public Safety in the form of Violence Interruption Efforts Washington, DC – Yesterday, the Council of the District of Columbia passed the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 [B22-0944] incorporating Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie’s amendment to ensure this new industry includes a robust…
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McDuffie Introduces Bill to Create Small Business Bonding Program

McDuffie Introduces Bill to Create Small Business Bonding Program

Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Introduces Bill to Create Small Business Bonding Program to Help Business Enterprises Compete for Contracts Program would assist eligible small business owners who have historically been unable to qualify for bonding by providing training and technical assistance to increase their bonding capacity Washington, DC – Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development introduced the Small Business Bonding Program Establishment Amendment Act of 2018. District of Columbia law requires contractors to obtain a performance and payment bond for certain contracts. Contractors work with sureties to ensure they are qualified to…
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