Small Business Assistance

Capacity Building

Creating Small Business and Providing Administrative Support.

CCDC allows entrepreneurs to take their first steps by assisting them with Articles of Incorporation, the drafting of by-laws and navigating the online filing process with the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and other entities.

Helping Small Businesses Find Their Place

Small businesses create jobs and keep money in the local economy while providing services to the community. Therefore, CCDC provides assistance in locating, purchasing, and/or renting commercial spaces.

Supporting Other Local Organizations

CCDC assists in the creation and development of other non-profit organizations that aim to serve Wards 7 and 8.

Building Connections

As a Certified Business Enterprise Partner, CCDC seeks to partner with qualified small business owners to acquire work opportunities offered through the City offices.

Access to Capital

We empower organizations ready for expansion and assist with supplemental certifications for contract opportunities. Such certifications as the partial list below.

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CERTIFICATION (WOSB)

CCDC has empowered local woman owned small businesses enterprises into advantages of becoming certified business enterprises. A critical element of supporting women in business is exposure to every opportunity available to the gender. WOSB MUST be given 5% of the annual contracts due to federal set aside mandates. That is over $20 billion dollars reserved for women owned businesses

VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CERTIFICATION (VOSB)

CCDC has worked with small business manifesters who are also U.S. veteran owned and operated enterprises. Our goal is to expose veteran owned Manifest project applicants to a network of specialized mentors and every opportunity they need to thrive and grow. The federal government has an annual goal of spending at least 3% of contracting dollars on VOSBs.

HUBZONE CERTIFICATION

CCDC has commercial space operating in historically underutilized business zones that qualify under the HUBZone program. We encourage lease holders to take advantage of the exclusive opportunities for funding by completing the application process and obtaining HUBZone certification. The federal government sets aside at least 3% of the federal prime contract budget for HUBZone certified companies.

8(A) CERTIFICATION

CCDC target DC residents in Wards 7 and 8 comprise of minority and disadvantaged owners of small businesses outlined in the 8(a) Business Development Program. The federal government's goal is to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to small disadvantaged businesses each year.

GSA CERTIFICATION

CCDC will empower qualified small business enterprises that qualify for General Services Administration (GSA) to complete the certification application and to get on the GSA schedule. The FY 2023 budget requests $1.34 billion in discretionary budget authority for GSA programs.

Access to Networks

Expanded efforts to support entrepreneurship by introducing and creating opportunities for business owners to gain federal and city contracting, with a network of office solutions and professional services.