1. (a) Notwithstanding part B of subchapter XII-A of this chapter, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development ("Deputy Mayor") may award grants from the Vitality Fund established pursuant to § 1-325.451 to attract businesses to the District or retain businesses in the District, with a preference for attraction to or retention in the District's central business district.

2. (b) Grants awarded pursuant to this section may be used for the following purposes:

   1. (1) To cover operational costs;
   2. (2) As down-payment assistance or to subsidize rent;
   3. (3) To pay for tenant improvements;
   4. (4) To cover workforce training or professional development costs not eligible for support through other workforce programs; and
   5. (5) To cover recruitment and hiring costs.

3. (c) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a business must:

   1. (1) Demonstrate that the retention or attraction of its business will have a significant positive economic impact on the District, which may be evidenced by the following factors:

      1. (A) New jobs;
      2. (B) Retained jobs;
      3. (C) Total employment;
      4. (D) Average annual wages;
      5. (E) Term of occupancy;
      6. (F) Net new square feet occupied;
      7. (G) Total square feet occupied;
      8. (H) Dollar amount of capital investment;
      9. (I) Tax revenue;
      10. (J) Return on investment;
      11. (K) Contribution of the company's presence in the District to the growth of the company's industry in the District; or
      12. (L) Other outcomes identified by the Deputy Mayor that quantify the economic impact of the business's project on the District.
   2. (2) Require its employees, in the aggregate, to be on-site at a location in the District for at least 50% of their work hours; and

   3. (3) Agree to:

      1. (A) 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; or
      2. (B) Spend at least 5% of its total annual contracting with businesses eligible for certification as local business enterprises, pursuant to § 2-218.31.

4. (d) By January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Deputy Mayor shall submit to the Council a report that contains the following information on grants awarded pursuant to this section in the prior calendar year:

   1. (1) For each grantee:

      1. (A) The name of the business, the location of the business, and the grant amount;
      2. (B) The number of jobs created or retained as a result of the grants and the average annual wages of the jobs created or retained;
      3. (C) The total number of persons employed by the grantee;
      4. (D) The square footage leased or occupied by the grantee;
      5. (E) The dollar amount of capital investments made by the grantee, if applicable;
   2. (2) The return on investment for all grants awarded; and
   3. (3) Any other information the Deputy Mayor deems necessary to demonstrate the impact of the grants on the economic vitality of the District.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 2013(d) of Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2024 (D.C. Act 25-506, July 15, 2024, 71 DCR 8406).

History

Sept. 18, 2024, D.C. Law 25-217, § 2013