ABOUT MADE IN DC x REFASHION MARKET ACCESS GRANT PROGRAM
The Department of Small and Local Business Development (“DSLBD” or the “Department”) is excited to announce that it will begin accepting applications for the Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2025 Made in DC (“MiDC”) x ReFashion Market Access Grant Program, beginning July 21, 2025 at 2 p.m. eastern time through August 22, 2025 at 2 p.m eastern time.
Made in DC is a program that supports and promotes businesses that design, make, produce, and/or assemble products in the District, while ReFashion intends to uplift small and local businesses in the fashion industry. The MiDC x ReFashion Market Access Grant Program will issue awards to local, non-storefront-based makers, creatives, and small business owners, including fashion-focused businesses. The program intends to increase market opportunity access for businesses that lack a physical retail presence.
This lottery-based grant program offers eligible businesses access to funds for vendor opportunities, inventory, back-office support, and branding initiatives. These grants aim to increase visibility and sales for home-based, online, or mobile maker businesses across Washington, DC.
DSLBD will use a randomized lottery system to select eligible businesses to receive a reimbursement grant up to $2,000 from $50,000 in available funding for FY25. Only one (1) grant will be awarded per business or business owner. The Department will award a maximum of twenty-five (25) grants through this program.
Expenses eligible for reimbursement for the FY25 MiDC x ReFashion Market Access Grant Program must be incurred from March 11, 2025 to August 22, 2025 (“Period of Performance”).
Review the
Request for Applications on DSLBD’s website for more information, including eligible business types.
Important Note:
The Made in DC Program is designed to promote and support District-based makers, creatives, and small manufacturers who produce goods locally within Washington, D.C. While MiDC-certified businesses and non-MiDC-certified businesses may apply, through this grant application, non-MiDC applicants must be able to demonstrate their eligibility for MiDC certification, even without official certification.
Applicants that submit complete applications and meet all DSLBD’s MiDC certification eligibility requirements may be contacted via email with further instructions regarding the certification process and how to gain access to additional benefits offered through the Made in DC program. For more information on DSLBD’s MiDC certification program, please visit
www.dslbd.dc.gov/madeindc.