U Street Main Street
Discover Washington’s Historic Black Broadway
The District Bridges U Street Main Street program serves the businesses, organizations, and individuals who live, work and play in this unique community. Our Main Street programs provide direct technical assistance to local businesses to help them thrive. We also plan local events and promotions that draw people to the neighborhoods, create volunteer opportunities, and connect stakeholders.
Our team
Our Main Street team is dedicated to building relationships with the businesses, organizations, and community. Get to know our team and reach out if you want to setup a meeting.
Small Business Technical Assistance
We’re passionate about helping small local businesses succeed. Each business is unique and needs a unique solution. We take a holistic approach to help you achieve your dreams. Check out some of the ways our Main Street programs can help your business.
We annually conduct small business grant competitions for grants up to $3,000 for businesses located within our Main Street program boundaries. These grants are made possible by the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development.
Reach out to usms@districtbridges.org for more info.
Whether you have been in business for decades or are just getting started you need to have a plan to achieve your business goals. The District Bridges approach to business technical assistance focuses on helping you map out your pathway to success. Our Business Health Check helps us identify your business’s most critical needs. After you have completed your Business Health Check, we work with you directly to develop a Business Development Plan that aligns your business needs with the resources and assistance that will enable you to accomplish your goals.
Need support but you’re not exactly sure what kind? Just need to bounce some ideas off of a trusted person? Our Main Street program staff are here for you. You can set up an in-person or online consultation with one of our professionals. We may not have all the answers, but we’ll work with you to help you navigate your questions and find the answer with you!
There are a lot of resources and opportunities out there to help you grow your business, but it can be a lot to keep up with. Our business newsletter curates the most relevant opportunities and business news and puts it straight into your inbox. Stay in the know and sign up today!
We offer free or low-cost training and workshops on a variety of subjects where business owners get direct access to subject matter experts to them gain new skills to build a thriving business.
Whether you’re looking to get your business in front of a new audience or you want to connect with other businesses and people in your community, we host annual events and use social media and newsletters to help give your business the exposure you need to grow and help build long term connections in your community. Use the link below to submit holidays/observances promotions.
Join our Business Newsletter!
Economic Development
Our holistic approach to community-based economic development utilizes strategic partnerships, small business technical assistance, volunteer opportunities, place management, events, resident outreach, and connective services. Our approach is different in that we start from a place of collaboration and capacity-building, looking to strengthen the whole ecosystem in which we work.
Upcoming Events
Want to get involved in the community? Check out our upcoming events below!
Get Involved / Volunteer
Volunteering with District Bridges is a great way to support our work to build stronger more connected communities and invest in local businesses. Are you looking to volunteer your time to support one of our upcoming events? Check out the ways you can get involved and let’s have some fun!
Volunteer Sign Up
Sign up for our volunteer corps to be informed of upcoming volunteer opportunities. You can specify specific neighborhoods you’d like to serve or find out about all our opportunities.
Become Neighborhood Strategy Council Member
Help us set programmatic priorities for each of our Main Street programs. Apply today you’re interested in serving!
USMS Neighborhood Strategy Council
Our Neighborhood Strategy Councils (NSCs) are community advisory boards that help us set programmatic priorities for each of our Main Street programs. If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to ccms@districtbridges.org. Our current NSC includes:
AARON LEWIS
NSC Member
KELSYE ADAMS
NSC Member
The Neighborhood Strategy Council
To ensure each one of the District Bridges Main Street programs remains connected to the communities they serve, we developed advisor boards made up of key community stakeholders. We can these advisory board Neighborhood Strategy Councils.
The Neighborhood Strategy Councils provides leadership on neighborhood priorities for community-based economic development through District Bridges Main Street programs. Each Main Street program develops an NSC that works as a team to apply their experience and local understanding of community needs to support the designated Main Street neighborhoods. Specific activities of individual members may vary based on expertise, capacity, and availability.
The basic roles and responsibilities are as follows:
- Prepare for and attend regular Neighborhood Strategy Council meetings.
- Represent community priorities and concerns.
- Disseminate information to the broader community.
- Identify and develop Neighborhood Transformation Strategies.
- Lead or support Committees/Action Teams for specific events, programs, and priorities.
- Set priorities for annual workplans.
- Approve annual budget workplan allocation.
- Recruit volunteers for Main Street activities.
- Support the identification and cultivation of financial and in-kind contributions for priority activities.
- Work with the Program Manager/Director to give or get $500/year towards the program’s fundraising goal.
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