A pharmacy in Bellevue, an artist studio in Anacostia, and a construction company in Congress Heights just got a big boost from the city, in the form of grants aimed at assisting businesses in the District’s emerging corridors.

So did a popular bistro/bar in Shaw, a group indoor cycling* studio on U Street NW, a CrossFit gym on H Street NE, and an Indian restaurant in Cleveland Park.

The Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Program purports to “stimulate small business creation, expansion, and retention while also creating new job opportunities for District residents, growing the tax base, and improving commercial vibrancy along the District’s emerging corridors and in surrounding neighborhoods.” It started in 2006, focused on H Street NE, and has since expanded to cover 11 corridors throughout the city.

Some of those corridors are truly “emerging” and in need of assistance, such as Bladensburg Road NE, Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE, and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. Others are debatable. H Street has pretty well emerged by now; in 2012, Forbes listed it among “America’s hippest hipster neighborhoods.” Seventh Street in Shaw features a sherry bar (with $13 coffee flights) next to an oyster bar. U Street and Logan Circle, included in the expansive 7th Street boundaries, are among the most expensive neighborhoods in town. Connecticut Avenue NW, whose Great Streets boundary extends from Cleveland Park to Van Ness/Forest Hills, is nobody’s definition of impoverished.

In Anacostia this morning, Mayor Vince Gray announced the latest round of Great Streets grant recipients, receiving a total of $1.3 million. Here is the complete list:

H Street NE:
-Powell’s Barbershop II: $85,000 for improvements to roofing, flooring, drywall, plumbing work, bathrooms, windows, HVAC, painting, and masonry.

-Old City CrossFit: $57,750 for storefront folding door, plaster wall, shelving, masonry, bathroom addition, wall reconfiguration, painting, and window/floor/door repair.

-Maketto LLC: $85,000 for façade improvements, flooring, installing store displays, and POS system.

-Oliver Opticians LLC: $42,500 for build out, plumbing, electrical work, and signage.

-Proven Strength & Conditioning: $85,000 for demolition and repair of walls and floors, leveling of concrete floor, and electrical repairs.

-Wilson-Epes Printing Company: $68,076 for signage, repainting, and equipment.

Georgia Avenue NW:
-Jessica Stuart Media: $25,000 for HVAC, flooring, dry wall, doors, cabinets, countertops, demolition, concrete and masonry, framing, roofing, windows, plumbing, electrical work, insulation, carpentry, and painting.

-Upshur Books: $25,000 for electrical work, plumbing fixtures and labor, drywall, custom bookshelves and installation, ceiling work, painting, and new flooring.

-Lofft Contractors: $25,000 for basement improvement, new half-bathroom on main floor, new main office entrance, and new HVAC system.

-Maskari Group: $25,000 for interior build out including sub-foundation, concrete footing and steel form, excavation, walls, plumbing and electrical work.

-J&C Barber Shop: $25,000 for new flooring, façade, fixtures, walls, HVAC, counter tops, lighting, lockers, and signage.

-Mani’s Café & Market: $25,000 for security shutter, signage, electrical work, dual temperature refrigeration/freezer, ice cream maker, commercial convention oven, panini machine, dry pastry display case, ice maker machine, coffee roaster, and soup warmer.

-R & R Janitorial, Painting & Building Services: $25,000 for doors, electrical and plumbing work, drywall, ceiling, HVAC, roofing, windows, carpet, and exterior signage.

7th Street NW:
-1905 Bistro: $25,000 for demolition, carpentry, framing, drywall, ceiling, doors & frames, millwork & trim, tiling, finishes, HVAC, plumbing, electrical work, and equipment, including dual convection ovens, fridge, sinks, hood & exhaust system, and fire suppression system.

-Pekoe Acupuncture & Wellness Center: $25,000 for signage, bathroom and kitchen remodel, ADA ramp installation, façade, security lights/door locks, floor refinishing, and weather proofing.

-DigiDoc Document Managers: $25,000 for interior and exterior improvements, mechanical/electrical/plumbing work, and signage.

-Compass Coffee: $25,000 for mechanical/plumbing/electrical work, flooring, and roasting room build out.

-Off Road Cycling: $25,000 for lighting, walls, signage, and sound system upgrades.

North Capitol Street, NW/NE:
-Health IT 2 Business Solutions: $25,000 for foundation work, framing, drywall, flooring, building exterior, electrical and plumbing work, HVAC, and security system.

-Nest DC: $25,000 for flooring, interior upgrades to make property ADA compliant, countertop installation, painting, window replacements, fencing, and signage.

-El Camino: $25,000 for HVAC and gas lines, fryer, ovens, range, and grill.

-Uncle Chip’s Cookies: $25,000 for interior expansion, insulation, carpentry, security doors, and locks.

-Sky Real Estate: $25,000 for security door & system, flooring, ceiling, lighting, equipment upgrades, bathroom improvements, painting, shelving storage, and signage.

Rhode Island Avenue, NE:
-Plenary Enterprises: $25,000 for demolition, framing, finishes, plumbing, HVAC, electrical work, and signage

-Good Food Markets: $25,000 for framing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical work, drywall, flooring, finishes, façade, painting, walk-in cooler installation, and POS system.

-S2 Development: $25,000 for interior finishes, façade improvements, mechanical/electrical/plumbing work, roofing, and signage.

-Mess Hall: $25,000 for HVAC and hood exhaust system.

-VMG Resources LLC: $25,000 for HVAC, water system upgrades, flooring, parking lot paving, doors, cabinets, painting, lighting, and signage.

Bladensburg Road, NE:
-Jenks Hardware (910 Bladensburg Rd, NE): $25,000 for interior and exterior renovations, including concrete, masonry, metal and wood work, doors, finishes, fire suppression system, roofing, and mechanical/electrical work.

Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE:
-Drake Incorporated: $25,000 for exterior painting, doors, windows, storefront improvements, roofing, and signage.

-Fabulous Kids Child Development Center: $25,000 for signage and classroom expansion, including site work, doors, windows, finishes, fire suppression system, and mechanical/plumbing/electrical work.

Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE:
-WellCare Pharmacy: $25,000 for ADA compliant ramp installation, doors, signage, consultation room build out, façade improvements, plumbing work, and medical equipment.

-Kraft Studio: $25,000 for HVAC, roofing, bathroom remodel, exhaust, sprinkler system installation, and security system installation.

-DC Modern LLC: $25,000 for electrical work, lighting, art hanging system, sound system, digital display, and storage system.

-Capitol Services: $25,000 for masonry, framing, flooring, windows, painting, roofing, stair construction, HVAC, doors, and electrical and plumbing work.

-Lia’s Rainbow: $25,000 for demolition, drywall, windows, fire suppression system, and mechanical/plumbing/electrical work.

-First Choice Masonry: $25,000 for demolition, flooring, drywall, painting, millwork, doors, windows, and mechanical/plumbing/electrical work.

-Grubb’s Pharmacy: $25,000 for generator, signage, and medical equipment.

-J. Roberts, Inc.: $25,000 for storefront improvements, demolition, windows, doors, masonry and stucco work, roofing, flooring, painting, and electrical work.

Connecticut Avenue, NW:
-Indique: $6,430 for convection oven.

This post initially referred to the U Street studio as a “spinning” studio. I have been informed by a friendly representative of Spinning® that the company has held a trademark on the name for 20 years and has a Google alert set up to catch infringers. Because the U Street studio is not licensed to use the trademark and does not in fact use the term “spinning,” it should be referred to by the generic term “group indoor cycling.” 

Photo by Lateef Mangum in the mayor’s office