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Coronavirus Testing

Pre-registration for Public Testing

It’s best to get testing through your provider, but if you need to use public testing, you can save time in line by visiting coronavirus.dc.gov/register to create a profile from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Bridge Fund

Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) launched The Bridge Fund, a $100 million investment in businesses and workers grappling with the COVID-19 public health emergency in the hospitality, entertainment and retail sectors. The Bridge Fund is devised to assist small business employers with maintaining operations and employees. Through The Bridge Fund, the District will strategically invest to sustain the hospitality, entertainment and retail industries to help mitigate the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on workers and businesses.

Another round of The Bridge Fund launched on January 24, 2022 to support economic recovery and long-term viability of brick-and-mortar restaurant, retail & entertainment businesses still grappling with the COVID-19 public health emergency. For more information visit ObviouslyDC.com.

Funds will be disbursed via four programs:

  • Restaurant Bridge Fund – $35 million – Application Closed
  • Retail Bridge Fund – $15 million – Application Closed
  • Entertainment Bridge Fund – $20 million – Application Closed
  • Hotel Bridge Fund – $30 million – Application Closed

Recipients

Entertainment Bridge Fund

The Entertainment Bridge Fund aims to provide $29.5 million in financial relief to the entertainment industry that has experienced significant economic distress since the beginning of the public health emergency. The fund is comprised of two programs: (1) Venue Program that will support DC’s entertainment venues, and (2) Supporting Business Program that will support entertainment businesses that do not have site control of a venue but their activities heavily rely on live events.

Venues Program

Live music venues, event venues, performance venues, movie theaters, nightclubs and bars, and theaters are some of the types of businesses eligible to apply for the Entertainment Bridge Fund Venue Program. The funds will support general operational expenses (rent and mortgage expense, payroll, property and sales tax, insurance, accounts payable, and/or utilities), as well as operating expenses related to COVID-19.

How to Apply?

The application opened on Monday, December 21, 2020 and closed on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 5:00 pm.

For More Information

For more information on the Entertainment Bridge Fund - Venues Program and how you can prepare to apply, please review:

Supporting Business Program

Eligible businesses for the Supporting Business Program include, Audio & Visual, Event Equipment Rental, Photographer, Event Planners, Trade Show or Event Staffing Services, Event Production Companies, Talent Booking Agency, Tour Companies (bus, boat, walking tours), Performance Art Companies (dance companies, theatre groups), Performing Artists, Event Promoters, and Recreational Sports Leagues. The funds will support general operational expenses (rent/mortgage, payroll, insurance, District taxes and fees, equipment leasing and purchasing, and/or utilities) and COVID-19 related supplies and preparation.

How to Apply?

Applications for the Entertainment Bridge Fund - Supporting Business Program opened on Monday, January 11, 2021 and closed on Friday January 22, 2021 at 5 pm EST.

Applications reopened on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 12 pm EST and will close on Friday, February 12, 2021 at 12 pm EST.

For More Information

For more information on the Entertainment Bridge Fund Supporting Business Program and how you can prepare to apply, please review:

For all other inquiries related to the Entertainment Bridge Fund, please contact [email protected].

Retail Bridge Fund

The Retail Bridge Fund aims to provide competitive grants to eligible retail establishments that have experienced significant economic distress due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Local brick-and-mortar retail establishments, such as bookstores, clothing stores, salons, massage establishments, fitness studios, art galleries, and dry cleaners are eligible to apply. The funds will support general operational expenses (rent/mortgage expense, payroll, insurance, and/or utilities), as well as operating expenses related to COVID-19.

The Retail Fund is a competitive grant program; grantees will be selected based on business viability, number of employees, and tenure. Additionally, 15% of the funds ($2.25M) will be set aside for businesses that are eligible to be both a Resident-Owned Business (ROB) and a Small Business Enterprise (SBE); and one of the following:

  • at least 51% owned by economically disadvantaged individuals; or
  • at least 51% woman-owned; or
  • or a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE).

How to Apply?

Application Deadline Extension: The application opened on December 14, 2020 and will now close on January 15, 2021 at 5 pm.

NOTE: To access the application form, you'll need to register your email address and create an account. Once you've created an account, you'll be able to save your progress and resume the application at a later time. You will only be allowed to submit ONE application per email address. If you have multiple businesses, you'll need to create multiple accounts with different email addresses.

For More Information

For all other inquiries related to the Retail Bridge Fund, please contact [email protected].

Restaurant Bridge Fund

The Restaurant Bridge Fund aims to provide competitive grants to eligible restaurant and food services establishments that have experienced significant economic distress due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and made plans to respond and adapt to these challenging circumstances. Full-service restaurants with restaurant licenses, including limited-service restaurants, fast food restaurants, and food service providers such as bars and taverns with a tavern license, wineries, breweries and distilleries with a tavern license, bakeries, cafes, delicatessens, coffee shops, vending trucks or carts, food trucks, caterers, food courts, and cafeterias would be eligible to apply for the Restaurant Bridge Fund. The funds will support general operational expenses (rent/mortgage/docking expense, payroll, insurance, fuel for mobile vendors, and/or utilities), and expenses incurred related to winterization or COVID-19 preparation.

The Restaurant Fund will award at least 700 grants for eligible businesses with consideration to economic distress, business viability, length of revenue generating operations, and District resident employment. Additionally, 15% of the funds ($5.25M) will be set aside for businesses meet the following conditions:

  • Are eligible to be a Resident-Owned Business (ROB)
  • Are eligible to be a Small Business Enterprise (SBE); and
  • Are at least one of the following: at least 51% owned by economically disadvantaged individuals OR at least 51% owned by a woman or majority of women.
  • Applicants for the set-aside must also meet the eligibility requirements for the Bridge Fund Restaurant program (below).

Owners of multiple businesses may apply for each business separately, as long as each business has a separate EIN, up to a maximum of 5 businesses.

The Restaurant Bridge Fund will be open to businesses that meet the following criteria:

  • Must be located in the District of Columbia
  • Must be currently open & operating. Businesses temporarily closed due to the recent restrictions on indoor dining and have plans to reopen on or before January 15, 2021 are eligible to apply.
  • Business must have been revenue generating prior to October 1, 2020.
  • If the business opened after March 17, 2020 and before September 30, 2020, the business must have generated a minimum of $25,000 in revenue.
  • Must have and submit a DC Basic Business License and all other applicable ABRA licenses.
  • Maximum of $10 million in annual revenue for 2019 and/or $7.5 million in revenue as of September 30, 2020.
  • Franchises must be independently owned & operated.
  • Must demonstrate financial distress of 25% in decrease in revenue during COVID-19.
  • Must be Local Business Enterprise (LBE) eligible.
  • Must have a current Certificate of Clean Hands (dated within 90 days prior to application submission date)

How to Apply?

Due to the upcoming Holiday observances, the Restaurant Bridge Fund application will be open for three (3) weeks, opening on Monday, December 7, 2020 and closing on Monday, December 28, 2020 at 5 pm/EST.

Application extension for business located in Wards 5, 7, and 8 (pending funding availability): January 4 at 5 pm/EST.

*Please continue to check coronavirus.dc.gov/bridgefund for any updates on the deadline.

For More Information

For more information on the Restaurant Bridge Fund and how you can prepare to apply, please review the Get Restaurant Bridge Fund Ready Checklist and review the Frequently Asked Questions. For all other inquiries related to the Restaurant Bridge Fund, please contact [email protected].

Hotel Bridge Fund

All full-service hotels, limited service hotels, extended stay hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, inns and motels located in DC, with a minimum of 10 rooms, are eligible for the Hotel Bridge Fund, including those that have temporarily suspended operation or are operating in a limited capacity.

The Hotel Relief Fund is open to businesses that meet the following criteria:

  • Hotel business is physically located in District
  • Operators must have a current Hotel, Bed and Breakfast, or Inn and Motel Business License
  • Must be a business in good standing with DC Government with Clean Hands
  • 80% of the award must go towards payroll and fringe/benefits including healthcare
  • Temporarily closed hotels are eligible, but must commit to reopen by March 31, 2021

How to Apply

Hotels have been sent an invitation to apply. Any hotel that has not received an invitation and believes it may be eligible should email [email protected].

For More Information

For more information, see Get Hotel Bridge Fund Ready Checklist. For all other inquiries related to the Hotel Bridge Fund, please contact [email protected].