Ann and Kwame

On Monday, August 30, 2010, God in his infinite wisdom saw fit to bring home a dear friend, Ann Simpson-Mason.

Ann has known me from my teenage years, and as an elder advisor, has always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and been supportive of my public service aspirations.

A former District of Columbia employee, Ann retired in 2008 as the Deputy Associate Director of the Transportation Policy and Planning Administration (now PPSA) at the District Department of Transportation; she also served as Special Assistant, Executive Office of the Mayor, for Regional and National Affairs (1979-1991).

Prior to joining the District government, she worked for the National Association of Counties; she also served as a Special Assistant, Executive Office of the Mayor, Paterson, New Jersey.

Ann was a graduate of Knoxville College, Knoxville, Tennessee, and George Washington University Certified Public Manager’s Program.

She was also a very active leader in many professional organizations; an early organizer and officer with the National Forum of Black Public Administrators; and for several years she served on the Board of Directors, National Association of Black Mayors.

Forever a community and civic activist, she served as a Board Member, Chairperson, with the Columbia Heights Development Corporation, and was instrumental in the negotiations for the development of DC USA.

Ann’s final project, as President of the Tenant’s Association, she ushered through completion, the loan DHCD loan negotiations for the purchase of her apartment complex, Duncan Coop, 4625-27 13th Street, NW, under DHCD Tenant Purchase Program.

We all will miss this very Special Lady. I personally will miss a treasured friend.

Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the IDEA Public Charter School, 1027 45th St. NE, Washington, DC 20019.  For more information, call 202-351-9569.

The annual summit serves as a forum for educating tenants about the fundamentals of tenant protections in the District, for collaborating on emerging issues of concern to the tenant community, and for bringing together the District’s many tenant associations. Tenants living in the District of Columbia as well as representatives from tenant associations, tenant advocacy groups, District of Columbia agencies, and anyone who wants to learn more about tenant protections in the District should attend. The summit will consist of presentations and workshops designed to educate tenants on their rights and issues affecting them.

Admission to the summit is free. There will be free prizes and food.

Interested parties can register online at www.ota.dc.gov. If your office is interested in receiving fliers for distribution please contact Charles Davis at 202-719-6560 or CharlesE.Davis2@dc.gov. Please tell him how many fliers you need and whether you will pick up the fliers or need us to mail them to you. If you have any questions about the summit please be advised that I will be on vacation from August 16, 2010 until August 30, 2010. I will be happy to answer any questions when I return. If you have questions that need immediate answer please contact Mr. Davis.

There are several events happening today across the District.  Here are the details:

First District
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Landsburg Park, 1000 Delaware Ave. SW

Second District
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Turtle Park, 45th St. & Van Ness St. NW

Third District
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Soccer Field, 3200 Hiatt Pl. NW

Fourth District
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
4D Field, 6300 Block of 3rd St. NW

Fifth District
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Trinidad Recreation Center, 1310 Childress St. NE

Sixth District
11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Field, 4500 Block of Quarles St., SE

Seventh District
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Oxon Run Park, 4300 Block of First St. SE

For any updates on these times and locations visit www.mpdc.dc.gov/nno.

Download the official National Night Out flyer here.
Download the official National Night Out bike flyer here.

John A. Wilson Building

Are you a young entrepreneur?  The U.S. Youth Chamber of Commerce is hosting a reception at the John A. Wilson Building on August 9, 2010 with guest officials.  Here are the details:

What: U.S. Youth Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network Reception

Where: 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (John A. Wilson Building)

When: August 9, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Guests: Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas, US Shadow Representative Michael Panetta, US Shadow Senator Michael Brown

To RSVP for the event email event@usyouthchamber.com.  You must have ID to get in the building.

Click here to download and share the flyer.

Contact: Daour Diawara, Small Business Development Fellow, (202) 661-8673, ddiawara@wdcep.com

Technology, Antiques and Free Legal Aide are Winners at WDCEP Small Business Awards

Adam A Weschler & Son, Digidoc, Inc and the DC Bar Pro Bono Program to be recognized at July 28th Small Business Awards Breakfast

Washington, DC– The 120 year old Weschler & Son, DC’s own Digidoc, Inc and the much respected DC Bar Pro Bono Program will be recognized this July 28 at the third annual Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) Small Business Awards.

In addition to recognizing local businesses in the following three categories: Small Business of the Year, 100 Year Old Business of the Year and Business Initiative of the Year; the WDCEP Small Business Awards will feature a keynote address by CoStar founder Andy Florance.  The winner of WDCEP’s $100,000 Business Plan Competition will also be announced.

“These DC based enterprises are icons for other businesses here in the District,” says Steve Moore, President and CEO of the Washington, DC Economic Partnership.  They are a source of pride to us and great servants to the community.”

WDCEP and its Board of Directors worked in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development to undertake this business initiative.  For more information, click here. To register for the Small Business Awards ceremony please click here.

DSLBD is offering a new class, Building Your Business Identity – From Securing URL’s to IP Protection on July 22 at the e-BIC. Business and intellectual property attorney will discuss the legal aspects of branding your business, including: securing website domain names, working with web designers, registering trademarks and trade names, copyrighting, utilizing nondisclosure agreements, and other basics of developing and protecting your business’s intellectual property. Classes are from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the e-BIC, Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 901 G St. NW. Be sure to visit our online registration site here to reserve your spot.

GEAR UP FOR JULY’S WORKSHOP ON GSA SCHEDULES

Be sure to register for DSLBD’s July session on procurement with GSA. The free workshop, How to Get On and Keep a GSA Multiple Award Schedule, is designed to encourage and support small businesses interested in obtaining a GSA Federal Schedule contract. This in-depth class will cover: the process of getting on GSA’s Schedules, how to access government solicitations, the most significant sections of an offer, how to submit an offer, and the evaluation and award process. It will take place on July 29 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm at the e-BIC. To register, click here.

OTHER JULY DSLBD COURSE OFFERINGS

This month, DSLBD classes include: CBE Pre-Certification Orientation; Licensing and Tax Offices; Starting a Home-Based Business; Entrepreneurial Mindset; How to Get on and Keep a GSA Multiple Award Schedule; and Business Planning Process.

These classes are located either at the e-BIC, located in Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library on 901 G St. NW, or in the One Judiciary Square Building, located at 441 4th St. NW. Register online here.

Remember, you can also sign up for a one-on-one business assessment or use the computers, software, and other resources at the e-BIC if you are a business owner in the District or a District resident. Call 202-727-2241 for more information or stop by the center, which is open from 12 to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

DSLBD WARD 4 STOREFRONT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AVAILABLE

DSLBD is soliciting a second round of applications for the Ward 4 Storefront Improvement Program (SIP), which it originally launched November 2009. The program is intended for eligible Ward 4 applicant business owners to make small design fixes to their store exteriors, including upgrades to signs, awnings, lighting, painting touch-ups, entry door, security grates, and window glass. Approved improvement services will be funded by the Ward 4 Capital Improvement Program. Read more about the program and how to apply here.

DSLBD AND TOMPKINS BUILDERS CELEBRATED SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT EDUCATIONAL SERIES

Recently, DSLBD and Tomkins Builders Inc. celebrated their successful Construction Management Educational Series. Throughout the month of June, thirty-seven business owners participated in the intensive twelve-hour series of classes taught by industry specialists. They learned about a comprehensive costing, bidding and estimating; safety; subcontracting; insurance and bonding; marketing and sales; accounting basics; scheduling; field operations; and project delivery systems and contract risk management. The class was so well-received that DSLBD plans to continue partnering with area companies including Tompkins Builder Inc. to provide more such trainings in the future. Read more about the program here, and view photos from our graduation ceremony here.

ACCESS CAPITAL THROUGH DSLBD’S MICRO LOAN FUND PROGRAM

DSLBD encourages local businesses to apply for funding through our Micro Loan Fund Program. In order to apply, you must be a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) that is designated as “small” or “disadvantaged.” Read about other requirements of the program and how to apply here.

BOOKMARK IT!

DSLBD Online Find information about our services, activities, business opportunities, and more.

DC-Procurement Technical Assistance Center (DC-PTAC) Learn how the DC-PTAC can help you win federal contracting opportunities.

DC Stimulus Site For all the latest news about how the federal economic recovery plan is impacting the District.

SBA’s Small Business and Micro Business Lending Report Find rankings of banks based on their record of small business lending.

DC Green Building Act What you should know about green building. (You can find Green Building Act of 2006 here.)

Michael Whitfield, Jr.’s Story

“If I can battle day school, night school, a job and a daughter…you all can do it.  Keep pushing.”

Rico Kinney’s Story

“Having a close brush with death isn’t easy…I would like to thank my mom for letting me see the light.”

Tyler Goodger’s Story

“It was really hard being away from my mother.”

Mario Brooks’ Story

School: “Mario demonstrated growth in community and vocational involvement.  As a student that has an intellectual disability, Mario displayed great character when presented with life’s challenges.”

Shavionne Smith’s Story

“I thank my mom for helping me…”

For all the untold stories visit http://www.youtube.com/tellkwamebrown.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2010

CONTACT: Steven Kania, 202-962-3249

The Joint WMATA Governance Review Task Force will hold an open meeting and forum on July 1, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments for elected officials, stakeholders, and members of the public to provide input on how Metro is governed.  For people who cannot attend, COG is accepting public comments on its web site, www.mwcog.org, and will share them with members of the Task Force in advance of the meeting.

The Task Force was created last month by the Greater Washington Board of Trade and COG to recommend to Metro improvements in the transit agency’s governance.  Its membership is comprised of area business leaders, former elected and appointed officials, and three current elected officials—COG Chair Kwame Brown of the District of Columbia, COG Vice Chair Andrea Harrison of Prince George’s County, and COG Board Member Penelope Gross of Fairfax County.

“We want to hear ideas from the public because how Metro is governed determines how DC, Maryland, Virginia and the federal government pay for its equipment and operations and who is responsible for its safety and management,” said COG Chair and D.C. Councilmember Kwame Brown.

The BOT and COG supported a similar public-private study partnership in late 2004 and early 2005 when they jointly created a Metro Funding Panel.  The panel’s recommendation, to create a federal dedicated source of funding matched by the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia funding, was subsequently approved by Congress and signed into law by the President in 2008.

For more information on the Task Force, the July 1 meeting, or to submit a public comment, please visit www.mwcog.org.

COG is the association of 21 local governments working together for a better metropolitan region.