We’re investing nearly $1 million dollars to energize the community around our Benning Road facility in northeast D.C. The investment, which includes the Pepco Energizing Small Business Grant Program, will help bring fresh produce and food products to our neighbors in need.

According to a D.C. Hunger Solutions 2024 Racial Equity Report, communities around our Benning Service Center face limited access to fresh, nutritious food. To address this issue, this program is providing nearly $600,000 in grants to eight small businesses that will increase access to grocery stores, helping individuals and families get the essentials they need. Several neighborhoods will benefit from this program, including:

• Parkside/Mayfair
• Marshall Heights
• Carver-Langston
• River Terrace
• Kingman Park
• Eastland/Kenilworth
• Deanwood

Small businesses interested in this program can apply here before October 11, 2024.

We’re teaming up with Hello Alice to distribute these grants. If selected, businesses will receive a grant of more than $74,000 to help resolve food inequity in these D.C. neighborhoods.

This major investment extends to local schools and nonprofits in those same neighborhoods. We’re investing $20,000 grants for the next three years, totaling $300,000. Cesar Chavez Public Charter School has already received a grant to create a state-of-the-art STEM classroom, complete with brand-new laptops. These upgrades will enhance students’ learning experiences and provide them with equal opportunities to prepare for their future careers. Other organizations benefitting from this funding include:

• Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington
• Nevel Thomas Elementary School
• Educare of Washington, D.C.
• Marshall Heights Community Development Organization