DC Office of Planning Awards Grant to Expand Shared Commercial Kitchen Access in Ward 7

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, the DC Office of Planning (OP) announced a grant award of $100,000 to the Greater Washington Urban League to support the creation of a shared commercial kitchen space in Ward 7 for local food entrepreneurs. The grant program will connect Ward 7 food businesses with existing commercial kitchen space to create more food jobs and improve food access in this area of the District.

Greater Washington Urban League will work with one or more commercial-sized kitchens in Ward 7, such as those located in restaurants, churches, community centers, or bakeries, to identify non-structural upgrades, prepare for licensing and inspections, and implement minor upgrades needed to operate as a shared commercial kitchen. The program will also provide technical assistance to up to five Ward 7 food entrepreneurs to expand their food production and business capacity using shared kitchen space.

"We learned from a survey of food businesses that accessing affordable commercial kitchen space is a major barrier for smaller businesses, which this grant is designed to address," said Anita Cozart, Director of OP. "We're grateful for the community members who raised up these needs during our survey and neighborhood planning processes and for the many cross-sector partners who made this grant possible."

Greater Washington Urban League's work will also extend to business advising, technical assistance, and operational support to help both the kitchen operator and participating entrepreneurs develop a sustainable shared kitchen model. This work will create new revenue-generating opportunities for existing commercial kitchens.

"This investment allows us to activate underutilized kitchen spaces, support local entrepreneurs with the tools and technical assistance they need to grow, and expand access to fresh, locally produced food," said Furard Tate, Director of the Entrepreneurship Center at the Greater Washington Urban League. "Black-owned businesses are the heartbeat of thriving communities, and this initiative helps ensure Ward 7 entrepreneurs can build sustainable businesses while strengthening their neighborhoods."

OP and the Food Policy Council's 2024 Food Access and Food Economy Report included a recommendation that resulted from the survey of food businesses to expand access to affordable commercial kitchen space. The grant program also advances recommendations from recent Ward 7 planning initiatives, including the Nannie Helen Burroughs Corridor Small Area Plan, the Pennsylvania Avenue East Small Area Plan, and the Deanwood Comprehensive Community Development Model, to strengthen local food systems, support small business development, and expand access to fresh food retail.

A goal of the Ward 7 Shared Commercial Kitchen Grant is to establish a replicable model that can guide development of future shared commercial kitchens across the District. By the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the grant program will produce an operational shared commercial kitchen space with Ward 7 food businesses operating out it.

Learn more about the Office of Planning's work at planning.dc.gov and follow the agency on X, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky.