Mayor Bowser to Launch New Professional Licensing Initiative at the Grand Opening of Yeleen Beauty Makerspace

(Washington, DC) - On Monday, September 8 at 11 am, Mayor Muriel Bowser and District leaders will launch the District's Fast Beauty Initiative at the grand opening of Yeleen Beauty Makerspace, a co-manufacturing facility and tech hub in Ward 7. The initiative, led by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, is designed to streamline licensing requirements in the beauty industry and make DC more competitive with the region.

The Yeleen Beauty Makerspace-a recipient of a DC Locally Made Manufacturing Grant-is lowering barriers to market entry for local plant-based beauty entrepreneurs. The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development's Locally Made Manufacturing Grant program supports local businesses like Yeleen that are located in a Great Streets corridor and that engage in light manufacturing. Grants provide funding for capital or tenant improvements of commercial property with a designated industrial use.

Over the past decade, Mayor Bowser has made substantial investments in local businesses, and her FY26 Budget, Grow DC, builds on these investments to continue growing the District's economy. The Mayor's Growth Agenda for DC is focused on making it easier to do business in DC through programs like the Fast Beauty Initiative.

When:
Monday, September 8 at 11 am

Who:
Mayor Muriel Bowser
Councilmember Wendell Felder, Ward 7
Nina Albert, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
Tiffany Crowe, Director, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
Rosemary Suggs-Evans, Director, Department of Small and Local Business Development
Rahama Wright, Founder and CEO, Yeleen Beauty

Where:
Yeleen Beauty Makerspace
3443 Benning Road NE
*Closest Metro Station: Minnesota Avenue*
*Closest Bikeshare: Anacostia Ave & Benning Rd NE / River Terrace*

Press interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP to [email protected].

The DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment will provide a live feed of this event. To view the event, visit mayor.dc.gov/live, tune in on Channel 16 (DCN), or watch on Mayor Bowser's Facebook or X.

Mayor Bowser X: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser
Mayor Bowser Bluesky: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser
Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos
Mayor Bowser LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mayorbowser