November 27, 2019 | Vol. 5, Issue 48
Dear Washingtonians,
As we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, we have a lot to be grateful for in the District of Champions. In just the past two weeks, we have celebrated so many milestones that represent the values of our community and our vision for a DC that gives all Washingtonians a fair shot.
As I look back on these achievements, I want to thank all the residents, community partners, and DC Government employees who work every day to continuously improve our city. This Thanksgiving, I am once again grateful to lead such an incredible community.
Sincerely,
ICYMI: DC Government offices will be closed on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29. Learn more HERE.
 This holiday season, support District businesses by shopping small and local. On Saturday, November 30, the Bowser Administration will celebrate Small Business Saturday, the annual holiday shopping tradition that gets communities everywhere out in support of their favorite small businesses.
Shop Small is a nationwide movement encouraging people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Shop Small DC campaign promotes shopping and dining in neighborhoods across the District throughout the holiday season.
Find more information about where to shop small this Saturday HERE.
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 This week, Mayor Bowser released the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Opportunity Guide for Fiscal Year 2020 – also known as the “Green Book.” The Green Book provides a comprehensive look at the spending goals for District agencies and outlines resources to increase access to procurement opportunities.
In FY19, the Bowser Administration committed to spend $844 million with SBEs and exceeded that goal by spending more than $890 million. The FY20 expendable budget for District Government agencies is $1.8 billion, of which at least 50%, or $910 million, must be spent with SBEs. This ambitious but attainable spending goal is the result of an improved goal-setting process adopted by the Department of Small and Local Business Development following a top-to-bottom, data-driven analysis of past practices and agency budgets.
View the FY20 Green Book and spending goals online at business.dc.gov.
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 Last week, Mayor Bowser welcomed the first residents to the St. Elizabeths East campus. The Residences at St. Elizabeths East will include 202 affordable homes, delivering on the Mayor's commitment to provide high-quality affordable housing in Congress Heights.
This milestone at St. Elizabeths follows the Mayor’s announcement earlier this month that Whitman-Walker Health signed a lease to build a state-of-the-art health center on St. Elizabeths East just steps away from the new apartments. Whitman-Walker Health and the Residences at St. Elizabeths East join other project deliveries such as The R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center, Gateway DC pavilion, and the Entertainment and Sports Arena, home of the 2019 World Champion Washington Mystics. Earlier this year, Mayor Bowser also announced that Parcel 15, next to the arena, will be transformed into a vibrant town square destination with retail, housing, and a stand-alone hotel just steps away from the Congress Heights Metro.
Learn more about the progress at St. Elizabeths East HERE.
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This week’s District Minute features stories about Hypothermia Season, the Residences at St. Elizabeths East, and the new Monroe Street Bridge.
 The District of Columbia leads the nation with clean energy and energy efficiency policy, green building development,
solar installations, and public investment to fight climate change. The DC Green Bank is a new independent agency
(established by the Green Finance Authority Establishment Act of 2018) with the charter to use public capital to leverage
and accelerate private sector investment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance the District’s sustainability
and resiliency goals.
The DC Green Bank seeks its inaugural Executive Director to launch this cutting‐edge, mission‐driven organization. If you are a visionary, experienced, and resourceful leader ready to roll up your sleeves and execute a bold vision, apply HERE.
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