2023 New Year Edition
Dear DLCP Customers,
Happy 2023 and Happy Lunar New Year. I am wishing everyone a year of good health, happiness and prosperity.
At the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), we are striving to continue innovating our business processes, improving our customer satisfaction rates, increasing our education and outreach activities, and enforcing consumer protection laws.
Earlier this month, as part of her history-making third term, Mayor Muriel Bowser, along with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), unveiled DC’s Comeback Plan. DLCP is committed and ready to support this important economic strategy plan by working with other agencies and stakeholders to improve the ease of doing business in the District.
We view our work as a significant partner for the creation and advancement of businesses that provide services in the District. Further, our agency’s mission helps to provide opportunities to those who may be struggling financially as well as the middle class.
To this point, in partnership with the DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO), we will soon launch a new "one-stop" business portal where customers can smoothly navigate through the business licensing process among different agencies. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting new portal.
Protecting consumers is a part of our mission and DLCP is the primary agency directly charged with enforcing the Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA). I am pleased to share that we recently established a working group with stakeholders from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB), Legal Aid DC and various other entities that are committed to protecting the rights of consumers. This working group will make the necessary updates and clarifications to the CPPA while considering the long-term implications on how businesses operate.
Community outreach and education are also key aspects of how we serve our customers and assist our licensees/registrants to remain compliant. The Street and Sidewalk Vending Workshop we held in December provided information to over 80 participants looking to learn about requirements for street and sidewalk business licensing and compliance. The agency also offered on-the-spot licensing assistance to participants who were interested in becoming vendors.
DLCP, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) agencies, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), DC Health and the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department will continue this effort with a series of Street and Sidewalk Vending Workshops that are culturally relevant and sensitive to the needs of all the District’s diverse communities.
The DLCP team and I look forward to following our commitment of: "Helping Businesses and Consumers Thrive."
We value your business and feedback. And, we look forward to a wonderful year serving you.
Best Regards.
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 Shirley Kwan-Hui
Interim Director
On January 5, 2022, Interim Director Shirley Kwan-Hui gave an exclusive interview with The Georgetowner newspaper author, Christopher Jones. In the published article, the Interim Director was candid about her upbringing and how DLCP will protect consumers, help customers navigating business licensing and compliance requirements, streamline business processes and support Mayor Muriel Bowser's efforts to focus on equity in DC’s economic development over the next five years so that DC is a place for successful businesses, opportunity-rich neighborhoods and where people are able to thrive.
The Director explained her leadership vision and her goal to expand the agency’s community education and outreach. DLCP’s strategy centers historically minority and marginalized neighborhoods, the middle-class and non-English language proficient communities. She also emphasized the agency’s role in working with major corporation who provide jobs and support to the community.
Of DLCP’s role, the Director said: “But I don’t think our role should just be limited to helping our customers with licensing and compliance. We want to make sure we connect people with our sister agencies’ efforts, maybe through grants, maybe some other opportunities, like free legal services… so they cannot only start their businesses, but sustain their businesses… For me, our role at DLCP is how we help businesses and consumers thrive.”
The article also highlights that DLCP, along with the Department of Buildings (DOB), was recently recognized for its successful partnership with Georgetown University to ensure proper licensing, inspection and safe rental housing conditions for students living off campus.
You can read more from the exclusive interview by clicking here.
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On January 7, 2022, Mayor Muriel Bowser, DLCP staff and members from the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission enjoyed watching world boxing champions go toe-to-toe in the ring.
The primetime event, at the Capital One Arena, became a sold-out show with 19,731 attendees. This was a huge win for the District of Columbia that collected more than five million dollars in ticket revenue.
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The District of Columbia's Combat Sports Commission played a major role in having the event be televised from the District and regulating the combat sports license laws in keeping players safe. Deputy Commissioner Sheldon "Skip" Brown helped coordinate the event and worked with the Showtime promoter. |
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Program Specialist Kimberly Troxler licensed the boxers and made sure everyone was in compliance.
We are proud of the work that our DLCP staff continues to provide. Events like this help promote DLCP's mission to consumers while letting the good times roll.
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Interim Director Shirley Kwan-Hui is pictured here getting ready to start marching in the Annual MLK Jr. Holiday parade with District leaders – Director Jackie Reyes-Yanes of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs (MOCA), Director Eduardo Perdomo of the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) and other parade participants.
On January 16, 2023, Interim Director Shirley Kwan-Hui joined Mayor Bowser, community organizations and a crowd of marchers in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's legacy at the 42nd Annual MLK Jr. Holiday Parade. Hosted by The Coalition of Peace, the Southeast DC streets were filled with signs and banners signaling freedom and justice in our nation.
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On Sunday January 22, 2023, the Interim Director also joined this year's annual Lunar New Year parade to celebrate the year of the rabbit (or the year of the cat for the Vietnamese community). Organized by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) and in partnership with the DC Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA), thousands came out to enjoy live music, watch the lion dance and other performances and enjoy an unforgettable experience.
These local events gave opportunities to engage with District leadership, community leaders, residents and businesses but more importantly, celebrating these significant events together as a whole District of Columbia community.
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DLCP is proud to announce the next workshop on Street and Sidewalk Vending. This workshop will be conducted in partnership with the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) and will focus on the cultural and specific needs of the Hispanic and Latino vending communities in the District. On-the-spot licensing assistance will be available.
The workshop is scheduled on February 28, 2023 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm at the Frank D. Reeves Center of Municipal Affairs which is located at 2000 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009.
Spanish language and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters will be on-site. For other language interpretation needs, please contact DLCP in advance for arrangement.
Throughout this year, DLCP will continue to work with multiple Mayor's Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) agencies to conduct and promote a series of street and sidewalk vending workshops that are culturally relevant and address the needs of the diverse communities of the District. Stay tuned for more workshops in your neighborhood.
Various existing and new grant programs and procurement opportunities for DC businesses are available through the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) cluster for fiscal year 2023.
More information is available at the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development website here.
Contact DLCP via email, or our online inquiry form at any time. We’re also available through the live chat on dlcp.dc.gov or by phone at 202-671-4500 during normal business hours.
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