The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that we will be accepting applications for the first round of Food Waste Innovation Grants.  

These grants will provide support for restaurants, food manufacturers, shared commercial kitchens, 

and commercial corridors like Main Streets and Business Improvement Districts, to minimize food waste. 

Reducing food waste in the District’s food businesses can cut food and waste costs, reduce rodents, and reduce carbon emissions.

Grant applications will close on January 31, 2022, at 2 pm Eastern Standard Time.

 Applicants can access three resources through one application:

• Virtual or in-person food waste assessment: These will be free and available for all eligible applicants, to provide recommendations to each business on how to reduce food waste.

• Compost Credit: 100 businesses will be selected for $1,000 in credit for food scraps collection for composting. For many small businesses, this will cover 6 months of food scraps collection.

• Food Waste Innovation Grants: DSLBD intends to award between 6 and 20 Food Waste Innovation Grants for a total of $300,000 for the Fiscal Year 2022.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY