DC Department of Small & Local Business Development (DSLBD)

What DC Department of Small & Local Business Development (DSLBD) does

The DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is a District of Columbia government agency headquartered at 441 4th Street NW, Washington, D.C., with 47 staff supporting the development, retention, and growth of District-based small and local businesses. Its mandate centers on administering the Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) program — the statutory gateway to DC government procurement preferences — across nine certification categories (LBE, SBE, DBE, ROB, DZE, LRB, VOB, LME, EIE), backed by a 50% Small Business Enterprise spending mandate across 78 District agencies, 35% subcontracting set-asides on contracts over $250,000, and 2–10% price/preference points on competitive bids.

DSLBD's core technology is the Salesforce-based District Enterprise System (DES), which manages applications, recertification, material changes, and waiver notifications, with adjacent tools including the CBE Wizard (eligibility self-assessment), CBE Search Portal (public registry with NIGP codes), District CBE Waiver Portal, and a GIS-based Enterprise Zone Finder. Annual procurement transparency is delivered through the FY26 Green Book, which sets a $1.5 billion CBE spending goal (up from approximately $317 million previously).

The agency's commercial footprint is non-revenue-generating: all CBE certification, counseling, workshops, and grant programs are publicly funded through District appropriations and federal cooperative agreements (notably via the Department of Defense for the DC APEX Accelerator, rebranded from PTAP in October 2022). Distribution is community-led and event-driven, spanning 24 Main Streets programs, certified Business Improvement Districts, 41 Clean Teams corridors, the DC Main Streets/Art All Night festival, library pop-ups, and self-service digital portals. Specialized programs include Made in DC, District Capitalized, DC Capital Connector, Dream Grants (targeted at Wards 7 and 8), sports wagering CBE compliance, and the FY26 Launch to Legacy Program for alumni scaling.

Name

DC Department of Small & Local Business Development (DSLBD)

Legal name

Department of Small and Local Business Development

Website

https://dslbd.dc.gov

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is a DC government agency that certifies local businesses as Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs), giving them preferential access to $1.5 billion in annual District procurement across 78 agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Small business certification
• Government procurement assistance
• Business development services
• Commercial corridor revitalization
• Entrepreneurship support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriation: DC government agency funded through public tax revenues and appropriations. No commercial revenue generation.
2. CBE Certification Services: Free certification services for Certified Business Enterprises - a government program providing preferential procurement opportunities, not a revenue-generating service

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DSLBD is the District of Columbia government agency that administers the Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) program, which certifies DC-based for-profit businesses and grants them preferential access to DC government procurement (price reductions of 2–10% and 2–10 proposal points, plus 35% subcontracting set-asides on contracts over $250,000). The agency also delivers business development counseling, capital access tools, retail and corridor grants (Robust Retail, Restaurant & Retail Stabilization), commercial revitalization programs (Clean Teams, Main Streets, BIDs), the DC APEX Accelerator for federal contracting, Made in DC local manufacturing certification, and the annual Art All Night festival.

Product overview

The DC Department of Small & Local Business Development (DSLBD) operates a comprehensive web-based service platform rather than a traditional software product. The core offering is the CBE Certification Program, which provides District-based businesses with preferred government procurement access through multiple subcategories (LBE, SBE, DBE, ROB, DZE, LRB, VOB, LME, EIE). This is supported by the District Enterprise System (Salesforce-based portal) for application management, the CBE Wizard for eligibility assessment, and the District CBE Waiver Portal for subcontracting requirements. DC APEX Accelerator provides government contracting assistance. Business Development services include access to capital tools (DC Capital Connector, District Capitalized), training programs (Build-a-Dream), and District Connect expo. Inno.ED division manages entrepreneurship programs including Made in DC certification, Dream Grants, and Aspire to Entrepreneurship. Commercial revitalization services cover Clean Teams (41 neighborhood corridors), Main Streets, and BIDs. The Green Book serves as the annual procurement guide with $1.5 billion FY26 spending goal. Sports wagering CBE compliance and Art All Night festival are additional programs. SmallBiz Assist provides one-on-one counseling. The portfolio represents an integrated ecosystem of government services, not a unified software product with modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DC APEX Accelerator: Government contracting assistance program, formerly PTAP, helping businesses engage in federal, state, and local contracting. Transitioned to Department of Defense on October 1, 2022.
• CBE Program
• Made in DC
• Green Book
• Inno.ED
• Clean Teams
• District Capitalized
• Art All Night

Products and services

• CBE Certification Program

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Office of the Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity (DMGEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMGEO and DSLBD jointly developed the Green Book SBE Opportunity Guide in FY2016. DMGEO sets policy direction while DSLBD implements small business development programs.
• Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCP provides contracting services for 78 District agencies. DSLBD monitors agency SBE spending goals and compliance with CBE subcontracting requirements.
• Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOLG regulates and operates DC sports wagering. DSLBD ensures CBE Plan compliance for all sports wagering license applicants, reviewing capacity building plans and administering waivers.
• Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLCP handles business registration and licensing. Partner for CBE certification webinars and joint seminars at DLCP Small Business Resource Center.
• Department of Transportation (DDOT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDDOT DBE program for federally-funded highway projects operates separately from DSLBD CBE certification with no reciprocity.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSLBD uses SBA size standards to determine SBE eligibility. SBA provides federal contracting resources through DC APEX Accelerator.
• Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs (DoD OSBP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDoD OSBP administers the APEX Accelerator program through cooperative agreements with state and local governments. DSLBD hosts DC APEX Accelerator under this funding.
• Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOEE and DSLBD partner on CBE Green initiative to prepare CBEs for DOEE and DCSEU green market opportunities through additional training.
• DC Main Streets Programs (24 locations)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit organizations using Main Street Four Point Approach to revitalize commercial districts. Receive technical assistance and grants from DSLBD for neighborhood renewal.
• Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDSLBD certifies and re-certifies all BIDs in the city. BIDs participate in Art All Night and corridor revitalization initiatives.
• District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent contracting authority. DSLBD directs businesses to DCPS contracting opportunities.
• DC WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent contracting authority. DSLBD lists DC Water procurement opportunities for CBE access.
• WMATAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional transportation authority with independent contracting. DSLBD provides CBE access to WMATA procurement.
• DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAH partners with DSLBD on Art All Night festival, bringing visual and performing arts programming across all eight wards.
• DC Public Library (DCPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCPL partners on Art All Night and hosts Small Biz Assist counseling sessions at MLK Library.
• Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCFO provides financial data for Green Book development including District spending with CBEs by industry.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA): Federal agency under the US Department of Commerce dedicated to minority business enterprise development. Comparable broad-incumbent peer to DSLBD's CBE program for minority-owned, disadvantaged, and equity-focused business certifications and support.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Federal agency providing small business support, certification (8(a), HUBZone), contracting assistance, and SBA size standards that DSLBD uses for SBE eligibility. Functions as the federal-level incumbent whose size standards DSLBD explicitly references and whose APEX Accelerator program DSLBD hosts.

Direct peers

• Atlanta Mayor's Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: City-level Atlanta office handling equity-focused small business development, certification, and inclusion programs. Comparable to DSLBD in operating municipal programs that combine certification, equity-focused grantmaking, and minority business support within a major US city.
• Philadelphia Department of Commerce: Philadelphia's city-level economic development agency supporting small businesses through programs, certification, and neighborhood revitalization. Mirrors DSLBD's municipal small business development mandate in another major US city.
• Los Angeles Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO): City of LA agency focused on economic inclusion, small business support, and certification programs. Comparable municipal peer to DSLBD providing business development services and procurement preference certifications in a major US city.
• Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP): Chicago's city agency handling business licensing, consumer protection, and small business support. Comparable to DSLBD in providing municipal-level small business services including certification and licensing pathways, serving a major US city government.
• New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS): NYC's municipal agency providing business services, certification (M/WBE), technical assistance, and grant programs to small businesses. Direct functional peer to DSLBD with comparable scope in certification, capital access, and neighborhood commercial revitalization, though operating at much larger scale in NYC.

Regional players

• Maryland Department of Commerce: State-level economic development agency serving Maryland, including the DC metro region. Comparable to DSLBD at state scope, with small business development, certification (MBE/DBE), and grant programs operating alongside DC's programs in the same regional market.
• Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD): Virginia's state agency administering SWaM certification and small business support programs. Functions as a regional peer to DSLBD serving the other side of the DC metropolitan area with comparable certification and development programming.

Others

• National APEX Accelerator: National network of APEX Accelerator programs (formerly PTAP) funded by DoD OSBP that DSLBD hosts locally as DC APEX Accelerator. Direct programmatic partner rather than competitor; relevant as the funding/cooperative-agreement parent of one of DSLBD's core services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SmallBizDC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEMuNh_ZSlKG9ADq2Iz-kCA/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/smallbizdc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dc-department-of-small-local-business-development-dslbd
• Instagraminstagram.com/smallbizdc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DC Department of Small & Local Business Development (DSLBD)