Staff Column by Chief Economic Development Officer, Evette Banfield

During Small Business Month, there’s no shortage of celebration for entrepreneurs and local businesses and rightfully so. Small businesses are the economic heartbeat of The District of Columbia. They create jobs, activate corridors, build community identity, and generate pathways to economic mobility. But too often, conversations about supporting small businesses focus only on the business owners themselves, without examining the ecosystem surrounding them.

Last month, the DC Anchor Partnership (DCAP), through its partnership with the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) and in collaboration with the Georgetown University Office of Sustainability, hosted its second annual Vendor Connection Day. This year, centered on sustainability and the growing green economy.