DC’s Newest Main Street Organization Brings New Resources to Help Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant Thrive - Office of Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau

From L to R: Ana Harvey, Director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development; Ward 1 D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau; Brianne Dornbush, Executive Director of the Columbia Heights Initiative; Charlie Whitaker, Ward 1 Clean Team

The official designation ceremony was held by Ward 1 D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, Department of Small and Local Business Development Director Ana Harvey, Columbia Heights Initiative Executive Director Brianne Dornbush, Charlie Whitaker of the Ward 1 Clean Teams and other community leaders. After Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau worked to secure funding, late last year the District’s Department of Small and Local Business Development awarded the Columbia Heights Initiative a $200,000 grant to establish the Columbia Heights/Mount Pleasant Main Street. The grant will be matched by private funds.

"I pushed for these programs because I believe the creation of the Columbia Heights/Mount Pleasant Main Street and the expansion of the Ward 1 Clean Team are a game changer for the community," said Councilmember Nadeau. "Under the leadership of the Columbia Heights Initiative, the new Main Street will help grow our small businesses, build a stronger community, and allow both Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights thrive in their own unique ways. Our new Clean Team will help our growing neighborhoods stay cleaner and safer."

"We are thrilled to welcome the newest additions to our DC Main Streets family," said Department of Small and Local Business Development Director Ana Harvey. "The contributions Main Streets programs make to the continued economic growth and prosperity of our city is invaluable. In the last 2 years alone, they generated more than 2,000 jobs."

"We are honored to have been awarded the Main Street designation for Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant," said Brianne Dornbush, Executive Director of the Columbia Heights Initiative. "We are excited to continue our work serving these two neighborhoods and we invite residents, business owners, and community leaders to join us as we build a vibrant Main Street Program."

Main Street organizations help major neighborhood corridors thrive by supporting capacity building, business retention, program design and implementation, and commercial-revitalization planning to maintain the traditional and unique character of the distinct neighborhoods. The Columbia Heights/Mount Pleasant Main Street is the District’s eleventh DC Main Streets designee.

In addition, Councilmember Nadeau recently secured funding for and supported the expansion of the Ward 1 Clean Team, which will now bring additional resources to keep Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant cleaner as the neighborhoods continue to grow.

About Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau

In her many years of service to the community, Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1) has brought perspectives from a career that spans the non-profit, public and private sectors. She is committed to strengthening our schools, increasing affordable housing and promoting government transparency and the highest ethical standards. She serves as the Chair of the Council’s Human Services Committee. Prior to joining the Council, she was a strategic advisor to faith-based, Democratic and environmental non-profits, and is a former ANC. Follow her on Twitter @brianneknadeau or at Facebook.com/brianneknadeau.