Release Date: Feb 11, 2022

National Landing Bid And Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (Ramw) Announce Second Annual “Love Local” $100k Covid-19 Recovery And Relief Program

Funds Will Support Open and Eligible Restaurants and Small Businesses in Pentagon City, Crystal City and Potomac Yard

ARLINGTON, VA – [February 11, 2022] –- National Landing Business Improvement District (BID), in coordination with Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), today announced the return of Love Local, a grant program created in 2021 to provide funding and promotional support for National Landing restaurants and small businesses. The current round of funding of up to $100,000 for this initiative is intended to help small businesses cover pay for workers’ wages or any necessary operator-related expenses.

“Restaurants and small businesses are the cornerstone of National Landing’s vibrant and growing community,” said Tracy Sayegh Gabriel, President and Executive Director of the National Landing BID. “As COVID-19 continues to impact these businesses, we hope the Love Local initiative will help them during these difficult times. We are grateful to RAMW for their partnership in sustaining our restaurants.”

For the second year in a row, the National Landing BID and RAMW will distribute financial support to all eligible open, brick and mortar small business or restaurant establishments in the National Landing district. Individual funding amounts will be divided equally based on those eligible businesses who sign up to participate through the program’s application portal, which can be accessed here until February 28, 2022. National Landing BID and RAMW will formally execute agreements to ensure that processes and the appropriate safeguards are in place prior to distributing the funds.

“National Landing BID’s Love Local program continues the important work of providing access to relief resources that are a lifeline for small businesses and restaurants during the pandemic”, said Kathy E. Hollinger, President & CEO of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. “The opportunity to be able to access relief dollars to assist with operational expenses is an extremely effective recovery tool that helps to save jobs and community assets. The efforts of the National Landing BID to support small businesses and provide another round of relief funds is beyond commendable and we are grateful to be able to partner with them again in this endeavor.”

During the pandemic, National Landing BID and RAMW emphasized the importance of our region’s restaurants and small businesses with their initial commitment in deploying the Love Local program. In 2021, 30 restaurants, retailers, fitness studios, and other local businesses participated in Love Local, providing funding to support the businesses in rent payments, worker pay, and more. The National Landing BID is also a sponsor of RAMW’s 2022 Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week, covering the costs of the neighborhood’s restaurants in participating in another exciting annual program designed to encourage the community to return to their favorite restaurants as well as try something new.

Together, National Landing BID and RAMW remain committed to its mission of driving economic recovery by supporting local businesses in the restaurant, hospitality and tourism industries. To learn more about this program, visit https://nationallanding.org/events/love-local or click here to apply.

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About National Landing Business Improvement District
The National Landing Business Improvement District (BID) is a public-private partnership established to promote and activate the area’s business, retail, restaurant and residential community through placemaking, public art, transportation, economic development, events, marketing and promotion. This dynamic, mixed-use urban center encompasses the vibrant Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard-Arlington neighborhoods, and includes more than 26,000 residents, nearly 12 million square feet of office space, approximately 5,900 hotel rooms and over 450 restaurants and shops. Already Virginia’s largest walkable downtown, National Landing is in the midst of an exciting transformation driven by billions of dollars in public and private investment that will deliver new and enhanced housing, offices, parks, transportation and infrastructure in the coming years. The National Landing BID is helping to steer this growth in ways that are sustainable and enhance the area’s diversity and livability. For more information, visit NationalLanding.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)
The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is the regional trade association representing restaurants and the foodservice industry in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Established in 1920, RAMW is an advocate, resource and community for its members. The Association works to promote and sustain the growth and development of the industry while providing its members legislative and regulatory representation, marketing and small business support, programming and events. RAMW strives to serve its members with professionalism and integrity, and provide them the training, education and support they need to grow a successful business.