Washington, DC – Today, Mayor Bowser and the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) awarded a combined $1,434,000 in grant funding to 62 community-based organizations that serve District residents. The grants, the first awarded by MOLA this fiscal year, will support DC’s Latino community through innovative programs in education, arts, entrepreneurship, green infrastructure and workforce development. Grants were made in amounts between $5,000 and $50,000.

“We are proud to partner with these community-based organizations that are advancing DC values and helping us build a safer, stronger, and more inclusive Washington, DC,” said Mayor Bowser.

The grant funding is aligned with the Bowser Administration’s priorities and is intended to enhance existing community programs focused on education, job and economic development, public safety, civic engagement, health and wellness, youth engagement, and arts and the creative economy. Organizations were selected based on the degree to which they meet these priorities and target their efforts toward underserved Latino communities. Current projects include: tuition assistance and one-on-one mentoring to young parents; programs that reduce truancy in support of Mayor Bowser’s “Everyday Counts” campaign; providing access to mental health; and assisting Latino entrepreneurs start and/or expand their businesses with micro business loans.

A list of the Fiscal Year 2019 Latino Community Grant awardees can be found at ola.dc.gov.