Local Businesses Encouraged to Get RFK-Ready
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Apply Now to Become a Certified Business Enterprise
(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) are encouraging local businesses to get RFK-ready so they can be positioned to take advantage of upcoming RFK contracting opportunities. Business owners should apply now to become a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) and are also encouraged to attend upcoming events related to RFK and doing business with the District.
“We've got 180 acres of opportunity coming to RFK, so today I’m asking all DC businesses: Are you RFK-ready?” said Mayor Bowser. “Now is the time to get certified, get informed, and get ready for contracting opportunities. The new RFK campus will have a stadium, housing, hotels, retail, and more, and we want you to help us make it happen.”
The RFK project is activating 180 acres on the banks of the Anacostia River, delivering a brand-new domed stadium, as well as a mixed-use development featuring housing, hotels and restaurants, retail and entertainment, parks and recreation areas, a sportsplex for District youth, and more. All this development means numerous contracting possibilities for local businesses over the next several years, creating good-paying jobs and economic growth for DC.
The District is encouraging businesses to apply now to become Certified Business Enterprises so they are positioned to compete for contracts tied to this historic investment across construction, professional services, hospitality, retail, operations, and more over the coming years.
The District’s CBE program is a key part of the Bowser Administration’s effort to provide local businesses with valuable access to government contracting. Since taking office in 2015, Mayor Bowser has helped drive more than $12 billion in contracting dollars to CBEs, strengthening local companies, creating jobs, and building generational wealth across all eight wards.
To learn more about the certification process or to apply to become a CBE, visit DSLBD’s website at dslbd.dc.gov/getcertified.
“CBE certification is how local businesses get in the game,” said DSLBD Director Rosemary Suggs-Evans. “For decades, this program has delivered real results for DC businesses, and with RFK, we are focused on making sure those opportunities continue to reach the businesses that call DC home.”
The Bowser Administration is also highlighting several upcoming events to help local businesses, and the community, prepare for RFK contracting: