Ria Radio

Stephanie Thomas is the new Director of Programs and Small Business Services at the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF), and she stops by to chat about some of the new programs that they are rolling out to help support and grow small businesses in DC. As always, we check in with Casey from Good Food Markets - they are celebrating their 3 year anniversary of being on RIA Main Street! Then we are joined by Kevin Bush, DC's Chief Resiliency Officer. Kevin visits with us about this new program in DC, and how his team is working to make sure that DC can weather any nature of setback that could disrupt our local economy. Tune in to learn more!

Neighbor Aaron DeNu kicks us off with another segment of #DeNew - this time about some of the interesting topography of Langdon Park. Next, we are joined by Shayla Hamlin and Amanda Sussex, the creative minds behind the delicious pre-made BYO Cocktails, mixed right here in Ward 5 at Mess Hall. Then one of the newest businesses to join the corridor stops by: Owner Kim Moore of Fitness Snob talks about her vision for boutique fitness on RIA Main Street.

Restaurants, movie theaters, nightclubs, and other entertainment venues constitute what could be deemed the "after hours" industry. Despite being a critical part of a thriving economy, many of these entrepreneurs face unique challenges in wading through the regulatory network of business licensing within the District of Columbia. Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd joins us to talk about his proposed legislation to create a special office to assist these businesses. We also chat with Casey from Good Food Markets, to get caught up on some great natural remedies for the cold & flu season. Tune in now to listen!

We start off with another episode of #DeNews from neighbor Aaron DeNu. Then we welcome At-Large Councilmember and neighborhood resident, David Grosso to the show. Councilmember Grosso talks about his work around education and community growth, and how that impacts workforce development. Visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/RIARadio )to watch a video of the interview!

Aaron DeNu starts off the episode with #DeNews; then we chat with Casey from Good Food Markets. Kyle and Michelle talk about marketing tips for small businesses to make the most of the holiday shopping season. Spoiler alert: It's never too early, OR too late to start. Tune in to learn how your business can benefit from all of the tools available to make your cash register ring.

No guests this week because there's so much news to share! It's the Holiday Season, and special events are happening everywhere. Take a listen and get your calendar planning in order!

We're only starting to feel fall & winter, but the team from the National Cherry Blossom Festival is already in planning mode for the spring! Krystle Fleetwood and Nicole Wright join us to talk about a decorating contest for businesses throughout DC, to celebrate the festival. Tune in for more information!

#DeNews starts us off with the history of Queens Chapel - the first Catholic church in DC. Casey from Good Food Markets (http://goodfoodmarkets.com) fills us in on the the new fall offerings in the prepared food case, with great seasonal flavors like butternut risotto. Then to keep on with the good eating theme, we're joined by Ward 5 neighbor Jonathan Bardzik (http://www.jonathanbardzik.com). Jonathan is the author of 3 published cookbooks, he is a storyteller supreme, and regularly cooks and entertains at farmers markets across the region. Listen now to learn more!

We're back! We start off the episode with #DeNews from neighbor and historian Aaron Denu. The topic: music legend and Ward 5 resident Pearl Bailey! Then we visit with Jasmine Childs and Patricia Coulthurst from Medstar Washington Hospital Center's Cancer Institute (https://www.medstarwashington.org). The Institute has embarked on awareness campaign in Ward 5 to raise awareness of colorectal cancer, including prevention screening and education. Next, we visit with Casey from Good Food Markets (http://www.goodfoodmarkets.com/) about all the wonderful fall produce. John Mains from SB Works (http://sbworksdc.org/) stops by to tell us about the new Small Business Challenge grant they have available to help you start or grow your DC-based business. Tune in now to listen!

It's that time again! The DC Stage Fair is back, and organizer Kish Rusek stops by the studio to talk about the events, the contests, and all the fun for the day (https://dcstatefair.org/). We also catch up with Casey from Good Food Markets for all the latest news and produce. (http://www.goodfoodmarkets.com/)

#DeNews kicks us off with a story about Philip Reid - a slave that worked on the Statue of Freedom that adorns the top of the Capitol Building. Then we welcome Marla Bilonik, Executive Director of the Latino Economic Development Center (http://www.ledcmetro.org), and Darryl Maxwell, of the DC Bar Pro Bono Legal Program (http://www.dcbar.org/for-the-public/help-for-small-businesses/) for small businesses. Together, these organizations provide a wealth of services for small business owners in all stages of growth. And of course we check in with Casey from Good Food Markets (http://www.goodfoodmarkets.com/) to hear all about what's new at the market this week. Listen now!

We start off the hour with #DeNews - and it's kind of a spooky story! Next, Amanda Blythe from Dance Place visits with us about this amazing community institution. Last but not least, we're joined by Philip Sambol from Good Food Markets, and he fills us in on their Senior Delivery Program. Tune in now for all the details.

We're testing out a new segment for RIA Radio: DeNews! Community member and historian Aaron DeNu gives 3-minute snippets of history that happened right here in Ward 5. He also performs DeNews at Open Mic Night at The Public Option on Thursday evenings! Casey from Good Food Markets calls in to talk about the new things happening at the market - think fall flavors! Then we chat with Anthony Dihle, the creative mind behind Victory Dance Creative. Based in Edgewood, Anthony creates a variety of graphic design products, including the popular DC Neighborhood Poster Project. He'll have lots to choose from at Fall Fest, so stop by and see his work. Listen now to learn more!

Today's episode is all about ways to improve your building! We start off the show talking with Sybongile Cook of the DC Great Streets program. Great Streets grants are being accepted until September 8, so if you have repairs, renovations, or other major purchases you need to grow your business, tune in to find out how you can apply for grants of up to $50,000. Then we talk with Mike Healy of New Columbia Solar - a DC-based solar energy company. If the up-front costs have been keeping you from going solar, think again! New Columbia Solar makes it easy to be green by installing solar systems with no up-front costs, and monthly utility bills about 15% cheaper than what you are paying now for traditional grid power. And of course Casey from Good Food Markets calls in to talk about a program providing access to fresh produce families on limited or fixed incomes. Tune in now to learn more!

Access to fresh produce has been increasing in Ward 5, thanks in large part to the growth of Farmers Markets throughout the District, and of course, from social justice-minded entrepreneurs like the team at Good Food Markets. We visit with Casey from Good Food Markets to talk about their many healthy options, including a delivery program for area seniors. Then we chat with Nick Stavely of Community Foodworks, to learn more about the Monroe Street Farmers Market. Listen now to find out what's happening at each of these wonderful resources in our community.

Rodent control is a challenge in any city, and DC is no exception. The DC Department of Health, Department of Public Works, and the Department of Small and Local Business Development have teamed up to offer grants for the purchase or lease of trash compactors for all sizes of businesses. Steve Glaude, the Director of the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development, and Gerard Brown from the Department of Health stop by to talk about the grant opportunity and with details on how to apply. Then we are joined by Marvin Tucker, Director of the OCASE Foundation. Once again, the OCASE Foundation will be giving away school backpacks loaded with supplies, on August 26th at Rita's Ice on RIA Main Street. And of course, Casey from Good Food Markets calls in to talk about what's new at the market. Tune in now!

The District of Columbia is one of the most progressive cities in the country for many reasons, and chief among those reasons are the policies around insuring the civil rights of some of our most vulnerable populations. Monica Palacio, Director of the DC Office of Human Rights, joins us to talk about DC's rules on non-discrimination in hiring and housing, as well as many of the tools and resources available to business owners to assist them in creating safe and welcoming environments in the workplace, for both employees and customers. Is your business compliant with all of the OHR requirements? Listen now to learn more.

Access to capital is always an important part of realizing your entrepreneurial dream. We are joined by Edward Tuvin, Senior Vice President of the Commercial Banking Group, and Charlene Davis, Vice President of Branch Management, both from DC's own City First Bank. They'll be talking about small business banking, as well as City First's involvement in community development projects throughout the DC region. Casey from Good Food Markets checks in with the latest news in summer produce. Then we are joined by Lucinda Babers, Director of the DC Dept. of Motor Vehicles. There are some big changes coming to DC's drivers licenses and ID cards, and Lucinda gives us an overview on what to expect. Tune in now!

Seabury Resources CEO Deborah Royster joins us to talk about the many services their organization provides to seniors throughout the area. From aging in place services to a variety of beautiful assisted living facilities, Seabury works to help keep our elders active and engaged in the community.

There's a new business coming to RIA Main Street! Parents of small children around the area have been eagerly anticipating the opening of Fun It Up, a new indoor play and event space for kids. Paul Winestock joins us in the studio to talk about how his inspiration for creating Fun It Up (spoiler alert: there was a granddaughter involved!), and his plans for making this the go-to space for birthday parties and more.