FAQ
Questions we get asked.
What Georgetown Main Street is, what it does for the businesses on Wisconsin Avenue NW, and how to take part.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Georgetown Main Street?
- A nonprofit and a designated DC Main Streets program, founded in 2017. Georgetown Main Street's mission is to strengthen the vitality of Georgetown's small businesses by representing, promoting, and supporting the Wisconsin Avenue commercial corridor and engaging residents, businesses, community organizations, and visitors to build a vibrant Georgetown. More about us →
- Which streets does the corridor cover?
- Wisconsin Avenue NW from K Street to the south and Whitehaven Parkway to the north, plus half a block east and west off Wisconsin Avenue NW. That is 11 blocks, and the 244 businesses we have mapped along them. Explore the corridor →
- How is Main Street different from the Georgetown BID?
- Georgetown Main Street and the Georgetown Business Improvement District are complementary organizations working together to support a thriving Wisconsin Avenue corridor. Where the BID shapes the neighborhood experience, GMS strengthens the businesses that make the neighborhood worth experiencing. See what each one does →
- I run a business here. What can you actually do for me?
- Grants of up to $5,000, emergency funding, help negotiating a lease, one-on-one technical assistance and a monthly networking breakfast. If you are on the corridor, you are eligible. Business programs →
- How do I get my business into the directory?
- Write to us and we will add you. The directory is free for every business on the Wisconsin Avenue NW corridor, whether or not you take part in anything else. Get in touch →
- What is Georgetown Bucks?
- A digital gift card that only spends on the corridor. You buy it online, it lands in your phone wallet, and every dollar stays with a local business. How the card works →
- How many events do you run, and when?
- Eight a year, plus a monthly business breakfast: Art All Night, two Art Walks, the Fall Market, the Cookie Tour over two weekends, the Chocolate Tour, the Flower Tour and the Book Hill Tree Lighting. See the calendar →
- Can my company sponsor an event?
- Yes. Sponsorships run from $500 to $10,000 depending on the event and the level, and the full package lists what each one includes. See the 2027 package →
- How do I volunteer?
- Two ways: a shift at an event like Art All Night or the Fall Market, or a year-long seat on one of the five committees that actually run the organisation. Ways to help →
- Where does the money go?
- The program is funded in part by the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development. The annual reports break down every year, the most recent being 2025. Read the annual reports →
Something not here? Write to info@georgetownmainstreet.com and we will answer, and add it to this page.