The proposed resolution, introduced by Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, seeks to declare an emergency regarding the Retail Incentive Act of 2004, which designates specific neighborhoods in the District of Columbia as Retail Priority Areas. These neighborhoods include the Mount Vernon Triangle, Eastern Market, Barracks Row, and Georgia Avenue. The resolution emphasizes the importance of the Great Streets retail priority grant program, which has been operational since 2006, allowing small businesses in designated areas to apply for grants that support their growth, create job opportunities, and enhance access to capital.

The resolution outlines the legislative process surrounding the Great Streets Program Expansion, including the approval of the Great Streets Program Expansion Neighborhood Retail Priority Amendment Act of 2024, which broadens the program's scope. It notes that emergency legislation was enacted to address immediate needs, set to expire on February 11, 2025, while the permanent legislation is still undergoing the required congressional review. The resolution asserts the necessity of maintaining the emergency provisions until the permanent legislation is enacted, allowing for uninterrupted support for the affected neighborhoods.