At today’s meeting of the DC Council, Councilmember Charles Allen’s Made in DC Program Establishment Act and Tree Canopy Protection Amendment Act were passed unanimously.

Allen’s Made In DC bill will promote locally created, manufactured, and assembled products through brand certification via the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). It directs DSLBD to develop a “Made in DC” logo, brand, and marketing campaign. Once approved, local producers may use this logo in their own marketing, as well as be promoted by the city via DSLBD’s “Made in DC” program.

“The Made In DC program is a smart investment in our local businesses and building a stronger marketplace for District-made products. I’m proud to help promote the District’s growing creator economy with a program to communicate the importance of buying local and having pride in DC-made products,” said Councilmember Allen.

Council Chair Phil Mendelson and Councilmember Vincent Orange, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Business, Consumer, and Regulatory Affairs, co-introduced the legislation. 

Allen’s Tree Canopy Protection bill seeks to save the District’s older, larger trees from unnecessary removal by increasing fees for removal permits, generating additional revenue for the city’s Tree Fund, the scope of which would be expanded to allow tree plantings on District-owned property such as parks and schools.

“Trees are so important to our quality of life. This bill is a crucial step toward protecting our larger, older trees and expanding our replanting efforts.  If we’re going to meet our goal of increasing the District’s tree canopy to 40% by 2032, we have to do more now.  This bill ensures the Urban Forestry Administration can help reduce the number of large trees lost to development and increase replantings,” said Councilmember Allen.

Councilmember Mary Cheh, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment, co-introduced the legislation.