H Street Group Gets Fannie Mae Grant The Fannie Mae Foundation has awarded a $60,000 grant to the H Street Community Development Corp. for a diversity program.

The money will go toward helping to promote cross-cultural understanding in the corridor, said William J. Barrow III, HSCDC’s executive director.

Barrow said the grant will enable the group to work with the community to help communication between those of different cultures and languages.

HSCDC is a private, nonprofit community development corporation which provides business development services in underdeveloped areas of the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County, Md.

Its diversity program stems from watching interactions between H Street’s business owners and its customers. Of the approximately 150 H Street businesses, about 25 owners are Asian-Americans. The cultural and language differences between the business owners and their customers have sometimes led to a lack of understanding.

The Fannie Mae Foundation, based in Washington, D.C., helps to create affordable housing and home ownership opportunities across the United States.

— Sara Faiwell