The Ninth Street Business and Property Owners Association Inc. represents entrepreneurs and property owners from Barry Place NW south on Ninth Street to Massachusetts Avenue, NW that have come together to increase the visibility of their neighborhood and improve its economic vitality, overall appearance and social quality. The Association accomplishes these tasks through facilitating self-reliance, sustainable economic development, and community revitalization that is consistent with the best interests of our neighborhood associations, institutions, groups, and residents.

The Association is very proud of the history of the area we represent. Ninth Street was for a century one of the principal commercial corridors of our great city. In addition to businesses, during the early 20th Century, many important institutions established themselves along 9th Street. One of the most important was the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, founded by Doctor Carter G. Woodson, now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson made his home and office in the Shaw at 1538 9th Street, NW from 1922 until his death on April 3, 1950. A Shaw businessman and property owner, Dr. Woodson, working in this 9th Street rowhouse established the study of Black history and encouraged all African Americans to learn about their contributions to the founding and progress of this nation. Without Dr. Woodson, there would be no Black History Month to honor such individuals as Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, and countless other African Americans who have made significant contributions to both our city and our nation. The fact that Dr. Woodson, son of former slaves, went from working as a coal miner in his youth to becoming the second African American to earn a doctoral degree from Harvard University is a great history lesson, and embodies the professional standards of excellence that members of our Association aspire to achieve, maintain and pass on.