Small business EDGE grant applications accepted thru Feb. 28

The Delaware Division of Small Business will accept applications for its EDGE Grant Competition through 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28. EDGE refers to the DSB program Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion.

Five STEM-based (science/technology/engineering/math) companies can each receive up to $100,000 for eligible expenses, while five Entrepreneur Class (non-STEM) businesses can each receive up to $50,000.

To be eligible to apply for the EDGE competition, a small business must have been in operation for fewer than seven years and have 10 or fewer full-time employees, with the majority (at least 51%) located in Delaware. Startups and those not yet in business are also eligible.

The application and required support materials such as proposal templates and scoring guidelines, along with a recently recorded informational webinar, can be found at de.gov/edge. 

Small business owners can apply for funding to support future expenses such as purchasing needed equipment, improving building infrastructure, obtaining rental space, or contracting for website design or a marketing campaign to help acquire more customers. Purchase of property is not an eligible expense.

Past awardees include a drone company in need of an indoor facility, a company developing a new product for next-generation silicon solar cells, owners looking to bring a printing and artist co-working space to Kent County, and restaurateurs looking to to purchase a food truck or other vehicle to expand sales.

Currently, DSB is focused on increasing the number of applicants from Sussex and Kent counties, particularly in the STEM category.

After the application closing date, there will be several rounds of internal evaluation. Within six weeks, up to 16 finalists will be selected to pitch their grant proposals to a panel of outside, expert judges. From these finalists, 10 winners will be selected and announced at a public awards ceremony. The time from submission period through the awards ceremony is about four months.

One of the greatest tools to submitting a successful application is working with one of DSB’s regional business managers who can provide guidance and answer questions about the process, as well as offer feedback on an owner’s proposal. These services are free.

Two rounds of the EDGE Grant Competition are held each calendar year. Since the program launch in 2019, DSB has awarded $7.25 million to 110 small businesses.