Delaware Division of Small Business Awards EDGE Grants

Local businesses Brimming Horn Meadery and Gingham + Grace Clothing were among 15 small businesses in Delaware recognized as third round recipients of grants encouraging the development, growth and expansion of the State Small Business Division.

Governor John Carney and Small Business Division Director Jordan Schulties announced the companies at an event at Painted Stave Distilling in Smyrna, where EDGE grant recipient Taco Jardin food truck currently operates.

Taco Jardin Company received $ 25,000 in EDGE Grant funds to purchase a second food truck to expand its reach throughout Kent County. “This EDGE grant program funding is important to a small business like ours and will create opportunities for our business that would not be possible without it,” said Charles Kelchner, Chief and Co-Owner. “My business partners and I are honored to have been selected as grant recipients. I know this will go a long way in helping our business grow and prosper in the months and years to come. “

“We need to make it easier to start and keep businesses here in Delaware,” Carney said. “That’s why we created the EDGE grant program to encourage even more small businesses to grow and innovate. Grant recipients in this cycle span a wide range of industries, but every owner has the drive and determination to start and then grow their business. After an incredibly difficult year, we remain committed to rebuilding our economy and supporting small businesses in Delaware. “

Companies that are less than five years old and have no more than 10 employees are eligible to apply for EDGE grants, which are awarded through a competitive selection process. STEM-based businesses can receive up to $ 100,000 for qualifying expenses, while non-STEM businesses in the Entrepreneur category can receive up to $ 25,000.

When Jon Talkington and JR Walker opened Brimming Horn Meadery in Milton in 2017, they had no idea how quickly their niche market would grow. Fast forward to 2021, and now mead is once again expanding its horizons in the food truck industry. With the newly acquired EDGE funding, Talkington and Walker will be opening a Viking-themed food truck to supplement their meads and serve their hungry clientele.

Gingham + Grace Clothing owner Jami Jackson has transformed her tiny online store into a brick and mortar storefront in Harbeson, where her customers enjoy great customer service and unique products. With her EDGE funding, Jackson plans to invest in new inventory to increase sales, and she hopes to hire a new employee who can help her better serve customers in Delaware and the 29 other states to which she currently ships. merchandise.

EDGE is a matching grant program. The Division of Small Business is a winning business’s investment on a 3-to-1 basis. The business may spend EDGE Grant funds on expenses that help improve the odds of long-term success of the business. , such as a marketing campaign to help acquire more customers or the purchase of necessary equipment that can increase production capacity.

“EDGE grants help level the playing field for promising small businesses in Delaware as they compete with more established and larger companies and recover from the coronavirus pandemic,” the secretary said. of State Jeff Bullock. “Small businesses are the backbone of Delaware’s economy, and this program is just one of many ways the Division of Small Business has had a strong and positive impact on the state’s economy by helping hard-working business owners.

Since EDGE launched in 2019, more than $ 2 million has been awarded to 35 promising Delaware small businesses in industries ranging from wearable technology to agribusiness to craft brewing.

“Despite the challenges of the past year, Delaware entrepreneurs continue to find innovative ways to ensure the success of their businesses by developing new products, changing the way they interact with their customers, or by thinking creatively. to their future goals, ”said Schulties. “The EDGE grant gives us the opportunity to recognize this innovation by providing much-needed capital assistance at a time when small businesses in our state need it most. “

This is the program’s third round of funding since its launch in 2019. During this latest round, which opened in April, 282 companies applied for funding. A group of 23 finalists made public presentations to a panel of expert judges from June 22-24 at Delaware Tech in Dover.