EDGE
Encouraging Development, Growth & Expansion
The EDGE Application Period for Fall 2024 is closed. The winners for this round will be announced before the end of the year. Check back in January for information on the first round of EDGE in 2025!
The EDGE Grant Competition gives *qualified small businesses in Delaware, an advantage over others by offering access to grant funding. *qualified – 10 or fewer employees/less than 7 years in operation
Program Overview
The Division of Small Business awards EDGE Grants through a competitive selection process. Five STEM-based companies can each receive up to $100,000 for eligible expenses. Five Entrepreneur Class (non-STEM) businesses can each get up to $50,000. The funds are provided as a $3 (state) to $1 (business) match. The Division can provide up to 10 total grants per application round.
There are two rounds each year – one in February and one in August.
Who Is Eligible*
Qualified applications must:
- Have been in operation less than 7 years
- Employ 10 people or fewer
- Be majority located in Delaware
Award Criteria*
Applications will be judged by a panel of experts on:
- Business need case
- Competitive advantage gained
- Business viability and likelihood of permanence
- MWVBE status of business owner
- Business location (DDD and/or Opportunity Zone)
- Job creation/revenue growth
Eligible Expenses
Grant funding must be used to expand a business’s viability and sustainability, specifically:
- Market analysis assistance
- Advertising assistance
- Building infrastructure/cosmetic enhancements
- Essential equipment
- Web site design
- Rent assistance for lab space
*Other conditions and qualifications may apply
Frequently Asked Questions
A non-Delaware company may apply on the condition that it would relocate at least 51% of its business (employees and real property) to Delaware if awarded a grant. That relocation would need to take place before any funds would be disbursed. If you have an online only business, you (if you are the only employee) or at least 51% of your employees must be physically working in Delaware. Simply registering your online company in Delaware without a physical presence here does not count.
A company is not eligible for an EDGE Grant if it has been awarded any money through the Delaware Strategic Fund. This does not include money from DTIP (SBIR/STTR). In very rare circumstances, a business may be eligible for an EDGE Grant if the project involved is significantly different from the one that received previous funds. Contact a Regional Business Manager to talk about your specific situation.
In accordance with state Freedom of Information Act policy, applicants may request confidentiality on items which they feel would likely cause them competitive harm or endanger a trade secret, if disclosed.
The grants are primarily intended to assist people building private, for-profit companies. Thus 501(c)(3)s are not eligible.
Yes, you would apply as a sole proprietorship.
Cash, equipment or any non-state/local-government grants may be included as part of the match provided they are sufficiently tied to the project for which the company is seeking EDGE funding.
A company is not eligible for an EDGE Grant if it has more than $500,000 in net assets.
Part-time employees count as ½ employees for the purposes of the limit. Full-time employees count as 1. Any employee working fewer than 10 hours per week or fewer than four months per year does not count toward the employee limit, nor do contractors.
When you submit your application, you will receive an automatic email notification letting you know the application was received. If you do not receive this automatic notification, please call our office at 302-739-4271 to verify that your application was received. All applications submitted before the deadline will be reviewed and scored internally and finalists will be chosen from those applications.
Finalists are announced approximately six to eight weeks after an application round closes with the winners chosen in the following weeks.
Yes, EDGE applicants who are not selected as finalists will receive an email from the Division. Please ensure that you have included an email address on your application and be sure to check that email in the weeks after submitting your application. If you have not heard anything on your application and you would like to check the status, please call us at 302-739-4271 for assistance.
Finalists will be required to present to a panel of expert judges. All finalists will be notified of the date and location for judging.
In the weeks following the judging, winners will be notified via email that they have been selected as an EDGE Grant awardee. The Division of Small Business will then run a compliance check on all winning businesses to ensure they are in compliance with all state rules and regulations.
Yes, the EDGE Grant is taxable income, and grant funds cannot be used to pay any tax liabilities. We recommend you speak to an accountant regarding the details of your specific situation.
Webinar Recordings
Slide Deck
Q & A From Webinar
The below application materials (including templates) are for the 2024 rounds of the EDGE competition. There may be changes to the 2025 application so use the below for reference only.
Application Materials
Applicants are required to submit both the application form, AND
a proposal using either the STEM or Entrepreneur
Proposal Template below to format your proposal.
Fall 2024 EDGE Application Form
Required: Entrepreneur Template (updated 7.22.24)
or
Required: STEM Template (updated 7.22.24)
Budget and Matching Guidelines 7.8.24
Spring 2024 EDGE AWARDEES
Learn more about the most recent grantees and what they plan to do with the funding.
