The Delaware Grocery Initiative and
First State Food System Program
 

Applications have closed. Awardees will be notified in late April of 2026.

The Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Program is back for 2026 with $700K in available funding! The goal is to expand access to healthy foods in food deserts in Delaware and areas at risk of becoming food deserts, by providing grants and other forms of financial assistance to eligible food businesses and organizations.

to Delaware farmers; small, community and independent grocery retailers offering culturally diverse foods; food banks; food pantries; and other food supply chain businesses and organizations. Awarded funds may be used to support operations, capital expenses, equipment purchases, and other projects that expand supply chain capacity and strengthen collaboration among community partners.

Changes to this year’s Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Program include increased funding, a scaled funding model similar to what was used for the Fall 2025 EDGE Grant Competition, and an improved online portal for applying. 
 
 

Eligible Businesses and Operations Include:

• Farmers/Food Producers: producing for supply – fruits, vegetables, animal proteins, or other food products
• Retailers: independently owned grocery stores, cooperative groceries, neighborhood markets, corner stores, restaurants, farmers markets, on-farm stores, food trucks, or farm stands 
• Other Food Distributors: food pantries, food closets, faith-based organizations, soup kitchens
• Storage: food aggregation facilities, food refrigeration or freezers 
• Transportation: pickup and delivery of food products
• Processing: commercial kitchens, food prep facilities, food washing or cutting facilities
   

Timeline:

• Awardees Notified – late April, 2026
• Awardees Publicly Announced – Week of May 18, 2026 
   

Resources

• Slide Deck from Feb. 18 Webinar
   Recording from Feb. 18 Webinar 

About the Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Program:

The DGI/FSFSP is a partnership between the Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) the Delaware Council on Farm & Food Policy (link opens in new window), and Senator Darius Brown (D – New Castle, Wilmington, Edgemoor). The FSFSP originated under The Council and was adopted through legislation sponsored by Senator Brown in 2024, establishing the DGI.
 

 Read about past programs and projects of the Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Program.