Encouraging Development, Growth & Expansion
The EDGE Grant program gives qualified small businesses in Delaware an edge by offering access to significant capital like never before.
The Division of Small Business is not currently accepting applications for the EDGE Grant program. Check back in March 2023 when the program reopens for applications.
Grant Overview
The Division of Small Business awards EDGE Grants through a competitive selection process. STEM-based companies can receive up to $100,000 for eligible expenses. Entrepreneur Class (non-STEM) businesses can get up to $50,000. The funds are provided as a $3 (state) to $1 (business) match. And the Division can provide up to 10 grants per application round (5 STEM/5 Entrepreneur).
Who Is Eligible*
Qualified applications must:
- Have been in operation less than 5 years
- Employ 10 people or fewer
- Be majority located in Delaware
- Have not received a previous Strat Fund grant
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.
A company is not eligible for an EDGE Grant if it has received any money through the Delaware Strategic Fund. This includes 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 whose disclosure they feel would likely cause them competitive harm or endanger a trade secret.
The grants are primarily intended to assist people building private, for-profit companies. That said, there may be a special circumstance in which a 501(c)(3) would be eligible. Contact one of the Division’s Regional Business Managers to discuss your organization’s eligibility before applying.
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.
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.
Para preguntas o asistencia con su solicitud, llame al (302) 739-4271. Ver un seminario web y una presentación en español.
Aprenda sobre EDGE
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SPRING 2022 EDGE AWARDEES!
Learn more about the most recent grantees and what they plan to do with the funding.
