Whatever size your business, whatever industry, whatever development stage, the state of Delaware may have an incentive or tax credit that can help you secure new capital or keep more revenue. Learn more below about the state’s various programs to grow the state’s economy through helping companies, like yours, succeed.

DSB Incentive Programs

The EDGE Grant Competition is the Division’s flagship funding program aimed at helping young Delaware small businesses grow and scale. The program awards grant funds through a highly competitive selection process and pitch competition.  Ten or fewer businesses in the Entrepreneur (general business) category will receive funding from a pot of $400,000, and eight or fewer businesses in the STEM category will receive funding from a $750,000 pot. Visit de.gov/edge to learn more.

Delaware’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) are a set of programs aimed at providing access to capital for small and early-stage businesses, particularly those in underserved areas.  The Division will work with financial lending partners to distribute SSBCI funds through four programs – two of which support small business loans: Delaware Loan Participation Program and the  Delaware Capital Access Program (DCAP), and two which support start up and early stage businesses: The Accelerator and Seed Capital Program and the Early-Stage Venture Capital Program. Visit de.gov/ssbci for more information. 

PAUSED – DSB’s Workforce Training Grant.  DSB is meeting with state and other partners to ensure the various programs are aligned with each other and not duplicative. Check back later for updates!  (title29.pdf (delaware.gov), pg. 604-605, Subchapter VIII, 8770A) 

The Delaware Strategic Fund supports business retention and expansion through grants and low-interest loans to projects that grow the state’s economy in a significant way. Learn more about program requirements here in the Strategic Fund Fact Sheet.  (title29.pdf (delaware.gov), pg. 591-592, Subchapter II, 8727A) 

The Modernization Investment Support Initiative (MISI) – To provide grant funds to qualified businesses that face regional, national, or global competitive forces that could disrupt or negatively affect local operations (employment and activity) unless investments are made that can update or ‘modernize’ the Delaware location.  View the Fact Sheet here.

Graduated Lab Space Funding – The Delaware Graduated Lab Space Incentive Program is designed to support existing companies and attract new companies requiring lab space. View the Fact Sheet to learn more about the program and minimum qualifications. 

The Delaware Site Readiness Fund promotes economic growth and stability by investing in the development or improvement of commercial and industrial sites to attract job-creating businesses. The Fund provides grants, loans or other economic assistance to qualified businesses or local governments that invest in constructing, renovating or improving infrastructure for sites that will attract new businesses or expand existing businesses within the State. Visit de.gov/sitereadiness for more program information, and the application. (title29.pdf (delaware.gov), pg. 588-589, Subchapter I, 8711A)

The Delaware Technical Innovation Program (DTIP) offers transition grants for companies that have completed Phase I and applied for Phase II of the federal Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer programs as they work to bring new products to market. Learn more in this Fact Sheet.  (title29.pdf (delaware.gov), pg. 592-593, Subchapter III, 8735A)

New – The Delaware Agricultural Financing Program (DAFP) – A Delaware Department of Agriculture program designed to increase the viability of Delaware’s agricultural industry by broadening lending opportunities across the agricultural sector. Equipment loans will be available for supporting activities including production, processing, packaging, aggregation, and distribution for both small and large-scale operations. View the Fact Sheet here. To view the program webpage visit: de.gov/dafp.  Contact the Delaware Dept. of Ag at DAFP@delaware.gov for the application and to confirm your project qualifies for the program. 

Tax-Exempt Bond Financing allows the Division to act as the conduit issuer on bond for tax-exempt, non-profit organizations. (click the link to access current TEFRA notices) (title29.pdf (delaware.gov), pg. 599-604, Subchapter VII, 8754A)

Brownfield Assistance Program offers matching grants to property owners and developers to encourage redevelopment of environmentally stressed sites. (title29.pdf (delaware.gov), pg. 591-592, Subchapter II, 8728A)

Contact us for more information on applying for an incentive.

Additional Incentive Programs

Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund (TIIF) grants are available to new or expanding job-generating businesses in the state to help offset their transportation improvement costs. Grant funds are disbursed as reimbursement for completed transportation infrastructure work. (title29.pdf (delaware.gov),pg. 550, Chapter 84,8422)

Tax Credits

The Division of Revenue administers tax credits related to economic development (list below). Click here to contact Revenue for more information and here to apply for a credit.

• New Business Facility Tax Credit
• New Economy Jobs Tax Credit
• Research and Development Tax Credit
• Green Industries/Brownfield Tax Credit
• Land and Historic Resource Conservation Tax Credit
• Historic Preservation Tax Credit
• Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit
• Business Finder’s Fee Tax Credit
• Vocational Rehabilitation Hiring Tax Credit