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Delaware Division of Small Business awards EDGE grants

August 23, 2021

Local companies Brimming Horn Meadery and Gingham + Grace Clothing were among the 15 Delaware small businesses recognized as awardees in the third round of Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion Grants from the state Division of Small Business.

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

The Taco Jardin business received $25,000 in EDGE Grant funds to purchase a second food truck to expand its reach throughout Kent County. “This funding from the EDGE Grant program is significant for a small business like ours and will create opportunities for our business that would not be possible without it,” said Charles Kelchner, chef and co-owner. “My business partners and I are honored to be selected as a winner of the grant funding. I know it will go a long way in helping our business grow and thrive in the months and years to come.”

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

Businesses 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 companies can receive up to $100,000 for eligible expenses while Entrepreneur Class, non-STEM businesses can receive up to $25,000.

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

Gingham + Grace Clothing owner Jami Jackson has grown her once-small online boutique shop into a brick-and-mortar storefront in Harbeson where her clients receive excellent customer service and one-of-a-kind wares. With her EDGE funding, Jackson plans to invest in new inventory to grow sales, and she hopes to bring on a new employee who can help her better serve her patrons in Delaware and the 29 other states to which she currently ships merchandise.

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

“EDGE Grants are helping to level the playing field for promising Delaware small companies as they compete with more established, larger businesses and as they recover from the coronavirus pandemic,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “Small businesses are the backbone of Delaware’s economy, and this program is just one of the many ways the Division of Small Business has made a strong, positive impact on the state’s economy by assisting hardworking 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 last year, Delaware’s entrepreneurs continue to find innovative ways to ensure the success of their businesses by developing new products, changing how they interact with their customers or thinking creatively about their future goals,” said Schulties. “The EDGE Grant offers us the opportunity to recognize this innovation by providing much-needed capital assistance at a time when our state’s small businesses need it most.”

This is the third round of funding for the program since it launched in 2019. In this latest round, which opened in April, 282 businesses applied for funding. A group of 23 finalists gave public presentations before a panel of expert judges June 22-24 at Delaware Tech in Dover.

 

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