Delaware small business EDGE grants webinar set Jan. 29

The Delaware Division of Small Business is gearing up for its first EDGE Grant Competition round of 2026. EDGE refers to the DSB flagship program Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion, which has distributed $9.1 million to 127 small businesses in the last six years.

To help potential grantees prepare their applications, DSB will host an informational webinar on the spring EDGE requirements and how to fill out the online application and proposal templates at 2 p.m., Thursday Jan. 29. To register and learn more, go to de.gov/edge.

In fall 2025, DSB unveiled EDGE 2.0, an updated, supercharged version of the competition featuring more available funding and post-award supports. Most changes implemented will remain the same for this round.  

There is no set number of winners and no predetermined award amount. Delaware business owners can apply for either the Entrepreneur (most businesses) or STEM tracks. Applicants for the Entrepreneur track can apply for a portion of $400K in funding. Those in the STEM track can apply for a portion of a $750K pot.  

Up to 10 Entrepreneur finalists and up to eight STEM finalists will be selected to pitch. Finalists and awardees will receive additional post-pitch, in-kind services and/or post-award support to help them grow.

To be eligible to apply for the EDGE competition, a small business must have been in operation for fewer than seven years, have 15 or fewer full-time employees and have less than $700,000 in assets.

Applications  will be accepted from Friday Feb. 6, through 4:30 p.m., Friday March 6.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to work with a DSB regional business manager for initial guidance followed by feedback on how to improve their application before submission.

Funding for EDGE 2.0 can be used for purchasing equipment that can increase production capacity, improving building infrastructure, obtaining rental space or contracting for website design or a marketing campaign to help acquire more customers.

Purchasing property is not an eligible expense.