The Delaware Division of Small Business is gearing up for its fall 2026 EDGE Grant Competition. EDGE refers to the DSB flagship program Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion, which has distributed $10.3 million to 136 small businesses in the last six years.

The program has undergone several changes since it began in 2019. The current version features a total of $1.15M available in funding, and offers post-award support for finalists and winners. 

“Delaware’s business landscape continues to evolve, and the EDGE competition is evolving with it,” said CJ Bell, DSB director. “We are giving business owners the tools they need not just to stay in business but scale and expand ... to take that next step toward long-term sustainability.”  

Changes to this year’s competition include making EDGE a one-day pitch and award event to be held Tuesday, Nov. 10. The event will also include education, networking with small business vendors, and an opportunity for high-impact small businesses to meet with venture capital firms in hopes of making matches between the two. 

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. One of those tools is the recently launched DSB Recipient Network where prior EDGE winners as well as past recipients of other DSB funding streams gather to network, learn additional business strategies, and exchange ideas with others in the industry. 

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

Applications will be accepted from Tuesday, Aug. 11 through 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 11.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to work with a DSB 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.