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Main Street receives $20K grant to help fund outdoor dining

March 3, 2021

To help defray costs associated with leasing safety barriers to create safe outdoor dining and shopping areas for downtown merchants, Rehoboth Beach Main Street kicked off a major fundraising project.

The Delaware Division of Small Business announced that Main Street will receive a $20,000 grant to support this effort. With this grant, Main Street has raised more than $25,000 of its $30,000 goal. The grant funds can be used for partial reimbursement to the city on behalf of local businesses for the lease and installation of the safety barriers.

Last year, the City of Rehoboth Beach paid for jersey-wall barriers to delineate dining space and create safe pedestrian areas across usual parking spaces. Working with the city government, restaurant owners were allowed to expand their dining spaces onto the sidewalks to recoup business that would otherwise be lost. The same was true of small-business retailers who were allowed to expand their sales floor out onto the sidewalks on a daily basis.

With the continuing epidemic, and no likely reprieve until a large percentage of the population is vaccinated later this year, Rehoboth Beach will allow sidewalk dining again this summer. However, the city is unable to pay for the barriers this year and has asked restaurants and retailers to pay the lease cost if they want outside dining and retail.

The city’s restaurants play an enormous role in the area’s reputation as the Culinary Coast. Similarly, downtown retail establishments create a lively and inviting summer atmosphere for visitors to the Nation’s Summer Capital.

First priority for support will be given to Rehoboth Beach Main Street member restaurants and retail establishments. Businesses will need to apply for the safety barriers with the city and work with city officials to complete a design specific for each business (https://www.cityofrehoboth.com/news/general/city-rehoboth-beach-prepares-outdoor-dining-2021-season).

The level of funding Main Street can provide on behalf of each business applicant will be determined by the total amount of funds raised and the number of businesses that clear the process with the city and request support.

To donate, go to Rehoboth Beach Main Street's Facebook page.

An application form for financial support will be available soon.

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