The Delaware Relief small biz program gets a boost to $150M

Two COVID-19 relief programs for Delaware small businesses and unemployed workers are expanding, Governor John Carney announced Thursday.

The DE Relief program, launched over the summer, provides grants of up to $100,000 to Delaware small businesses, while the Rapid Workforce Training and Redeployment Initiative, provides training and certification programs for unemployed and underemployed Delawareans in skills that are currently in demand by employers in the state.

New Castle County provided additional funding for both programs from its allocation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding, bringing the amount available up to $150 million.

The first round of DE Relief grants was the largest cumulative grant award ever made by the State of Delaware to small businesses, with a total of 741 applicants sharing $25.7 million.

“Since day one, small businesses have been severely impacted by the burden of COVID-19,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “As we continue to find a way out of this pandemic, I encourage Delawareans to continue to support local businesses in any way we can.”

The second funding round, administered by the Delaware Division of Small Business, opened on October 1.

Learn more about how to apply for a DE Relief Grant.