FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | May 16, 2025
Contact: Caroline Klinger | (302) 599-9705
Two economic development initiatives championed by Senator Darius Brown are currently live and accepting applications.
“The Delaware Grocery Initiative and the Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund aim to bolster economic development while uplifting our most vulnerable communities,” said Senator Darius Brown. “These initiatives are about building an inclusive economic ecosystem where every Delawarean has equal access to the resources they need to thrive, whether in business or in maintaining their personal health. Through intentional investments that provide access to capital and healthy affordable food options, Delaware is the place where opportunity lives.”
Delaware Grocery Initiative
Access to nutritious food is critical for maintaining personal health, yet many Delawareans are at risk of living in a food desert. The Delaware Grocery Initiative provides funding to entities at various points in the food supply chain to help direct healthy and affordable food options to Delaware’s most vulnerable communities.
Funding is available to businesses that grow, process, store, transport, distribute, or sell food in Delaware. Applicants must request funding for a project that can be completed no later than December 31, 2025. Funds may be used to cover various operational or capital expenses. All grant applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025.
For more information on the program as well as access the application, go to de.gov/foodgrant. For questions, contact the Division of Small Business at business@delaware.gov.
The Delaware Grocery Initiative was created by Senate Bill 254, passed by the 152nd General Assembly in June 2024.
Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund
The Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund aims to help entrepreneurs access capital, especially for aspiring business owners who belong to groups that have been historically left behind.
Banks, credit unions, and CDFIs properly registered and authorized to conduct business in the State of Delaware may apply for one or more grants to support proposed programs that:
- Invest in the development of financial product or financial product underwriting innovations that will enhance access to capital, funding, and other financial services for businesses in low- to moderate-income tracts in Delaware
- Deploy, test, and evaluate these innovations for providing capital and funding to businesses in low- to moderate-income tracts in Delaware; and
- Promote and make these innovations available to a variety of banking organizations, Community Development Financial Institutions, and credit unions for use in enhancing access to capital, funding, and other financial services for businesses in low- to moderate-income tracts in Delaware.
Applications must be completed and submitted on or before 5 p.m. on June 16, 2025. Applications for the DCIVF and additional information can be found on the DCIVF webpage. For any questions, please email DCIVF@delaware.gov
The Delaware Community Investment Venture Fund was created by Senate Bill 83, passed by the 152nd General Assembly in May 2023.
###
