Main Street Wilmington Program Receives 2021 Accreditation

Downtown Visions’ Main Street Wilmington program has been designated as an accredited Main Street™ program of 2021 for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

Main Street Wilmington’s performance is annually evaluated by Delaware on Main, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet 10 national performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building meaningful and sustainable revitalization programs and include standards such as, fostering strong public-private partnerships, documenting programmatic progress, and actively preserving historic buildings.

As a Main Street America Affiliate™, Main Street Wilmington is part of a national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

In 2020, Main Street Wilmington also established programs to help our Downtown Business Community reopen after the COVID-19 shutdown.

• Curbside Wilmington introduced expanded outdoor dining to support local businesses and encourage patrons to return to the rejuvenated Downtown District during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Expanded outdoor dining allowed Downtown restaurants to expand their patio spaces and outdoor dining into former parking spaces directly in front of their businesses, thereby allowing more seating at safely spaced distances in accordance with Governor Carney’s guidelines. Also, curbside pull-in spots were designated throughout the Downtown area for all businesses, both retail and restaurants, to use for pick-up and curbside delivery. 

• Dine Downtown Deal rewarded customers for supporting downtown restaurants. After submitting 5 eligible receipts from Downtown eateries, diners received a gift card in the amount of 20% of the total meals purchased to the business of their choice in the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District (BID).

• Free Valet Parking was started during the pandemic to make it as easy as possible for patrons to visit Downtown Wilmington. It is available on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5-10 PM at 7th & Market Streets.

• Free Shipping Promotion covered the cost of standard shipping for all online purchases made from participating Downtown Wilmington DE retailers.

To date, Main Street Wilmington has helped to build a better Downtown by:

• Helping to create 1,800+ jobs

• Restoring 53 building facades

• Removing 28 roll down security gates

• Providing grants to 72 businesses

“We are proud to recognize this year’s 889 nationally accredited Main Street programs that have worked tirelessly to advance economic vitality and quality of life in their downtowns and commercial districts,” said Patrice Frey, President & CEO of Main Street America. “During an incredibly challenging year, these programs demonstrated the power of the Main Street movement to drive impressive local recovery efforts, champion small businesses, and foster vibrant downtown districts. I am inspired by their hard work and confident that these accredited communities will continue to help their downtowns flourish in the next stages of recovery.”

New Resources for Small Business Relief & Recovery: January 2021

Downtown Visions is committed to helping our Downtown Wilmington DE establishments get back to business. A number of organizations have created funding opportunities in the wake of the pandemic to ensure our small businesses remain open for years to come. If you have any questions about which fund is right your businesses, don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.

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DE Relief Grants Program has begun accepting new applications as of January 19th, 2020. This means that small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have not applied in earlier rounds will have the opportunity to apply for this relief program presented by the

For those who have already applied for the DE Relief Grants program, the Division of Small Business is continuing to process applications as quickly as possible.

Wilmington Strong Fund is still accepting applications for $1000 Grants! The Fund has provided in total $117,000 to Wilmington small businesses. The majority of grant funds have been distributed to low to moderate-income, minority-owned, and women-owned small businesses.

• 67% of awards went to minority business owners

• 51% went to women-owned businesses

• 83% of grant recipients have revenues less than $200,000

Economic Injury Disaster Loan deadline has been extended by the SBA to apply for a COVID-19 pandemic December 31, 2021.

Loans are offered at affordable terms, including a 3.75% interest rate for small businesses and 2.75% for non-profit organizations, a 30-year maturity, and an automatic deferment of one year before monthly payments begin. All eligible small businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to apply.

At Your Side Grant is a Small Business Grant Program providing grants of $5,000 to $10,000 on a competitive basis. The program will support brick-and-mortar small businesses in designated Main Street districts as they work to adapt to COVID-19 and prepare for the next phases of reopening across the country, while also helping to revitalize and strengthen older and historic commercial corridors.

Applications will open at 12pm on Thursday, January 21 and continue to be accepted through Thursday, January 28 at 7:59pm.

Ascent is a FREE learning program for Women entrepreneurs from the Small Business Administration. Women own or co-own 45% of all businesses in the United States. The majority are small, with great potential for growth in both revenues and job creation. That’s why the Small Business Administration has created Ascent and packed it with in-depth information to help you grow your business!

The Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce is proud to be the newest member of the National Black Chamber family! Joining the National Black Chambers will provide us with a platform to engage, educate and empower, established businesses, business owners, as well as future entrepreneurs. We will commit our resources of people, time, information and capital toward providing opportunities that create wealth and equity within our communities.

Minority Small Business Grants are an important source of money to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Grants to minority-owned businesses are key, not just to the businesses themselves, but to the overall economy. A recent analysis of Census Bureau data from 2017 showed barely 4 in 10 (41%) business owners were white males. Of the 30.5 million total business owners, 6.5 million were owned by men of color. To learn more about what grants are available for minority small business owner click on the link below.

Guide to women entrepreneurs on closing the gap. How to overcome obstacles as a female entrepreneur.

SCORE offers a list of startup resources as you learn what it takes to start a business or find a local mentor to help your business today.

Chamber of Commerce offers a free comprehensive Covid-19 reopening guide for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Included are guidelines and useful reopening resources.

Click to visit our previous blog with more small business assistance resources!

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Need help completing your loan applications?

The focus of the Delaware Small Business Development Center (DSBDC), is to develop and support entrepreneurship throughout the State of Delaware by free one-on-one counseling to understand their needs and assist them in a path forward. They offer free assistance to small businesses with business planning, financial services, marketing, and technology. To request a free session with a consultant from their Newark location, complete the form here.

True Access Capital offers free assistance to small businesses with their loan application package, business planning process, and follow-up services. This assistance helps prepare potential borrowers for the application/underwriting process and it helps existing borrowers remain sustainable, once the loan has been made. To learn more about True Access Capital’s Technical Assistance services, email ctymes@firststateloan.org or complete a Request for Counseling Form

Delaware SCORE has been mentoring new and existing businesses for over 50 years and has a network of over 40 volunteers who donate their time to help entrepreneurs start new or improve existing small businesses and non-profits. SCORE Delaware's 40+ volunteer counselors' combined experience and knowledge could match most Business School faculties. Browse mentor profiles to find your ideal expert. Request a Delaware SCORE mentor.

Downtown Visions Awarded Grant From Bank of America to Support Main Street Wilmington Program

Downtown Visions was recently awarded a grant from Bank of American to support the efforts of the nonprofit’s Main Street Wilmington program.

From its inception, Downtown Visions’ mission has been to help ignite business creation, enhance service delivery of businesses within the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), and ensure the BID is aesthetically pleasing, clean, and safe at all times.

During 2020 as the City of Wilmington navigated the phased COVID-19 reopening process, DTV continued to guide the creation of small business support programs and offered services to help Downtown BID restaurants, retail shops, arts organizations, and businesses welcome back customers and clients in a safe, socially distant manner to once again thrive. 

The grant from Bank of America will be used to support DTV’s Main Street Wilmington Program, which provides the following services to the Downtown BID:

• Improve the façades and signage of businesses operating in Wilmington's Downtown BID and ensure authentic restorations of historic buildings by working with the City of Wilmington's Design Review and Preservation Commission and local historical nonprofits, such as the Delaware Historical Society

• Boost economic development of businesses operating in the Wilmington Downtown BID by providing COVID-19 focused marketing, event support, and event creation, such as Curbside Wilmington and the Dine Downtown Deal

• Continue with the visual transformation of Wilmington's Downtown BID to create a vibrant and visually pleasing shopping, dining, and living area through cleaning efforts

• Facilitate connections between civic officials, developers, and business owners to support strong economic growth and investment in the Downtown Business Improvement District.

This grant is part of Bank of America's philanthropic giving efforts in local communities. Awardees were selected for their commitment to addressing basic needs, medical response, and workforce development for individuals and families, in particular during the coronavirus pandemic; and Downtown Visions could not be more proud to receive this monetary support for Downtown Wilmington DE.

Support Downtown Visions This Giving Tuesday

Through our various initiatives ranging from Safety Ambassadors to Façade Improvement, Downtown Visions works to show the world what an amazing place Downtown Wilmington, Delaware is every day. Our mission is to create, manage, and promote a quality environment for people who live, work, and visit our thriving neighborhood.

During this unprecedented year, Downtown Visions remained committed to the Downtown Wilmington DE community and increased their efforts to help our small business owners get back to business.

• Our Cleaning and Safety Ambassadors are essential to the district and continued working 7 days a week from 6AM to 12AM throughout the pandemic. Our crews also provided immediate clean up after the civil unrest in June.

• Downtown Visions implemented new programming to encourage patrons to visit Downtown and support our small businesses, including Curbside Wilmington, Free Valet Parking, and the Dine Downtown Deal.

• Downtown Visionsalso aggregated relief and recovery resources for small business assistance and regularly shared this guidance with business owners.

We plan to continue our mission, but we need your help to maintain our growing community now more than ever before. Please consider donating to Downtown Visions this #GivingTuesday and support our efforts to preserve, progress, and promote Downtown Wilmington!

Downtown Visions also accepts donations via check. Our mailing address is:

Downtown Visions
PO BOX 2000
Wilmington, DE 19899

Every dollar you donate produces an $18 dollar return to the local economy. Downtown Visions is a 501 C (3) non-profit #51-0362299. All contributions are completely tax-deductible and qualify for community reinvestment.

Your contribution will assist in the restoration and improvement of downtown buildings through our many initiatives and earn permanent sponsor recognition. By supporting our Main Street Program, you’ll provide grants to new and existing businesses within the Business Improvement District, and fund community events throughout the year.

Your investment will bear dividends for years to come. We thank you in advance for your generosity this giving season!

Contact us for more ways to support Downtown Wilmington and contribute to our community projects.

Small Business Resources for Relief & Recovery

Downtown Visions is committed to helping our Downtown Wilmington DE establishments get back to business. A number of organizations have creating funding opportunities in the wake of the pandemic to ensure our small businesses remain open for years to come. If you have any questions about which fund is right your businesses, don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.

At Your Side Grant is a Small Business Grant Program providing grants of $5,000 to $10,000 on a competitive basis. The program will support brick-and-mortar small businesses in designated Main Street districts as they work to adapt to COVID-19 and prepare for the next phases of reopening across the country, while also helping to revitalize and strengthen older and historic commercial corridors.

NCC Winter Ready Restaurant Grants offer independent locally-owned restaurants, as well as Delaware-based franchises, grants of up to $5,000 to winterize their establishments. Any dining establishment or restaurant with an active Temporary Commercial Outdoor Sales permit through the New Castle County Department of Land Use; or an equivalent temporary or permanent permit from the City of Wilmington or other municipality located in New Castle County is permitted to apply. Please submit questions to info@committeeof100.com. Applications are currently being accepted.

City Innovation Ecosystems Commitments Program will bring informal entrepreneurs into the formal economy and providing them with the resources to grow their businesses To support small businesses citywide and to develop a system that levels the playing field for access to resources, Mayor Mike Purzycki and City Council President Hanifa Shabazz formed a partnership with the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation, and Wilmington Alliance to participate in the National League of Cities (NLC) City Innovation Ecosystems program (CIE). Wilmington Alliance and the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation will lead the project through the Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Wilmington (E3, Wilmington). E3 Wilmington’s mission is to build a citywide strategic coalition of partners designed to identify, vet, incubate and accelerate the launch of new businesses, with targeted focus on Black and Brown entrepreneurs.

WEDCO COVID-19 Loan Program is providing loans of up to $25,000 for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Funds may be used to support operating expenses, enabling businesses to stay open; Change how the business operates, such as a sit-down restaurant implementing the new Delaware safety requirements or adding takeout and delivery options; or to Help small businesses restart. To apply, contact the Wilmington Economic Development Corp at info@wedco.org or visit their website for more information.

DE Relief Grants offer small businesses and nonprofit organizations grants of up to $100,000. A joint effort between the State and New Castle County, and administered through the Division of Small Business, DE Relief grants will assist Delaware small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds for the program come from the federal CARES Act.  DE Relief Grants can be used for purchasing equipment to make a workplace suitable for COVID-19 safety; refinancing of debt incurred due to COVID-19 (including State of Delaware HELP loans); advertising efforts undertaken as a result of COVID-19; and fixed expenses the applicant accrued during COVID-19.  For more information, including a webinar about the program, and to submit an application, please visit the link below. The program has begun accepting new applications as of January 2021.

Hospitality Emergency Loan Program (HELP) provides funds to Delaware businesses and nonprofits in the hospitality industry that were most significantly impacted by Coronavirus. It will make available no-interest loans of up to $10,000 per business per month. *Must have been open at least one year.

Wilmington Strong Fund is offering $1,000 grants to small businesses located within the City of Wilmington as recovery for COVID-19 and the recent civil unrest. The Fund has provided in total $117,000 to Wilmington small businesses and is still accepting applications. For questions or more information please reach out to GLantieri@westsidegrows.org.

HartBeat of America is a Main Street Grant Program that helps small business owners respond and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also help to revitalize and strengthen older, historic downtown commercial districts. Grants of $5,000 to $15,000 will be awarded on a competitive and first-come, first-served basis. At least 50% of grants will benefit diverse-owned businesses, as defined by the SBA as a minority, woman, veteran, disabled, and/or LGBTQ-owned.

True Access Capital Small Business Relief/Recovery Loan Program is offering loans up to $20,000 for small businesses unable to take advantage of Federal and State relief programs for operating expenses and retooling to meet safety requirements. Loans are at 3% and may be deferred payment for up to 12 months.   For more information contact Barbra Willis at bwillis@trueaccesscapital.org or call 302-652-6774, ext. 113.

Urban Development Action Grants – The City of Wilmington’s EDO has been working with UDAG to assist businesses impacted by the recent civil unrest. Questions should be directed to Sean Park at (302) 576-2131 or via email.

FINANTA Emergency Loans is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that serves Delaware and is offering emergency loans from $5,000 to $15,000.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Small Business Relief Grants provide COVID-19 relief for rent & utilities, payroll, outstanding debt to vendors, and technology infrastructure for remote delivery.  The Round 6 application period is now open. Click here to apply. Your application must be submitted by Monday, September 7th, 11:59 p.m. ET.  Before completing the application, please review the Grant Information and FAQ.  Sign up for notifications for the new rounds by clicking the link below.

Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) is for businesses that were damaged or vandalized during civil unrest.  The program assists Delawareans with crime scene cleanups (up to $1,000) and personal safety property (up to $1,500). If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please call VCAP at (302) 255-1770.

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Other Resources

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides information on the Paycheck Protection Program loan, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Debt Relief, other resources to support you.

• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP):  The PPP is an SBA-backed forgivable loan that has helped small businesses and non-profits continue to pay their employees during the COVID-19 outbreak. The SBA is releasing more Paycheck Protection Program funding as of January 2021!

• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL):  EIDL helps small businesses with loans that can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster.

• SBA Express Bridge Loans: These loans allow small businesses who already have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to quickly access up to $25,000.

Downtown Development Districts (DDD) Rebate Program was created to leverage state resources to spur private capital investment, stimulate job growth, improve the commercial vitality of our cities and towns, and to help build a stable community of long-term residents in our downtowns and neighborhoods. Approximately $12 million in rebate funding is currently available to qualified investors. Additionally, historic tax credits and other local and state incentives are available to investors. Visit DSHA’s to download the new Fall 2020 DDD Rebate Program Guidelines and revised application materials here.

Chamber of Commerce offers a free reopening guide for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Check out the COVID-19 Reopening Guide for Small Businesses.

EDGE Grant matches grants to young Delaware small businesses through on-going rounds of a competitive selection process. STEM-based companies can receive up to $100,000 for eligible expenses, and other businesses can get up to $50,000.

Delaware Capital Access Program and State Small Business Credit Initiative Participation Loan provides financing to businesses deemed too risky for the traditional banking model due to minor collateral or credit issues.

Barclays Bank invites businesses within the City of Wilmington to compete in their annual Barclays Video Pitch Competition, similar to ABC Shark Tank & NCCC Swim With The Sharks. There will be at least five winners with the Grand Prize $5,000, possibly along with a professionally produced video that is intended for marketing.  To apply, you must submit a 1-2 minute video about your business, how it would use the funds, and how it would contribute to our community and customers. The application deadline is September 1, 2020. For more details, please contact Will Minster wminster@westendnh.org, 302-658-4171 ext 142 or Kristin Bowen kbowen@westendnh.org  regarding the pitch requirements or process.

*Updated as of 1/25/2021. Funds may have since been depleted. Please contact the organizations directly for specific questions.