In celebration of Women’s History Month, we reached out to two notable women in Downtown Wilmington who have contributed to the vibrancy and enhancement of our community. Jean Dahlgren, President of Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD) and Eunice LaFate, artist and owner of LaFate Gallery, reflect on their journeys to joining the Downtown community.
DCAD is Back in Session!
Downtown is excited to have so many new faces on Market Street. It’s been 2 years since the students have been back Downtown experiencing in-person learning at the Delaware College of Art & Design (DCAD). While the students have been virtual learning for the last 18 months they are ready to be back on campus and the DCAD community and staff couldn’t be happier to welcome new and returning students!
Let's meet the Class of 2023:
53 students are from Delaware, 11 came from Pennsylvania, 9 from Maryland, 7 from New Jersey, and one from Alabama! Wow!
95% of students are receiving financial aid (merit scholarships, state and federal grants, loans, etc.)
Nearly $500K worth of Merit Scholarships were awarded.
DCAD has also been busy with renovations to the 707 King Street residence hall and cafeteria space. Thanks to both the Crystal Trust Foundation and the Longwood Foundation, the HVAC and air handling was completely renovated— another sign of the great things happening in Downtown Wilmington, DE. DCAD President Jean Dahlgren said, “It is so wonderful to welcome our community of artist and designers back to Wilmington, and we hope the community welcomes them as warmly as we do.”
Second-Year DCAD student and RA, Aidel Pedro said “I did well while doing school remotely, but I think that making friends and connections at school is more valuable than the information that I learn. I live in the Residence Hall, and being surrounded by creative people like myself is really inspiring since we all push each other to do better and have similar goals and interests. It's also a great opportunity to sharpen social skills. Artists need to spend a lot of time in solitude to produce art. I like being alone, but I know being isolated too long is unhealthy. Being here in person will help me grow as a person.”
You can help future students by contributing to DCAD's Scholarship Fund. This fund helps offset the cost of attending college in the form of merit-based scholarships and need-based grants.
To learn more or to keep up with what’s happening at DCAD please visit their website at www.dcad.edu.
Open for Business in Downtown Wilmington DE
Downtown Wilmington DE is home to hundreds of small businesses ready to serve you! Use this directory to search what businesses are currently open for business.
As Delaware continues to safely ease restrictions and establishments return to more normal operations, please be sure to follow all City, State, and CDC guidelines, and check with businesses for additional safety precautions during your visit.
For help traveling to Downtown Wilmington DE during the ongoing I-95 construction, please visit www.restorethecorridor.com for up-to-date traffic information, an interactive map, and alternate routes. For information on parking in Downtown Wilmington DE, please click here.
We rely on our small business community to create thriving neighborhoods for our residents and visitors every day. During this time of uncertainty, we need to do all we can to support these businesses, and their staff, by: dining in, ordering takeout, purchasing gift cards, following them on social media, spreading the word about their offers, or posting a positive review.
Please consider helping our small business owners and #ShopSmall during this crisis and always!
If you are looking for additional ways to support these businesses and help them bounce back from COVID-19, please consider donating to the Wilmington Strong Fund, which offers grants to small businesses within the City of Wilmington to ensure they remain open for business for years to come.
9th Mile Galleria Event Center Awarded a Façade Grant of $8,025 through The Downtown Visions Main Street Façade Improvement Program
Through the Downtown Visions Main Street Façade Improvement Program the owner of 9th Mile Galleria located at 603 N Market Street was awarded a façade grant for $8,025.
The grant went towards both his front and back façade which included masonry, stucco, addressing concrete issues, structural framing, new doors, new transom, steel lintels, windows, trim and exterior paint.
Interested in learning how Downtown Visions Main Street Program can help your business? Click here to learn more.
9th Mile Galleria is a state-of-the-art event center and banquet facility with a maximum occupancy of 100, with comfortable seating for 65. The venue hosts a variety of social events including birthday parties, graduations, bridal showers, baby showers, office parties, fundraisers, meetings, reunions, conventions, art shows, fashion shows, comedy shows, live shows, and events that occur on a recurring basis.
To reserve 9th Mile Galleria for your next event, call 215-356-8717 or visit www.9thmilegalleria.com.