Downtown Wilmington, Delaware Merchant Meeting Recap

For those that were not able to attend our last merchant meeting here is what you missed.  We hope you can join us at our next meeting on Monday, October 22, 2018 at 9AM - The Living Room, (previously Jerry’s Artarama) 706 N. Market Street.

Speaker:

Denita L. Thomas: SBDC, Associate State Director

dlthomas@udel.edu 
302-831-077

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) https://delawaresbdc.org/

• SBDC is an organization that helps small businesses do an anything they need to grow and succeed.

• All services are FREE

• Goal is to promote job growth

• 500 employees or less is considered a small business

  • Only small businesses are eligible to use their resources

• Free 1 on 1 advising and technical assistance

• Provide loan packaging

• Provide help with business planning and help researching the market

  • Link to planning: https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/planning-and-financing/

• SBDC has access to data bases that most small business do not have that can be used in market research

  • Link to research: https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/business-info-and-research/

• Provide information and programs on cyber security  for small business

  • make sure business is prepared/map out a strategy

• Grow Delaware Fund is partnership organization that allows for business who use SBDC  programs to have longer loan terms, lower interest rates

  • https://growdelawarefund.org/

• Horn program- focused on staff and faculty

  • https://www.udel.edu/research-innovation/horn/

• SCORE- managing to succeed program(for established businesses)

  • Link to SCORE: https://www.score.org/

  • Fanatical analysis and review

  • Benchmark ratings

  • Key performance incentives

  • Idea is that SCORE is a launch pad for new business and new concepts

• Free resources available: SBDC, Women’s Business Center, SCORE 

  • https://www.score.org/

  • https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/business-info-and-research/

  • https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/planning-and-financing/

  • http://firststateloan.org/womens-business-center/

• Applications are now being accepted for Delaware Startup Launchpad 2018 

  • the four-week, four-session mini accelerator from the Delaware Founders Initiative, Delaware Small Business Development Center and the University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship program — returns for the second time this October, and applications are now open.

  • https://www.tfaforms.com/4686422

Small Business Saturday: November 24, 2018

• https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/

• National Effort to promote Small Business Saturday and shopping small

• Learn about Small business Saturday: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/about?linknav=us-open-shopsmall-home-nationallanding-sbshistory

• You can connect directly to  Amex to help attract customers all year long

  • Marketing Materials: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/promote

• Send your Small Business Saturday deals & promotions to lschweiger@downtownvisions.org

Delaware Startup Launchpad Program is BACK & Learn About Business Branding Workshops!

Applications are now being accepted for Delaware Startup Launchpad 2018!

The four week accelerator program helps Delaware founders get their footing. You have until Sept. 19 to get your applications in.

For more information: https://technical.ly/delaware/2018/09/11/applications-are-being-accepted-for-delaware-startup-launchpad-2018/
To apply: https://www.tfaforms.com/4686422

Interested in Business Branding? Do you know How to Market Your Brand Effectively?  Check out the Emerging Enterprise Center - Startup Business Incubator to learn with the experts from Trellist Marketing and Technology and Promo Victory on September 18!

Visit http://business.ncccc.com/events/details/do-you-know-how-to-market-your-brand-effectively-2796 or  ww.eecincubator.com/business-growth-training.html for more information on the event.

Celebrate a Gallery that has brought the entire Community Together! It is LaFate Gallery's Third Anniversary!

A Limited Edition Print, available online at www.lafategallery.com

Join us in celebrating the third anniversary of LaFate Gallery, a space that has inspired, educated and most importantly, celebrated the beauty of cultural diversity.

Located within the LOMA district at 227 N Market St, LaFate Gallery has become a community staple, providing workshops, painting classes and art for purchase. Within the three years of the gallery's existence Eunice LaFate, owner of the shop has impacted hundreds of lives with her bubbly personality and gift of creativity.

 LaFate has immersed herself in teaching and helping people of all ages and races, which is why her creative spirit shows itself in folk art that emphasizes the beauty of human diversity and the importance of cultural heritage. 

Her anniversary art sale on September 30th from 1-6 PM will be a benefit show featuring 25% off all original paintings. Attendees are requested to register at eunicelafate@gmail.com 

Transforming Wilmington One Façade at a Time-218 Grille, Residence Inn and 9th Mile Galleria Receive Grants

Within the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District, a block-by-block inventory done by Downtown Visions in 2009 showed that 78% of the buildings would benefit from improved façade treatments. Today, over 66 buildings have been improved, most recently 218 Grille, Residence Inn and the 9th Mile Galleria. 

A walk down Market Street proves that the program has been incredibly successful in the restoration of the once hidden and neglected historic character. Market Street now provides visitors and residents with a charming and welcoming atmosphere thanks to restored buildings and storefronts through Downtown Visions'  Façade Improvement Program and Main Street Program. Downtown Visions staff oversee each individual exterior improvement project from beginning to end as well as provide grants on a matching basis up to $25,000 per façade improvement. For more information on the program and how it could benefit your business or entrepreneurial venture, click here. 

Making Business Dreams a Reality - Downtown Visions Teams up with Comenity Bank to Support Stitch House and Margaux

Downtown Visions’ Façade Improvement Program is not only making our city a more beautiful place, it is also creating jobs and making business dreams a reality. Two of Wilmington's most recent popular dining scene additions received support through generous donations from Comenity Bank to the Façade Improvement Program.

Stitch House Brewery Economic Impact:

• Downtown Visions’ Interior Fit-Out Grant helped to bring the  very first Micro Brewery to Downtown Wilmington
•  The Downtown Visions Façade Improvement Program along with a generous donation from Comenity Bank offset a total interior construction cost of $788,693.79 with a $12,500 contribution.
• Added 170 indoor and 16 outdoor seasonal seats to the Downtown Community
• This project brought 31 new jobs to Downtown Wilmington
• Stitch House brings even more action to the Market Street corridor with hours 7 days a week (open until 1 AM Monday-Saturday)

Margaux Economic Impact:

• The opening of Margaux at 902 N Market St. created 22 new downtown jobs and opportunities
• The Downtown Visions Façade Improvement Program along with a generous donation from Comenity Bank offset a total construction cost of $370,000 with a $12,500 Interior Fit-Out Grant
• Added 74 new dining chairs to a destination restaurant in the heart of the Downtown area

Could your next big business idea use support from Downtown Visions, or would you like to support this impactful cause? Contact us to learn more.