Additional relief funding for small businesses, arts organizations

Gov. John Carney and the Delaware Division of Small Business announced Dec. 21 a new round of relief funding – $26 million to support small businesses most affected by COVID-19 restrictions.

The DE Relief Grant program – funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act – has supported roughly 3,000 Delaware businesses throughout the COVID-19 crisis with more than $180 million in grants.

Carney and the Delaware Department of State also announced $10 million in relief funding for Delaware arts organizations. The State of Delaware will provide $5 million, with another $5 million in matching contributions.

“Small businesses continue to make sacrifices that will help get us through this crisis and beat COVID-19. We owe them our support,” Carney said in a press release. 

The additional funding will provide a bonus of 20 percent for all DE Relief Grant recipients. Hospitality businesses, including restaurants and bars, will receive an additional 30 percent bonus, bringing their total bonus award to 50 percent of the value of their original grant. This is the third time that a bonus award has been given to grant recipients, though this is the first award that has gone to all recipients; previous bonuses focused on particularly hard-hit industries.

Relief funding for nonprofit arts organizations will cover 35 percent of those organizations’ 2019 operating expenses, up to $300,000.  

“The arts are a critical sector of the Delaware economy, and one we can’t replace. Arts organizations have been very hard hit by the pandemic. This funding will help them survive through the winter,” Carney said. “I want to thank Delaware’s philanthropic community, particularly Tatiana and Gerret Copeland and the Longwood Foundation, for leading the way in matching these CARES Act funds.”

The federal government is currently discussing a new stimulus package that may lead to changes in the states’ assistance programs for businesses, allowing assistance to be provided into the new year. Businesses that want to stay updated on this can visit delbiz.com/relief, where any updates to the DE Relief Grant program will be announced.