Delaware County is releasing $1.75 million in grants to help small businesses in the county affected by COVID-19.

On Friday, April 24, Delaware County Council announced it was launching Delco Strong Small Business Support.

Eligible applicants can apply for up to $7,500 and use the money to pay for rent, mortgage, utilities and  inventory.

“Our small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we know that this pandemic has caused financial hardships for many small business owners,” said Delaware County Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer. “The Delco Strong program will help many small businesses owners through this challenging time until they can open their doors back up and the community can begin supporting them once again.”

The program is administered in partnership with the Delaware County Economic Development Oversight Board, the Delaware County Planning Commission and the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Delaware.

To be eligible businesses must:

• Be a small business defined as having less than 50 full-time employees on payroll as of March 1, 2020;
• Be a for-profit business;
• Occupy a “brick and mortar” location within Delaware County that is not a residential home;
• Be located in an industrial or commercial (or similarly described) district within Delaware County
• Be registered or incorporated to conduct business within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Priority consideration will be given to the following eligible businesses:

• Businesses located in a designated CDBG, redevelopment or blighted area within Delaware County;
• Businesses engaged in “Main Street” activity (retail, service‐based);
• Businesses engaged in manufacturing;
• Businesses engaged in the trades (plumbing, HVAC, electrical, carpentry, etc.);
• Businesses that reported 5 or more fulltime employees on the payroll in Delaware County prior to March 2, 2020;
• Businesses that demonstrate capability to survive with strong cash flow prior to pandemic shutdown

The grants will cover eligible costs incurred or due between Feb. 15, 2020 and May 5, 2020. Demonstration of these expenses must be submitted with the grant application in the form of invoices from the vendor.

Eligible Costs include:

• Up to three months of rent or mortgage payments;
• Up to three months of utilities: electric, water, sewer, internet, security systems.
• Inventory: items regularly needed to conduct business incurred or due between Feb. 15 and May 5, 2020

The application can be submitted online or in person.  Click here for more information and to apply.

Online applications are accepted May 6 between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m.

Paper applications are accepted May 6, noon to 4:30 p.m and May 7, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Delaware County Courthouse in Media.

Applications will not be accepted before or after the designated dates and times.

Due to an anticipated high volume of applications, not all applicants will be awarded a grant.

Businesses should submit timely, fully completed applications during the application window with information showing they meet criteria in order to be considered.

More information on the grant application can be found here beginning 2 p.m. on April 24: Residents who need assistance can email: help@delcopa.org.

“Delco Strong isn’t just a phrase. It’s a way of life,” said Patrick Killian, director of the Delaware County Commerce Center. “In just a week, we were able to bring together four separate entities to establish this program. We brought our collective strengths and creativity together to address the needs of our business community during this extremely difficult time.”

The Delaware County Redevelopment Authority is funding  $1.5 million of the Delco Strong program using gaming revenue the Authority had received. Another $250,000 is provided by the Delaware Valley Regional Economic Development Foundation.

“We do hope that as we move through the crisis and rebuilding stage that there will be more money available from different sources to help our small businesses,” said Shaeffer, speaking at an April 24 press conference.