The Center for Business Growth, an incubator for local entrepreneurs, opened its doors last week with a ceremonial ribbon cutting attended by state and local officials, corporate partners and incubator participants.
The Center for Business Growth, a program of the Delaware Financial Literacy Institute (DFLI) and funded by Capital One, is a mixed-use facility for startup and emerging minority and/or women-owned businesses. The first eight participants were chosen from a pool of applicants and represent a cross-section of industries. For a monthly fee of $100, each receives dedicated office space, training, and networking and brainstorming opportunities.
In his remarks at the grand opening, Senator Chris Coons credited DFLI with helping to empower Delawareans to start businesses by providing a foundation of financial literacy. “Americans take risks and start businesses,” he said, and spoke of his support for Startup 3.0, a bill designed to open borders for international entrepreneurs.
New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon hailed the Center’s opening as an important part of Claymont’s“renaissance,” and State Representative Bryon Short, a small-business owner, commended participants for choosing this “tough, but exciting road.”
Among the center’s first group of participants is Mozaic founder Dan Boddie, who took note of the challenges many small businesses face when trying to land contracts with large companies. Through a partnership with national printing and apparel company Ennis, Mozaic is better positioned to provide printing and document services to larger customers.
The Center for Business Growth is located on the second floor of the Claymont Community Center. For more information, visit www.dfli.org or call 302.792.1200.
Founded as The Money School in 1999 by then- State Treasurer Jack Markell, DFLI incorporated in 2001 and opened its office in 2002. Since then, DFLI has provided more than 5,000 free classes, events and programs statewide.
