Giving back: Wilm. Strong awards $98,000; Nonprofit grant application window to open; Easterseals gets $25,000 grant

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Barclays US Consumer Bank, West Side Grows Together, and Wilmington Alliance have distributed $98,000 to local businesses through The Wilmington Strong Small Business Fund.

The fund was developed to support small businesses citywide that are recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

During phase one of the fund, $1,000 microgrants were awarded to 98 local small businesses. Of those awarded, 67 percent were minority business owners, 51 percent were women-owned businesses, and 83 percent of grant recipients have revenues less than $200,000. Awards were disbursed across diverse industries including food & beverage, retail, construction and professional services. 

Additionally, 58 percent of awardees stated receiving this grant allowed them to reduce their business debt, 20 percent avoided eviction or foreclosure and 7 percent were able to hire or rehire staff. The majority of grantees used funds to pay their rent or mortgage (37 percent), paid inventory or supplier bills (29 percent), or paid utility bills (24 percent). Eighty percent   reported receiving this grant increased their confidence in keeping their business open.

“Across Delaware, small businesses were hit particularly hard by this pandemic, and to make matters worse, many of these businesses did not qualify for federal aid,” said Jenn Cho, head of citizenship, Barclays US Consumer Bank. “The Wilmington Strong Fund extended a much-needed lifeline to businesses that are struggling to persevere. It is essential that we all come together to support these small business owners that represent the heart of our community.”

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The Wilmington Strong Fund is led by a partnership between West Side Grows Together and the Wilmington Alliance, with support from Barclays US Consumer Bank, the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, True Access Capital, Cinnaire, the Delaware Division of Small Business, Central Baptist CDC, Latin American Community Center, WIN Factory, Wilmington Community Advisory Council and Collaborate Northeast.

Applications for phase two of the fund are now being accepted. To apply for the fund or to donate, visit www.WilmingtonStrongFund.com. To view the full impact report click here.

Application window for nonprofit capital grants to open

Delaware nonprofits are invited to apply for the Delaware Community Foundation’s 2020 Capital Grants.

For 2020, about  $200,000 will be awarded to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that serve Delawareans. Grant applications will be accepted beginning Sept. 30, 2020, and must be submitted electronically. Guidelines and application are at delcf.org/grants. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m., Nov. 6, 2020.

Former capital grant recipients must wait for the completion of two grant cycles before applying for another capital grant, and multi-year capital campaigns can be funded only once by the DCF. Agencies receiving DCF grants must serve the state of Delaware and its residents without discrimination based on race, religion, gender, age, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation.

Over the years, the DCF has awarded more than $5 million in capital and equipment grants, funded through the State of Delaware Fund and other field-of-interest endowments. Last year, the DCF allocated more than $279,000 in capital grants.

Capital grants may be used to fund construction, renovation or repair of buildings, and/or land purchases. Capital grants typically range from $5,000 to $20,000, with a $20,000 maximum.

“2020 has been a challenging year and has stretched thin many nonprofit budgets. These capital grants can help organizations fill the gap in funding projects that are often pushed to the back burner,” DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said.

To learn more about the grant process, applicants are invited to participate in an optional remote workshop. Visit delcf.org/grants to register. All applicants will be notified of the Grants Committee’s decision in writing by mid-January 2021. For more information, please contact Yolanda Rushdan at yrushdan@delcf.org.

Easterseals gets $25,000 grant 

Thanks to the Discover Bank grant, employees like Danny Yonker get to work their dream job while their Easterseals Supported Employment Specialist, like Jaclyn Deldeo-Tolbert, provide training and support, when needed, on the job.

Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore recently received a $25,000 grant through Discover Bank to support its Supported Employment program – a program which opens the door to meaningful work and competitive wages in the community for adults with intellectual disabilities, while providing employers with dedicated, productive employees. Each year, Easterseals partners with over 60 businesses around Delaware to recruit and train individuals with disabilities for their workplace.

“We are grateful for the continued, generous support of Discover Bank for our Supported Employment Program,” Easterseals  CEO, Kenan Sklenar, said. “Easterseals Supported Employment Program helps people with intellectual disabilities find and train for a job in the community. Discover Bank’s support helps us continue this important program and gives people with intellectual disabilities, like Danny, the opportunity to play a vital role in their community.”

“We believe in helping people achieve brighter financial futures at Discover Bank. Providing opportunities for people of all abilities to work in the community and earn a competitive wage is a clear example of our values in action and is why we proudly support Easterseals’ Supported Employment Program,” President of Discover Bank, James J. Roszkowski, said.

Business that are interested in learning more about Easterseals Supported Employment Services  can contact Jane Schuler at 302-221-2030.

Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore offers a range of services. To learn more about how Easterseals helps children and adults with disabilities, visit www.de.easterseals.com.

Active Adults Realty raises $5,000,  purchases  25 laptops

The agents and owners of Active Adults Realty, Lewes raised $5,000 to purchase 25 refurbished  laptops for the students in partnership with Children & Families First in Seaford.

The Seaford Community of Hope is a project developed in partnership with the Casey Foundation, Children & Families First and the Sussex County Health Coalition. The mission is to help children facing adversity on their journey to adulthood.

Seaford Community of Hope uses cross-agency and cross-community collaboration in Seaford to reduce the occurrence of maltreatment, decrease the number of children entering foster care; and reduce  re-entry to care for children who have experienced foster care. 

With the  funds, Matt Hart, owner of Adel Computers, sourced the laptops, upgraded and repaired them as needed, added solid-state drives, and updated software.

“We connected with Jeffrey Benson a Community Activist and Jefferson Award Winner who spearheads the project along with his colleague Kathryn Burritt in Seaford” stated Kathy Sperl-Bell of Active Adults.  Both are instrumental in providing resources and wraparound services that help meet the needs of the families within this community.

“We are so grateful for this kind donation. The students will be greatly blessed by this selfless effort by Active Adults Realty and Adel Computers,” said Benson.

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