Round 2 of Delco Strong business grant application window opens

The Delco Strong 2 application window opened Tuesday with forprofit small businesses having until Thursday and non-profit organizations having until July 21 to turn in their applications.

Using CARES Act revenues, county officials intend to provide

$10 million of funding in the form of $10,000-$20,000 grants for small for-profit businesses and $4 million allocated for non-profits.

It comes on the heels of the first round of funding, called Delco Strong Small Business Support Grant Program, which was a $1.75 million grant program for businesses with fewer than 50 employees. In early May, more than

1,000 businesses applied for the

$7,500 grants. Although the initial funding was only enough for

230, council earmarked about $6 million of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding to assist the remaining 800.

“We had an overwhelming response to our first Delco Strong program and we wanted to be able to continue to support our local businesses and also assist our local non-profits,” county Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer said. “We know that our local business community has been greatly impacted and Delco Strong is one way in which we can help them get back on their feet.”

J. Patrick Killian, director of the Delaware County Commerce Center, noted the funding made available to small businesses through the two phases.

“Between the two rounds of funding, the county has stepped forward in a unified effort to distribute approximately $20 million in funds to the business community to keep Delco Strong,” he said.

Mailed applications will not be accepted. For-profit businesses can submit them online at delcostrong.delcopa.org or inperson to the Delaware County Commerce Center, 100 W. Sixth St., Suite 100, Media. They must be clearly marked for “Delco

Strong 2” and include the company name, company contact and telephone number on the front of the sealed envelope. Non-profits can only submit their applications online.

For-profit businesses have until 5 p.m. Thursday to submit an application to be considered.

Those with annual revenues of up to $4.5 million are eligible to receive up to $10,000; those with yearly revenues of up to $9 million may be eligible for up to

$20,000.

In addition, businesses that were assisted in the first round of Delco Strong will be eligible for a $2,500 boost.

Minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses in Delaware County and those in industries hardest hit like barbers, groomers, hair salons, retail entities and construction and trade would have priority this round.

Non-profits are urged to work with the Foundation for Delaware County, who is administering the non-profit grants. They can be visited at delcofoundation.org. The Delaware County Economic Development Oversight Board is handling the for-profit entities.

“Our team at the Foundation for Delaware County is grateful to Delaware County Council for recognizing that non-profits not only provide valuable services but that they are employers who pay rent, hire vendors and have many other local businesses depending on them to be financially sound,” Frances Sheehan, president of the Foundation for Delaware Count, said. “We encourage all non-profits headquartered in Delaware County with less than

$9 million in revenues to apply online and also please help us spread the word abou this important new funding opportunity.”