July 13th 2023.
Wilmington City Councilwoman Shané Darby and Energize Delaware recently announced a partnership to give minority small business owners and landlords in low to moderate-income areas a chance to apply for Spark Grants of up to $25,000. Landlords will qualify for up to $20,000 in grants, while minority business owners can receive up to $25,000.
According to Delaware Public Media, twenty minority business owners will be awarded Spark Grants. Councilwoman Darby said, "There are some landlords who cannot get access to capital, right, and when you have that issue where there's lack of access to capital, there's even some landlords who are not able to fix up their property [sic]."
The grant recipients will also become members of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia for a year. Councilwoman Darby added that the grants will benefit the entire city. "So I think this is a game changer for the city. I hope that landlords in the city apply for it, and that just means better housing stock for renters. So it's a win-win for everybody in the city, and to also help small minority business owners is a win-win for the city."
Councilwoman Darby is an advocate for housing reform. On the Wilmington City Council page, she said, "Like most of us today, the need for housing reform, criminal justice reform, and protection for the working class and Wilmington's poor families are the most pressing concerns on my mind. I realized I needed to take a more direct approach to community activism, transforming my ability as a community organizer into a tangible leadership position within my hometown."
If you are a landlord or minority business owner in a low to moderate-income area, you have until July 31 to apply for the Spark Grants. For more information, please visit energyequityfund.org/grants/. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to join the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and make a difference in your community.
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