The Division of Small Business is pleased to announce that its DE Relief Grants portal is accepting new applications.

This means that small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have not applied in earlier rounds will have the opportunity to apply for this relief program presented by the State of Delaware and New Castle County using federal CARES Act funds.

For more information about the DE Relief Grants program, including the online application, visit delbiz.com/relief

For those who have already applied for the DE Relief Grants program, the Division of Small Business is continuing to process applications as quickly as possible.

Rather than rejecting applications that are incomplete, or otherwise don’t meet the rules for the program, the Division of Small Business staff is working with applicants to get their applications to the point where they can be approved.

We’re starting with those applications that need the least help and will move on from there to those applications that need the most work.

This process means some applications may not be processed within the usual two to three week timeline and we ask for your patience.

If you submitted an application close to the original Dec. 4, 2020 deadline and have not yet heard a response from us, it is likely because your application needed additional follow up. We hope to be in touch soon to let you know what is needed.

From the start of the DE Relief Grants program, one of the requirements has been that recipients need to have experienced a revenue decline in 2020 compared to 2019. If they claimed the grant but did not experience a revenue decline, they would have to pay back the grant with interest.

Note: This forgiveness program applies only to DE Relief Grants, not to the State of Delaware HELP loan program.

Also, the Small Business Administration has reopened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

You can find information about the PPP program at this link.