MILFORD, Del. (July 21, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Small Business recognized 10 small businesses Thursday as winners of the fifth round of Development, Growth and Expansion (EDGE) grants. Prizes in the latest round of competition include a company that created a resorbable vascular stent, a Puerto Rican-inspired bakery, an outdoor baseball facility and a cycling studio.
Gov. John Carney and Acting Director of the Small Business Division Regina Mitchell announced the companies at an event at My Sister’s Fault in Milford, one of the small businesses awarded this round’s EDGE grant.
“With the EDGE grant program, small businesses are provided with much-needed capital assistance that they may not otherwise have access to,” said Governor Carney. “The small businesses awarded the most recent round of grants represent the best Delaware has to offer, and we’re excited to see how the grant funds help their businesses grow.”
Businesses that are less than five years old and employ no more than 10 employees are eligible to apply for an EDGE grant. Grants are awarded through a competitive selection process. STEM-based companies can receive up to $100,000 in eligible expenses while classroom (non-STEM) businesses can receive up to $50,000.
EDGE is a grant program. The Small Business Division matches successful business investments on a 3-to-1 basis. Businesses can spend EDGE grant money on expenses that help improve the company’s long-term chances of success, such as a marketing campaign to help acquire more customers or purchase a needed piece of equipment that can increase production capacity.
“With more than 25,000 small businesses in Delaware that employ more than half of the state’s workforce and account for at least $11 billion in payroll, small businesses are vital to our state’s economy,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. . “The EDGE grant program provides these creative, innovative businesses with the capital they need to start or grow their businesses and reach their full potential.”
Since EDGE launched in 2019, $3.75 million has been awarded to 60 promising Delaware small businesses in industries ranging from wearable medical devices to agriculture to restaurants.
This is the fifth round of funding for the program since it was launched in 2019. In the last round, which opened in March, more than 100 businesses applied for funding. The fourteen finalists gave public presentations before a panel of expert judges on June 1 and 2 in Dover.
“The EDGE grant competition is driven by the creativity and innovation of our entrepreneurs. The competition allows our department to support Delaware small business owners who are making groundbreaking scientific advances, creating unique products, and helping strengthen local communities. “said Acting Director of the Small Business Division Regina Mitchell. “Last round’s winners include a diverse range of small businesses, including women, minority, and veteran business owners. Our division is proud to support deserving small businesses and help them succeed in their endeavors.”
My Sister’s Mistake received $50,000 in EDGE grants this round. The business will use the grant funding to purchase additional refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. With the expanded freezer space, My Sister’s Mistake will be able to fulfill custom cake orders, hire more staff, and extend business hours for special events.
“We are honored and excited to be selected as this round’s EDGE grant funding winner,” said My Sister’s owner Angie Robles. “Since we opened in 2017, our business has grown so much that our equipment can no longer keep up with the needs of our customers. EDGE’s investment will allow us to purchase major new equipment to continue growing our business.”
Carbon Reform (Newark) Carbon Reform has developed a modular carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technology called the Carbon Capsule. The device retrofits the commercial building’s ventilation system and is capable of improving indoor air quality for residents, creating energy savings for the building’s owners, and automatically capturing and returning tons of CO2 annually from It produces valuable limestone. Carbon Reform will use their EDGE Grant funding to secure the purchase of capital equipment to take it to the next level of development, including the production of the first 10 units of the Carbon Capsule business.
Cosmos Pharmaceuticals (Middletown) Cosmos Pharmaceuticals has developed a solution to combat prescription drug abuse and improve personalized patient care by introducing a unique prescription lock called FortisKap. FortisKap, a global pill bottle cap, secures the patient’s medication with their unique biometric signature and tracks solid medication usage throughout treatment. The company will use its EDGE grant for equipment needed to commercialize their product and office space at the STAR campus at the University of Delaware.
HARTLON (Wilmington)HARTLON has developed a bioresorbable vascular stent designed to eliminate pain, non-healing wounds, and the risk of amputations caused by poor blood flow in the lower knee. After the surgeon opens the artery, the patented HARTLON stent is designed to be inserted into the hole to provide temporary support until the artery heals and then the stent dissolves leaving the artery in a naturally open state. which is long. The company will use its EDGE grant for laboratory space, manufacturing services, and demonstration of performance using early studies.
G-Flash LLC (Newark)G-Flash LLC is working to bring Green Flash Chromatography (GFC®) to commercialization in the pharmaceutical industry. Flash chromatography is a chemical separation method used to separate chemical compounds into specific elements. The company will use its EDGE grant funding to rapidly commercialize its latest technology, as well as integrate new modules and software.
Satellite Solutions (Dover)
Moonprint Solutions is an engineering company with services that include product development, consulting, and prototyping. The EDGE grant will be used for computer numerical control tools to support prototyping and manufacturing of soft products.
Creekview Psychiatric Assessment Center (Newark)Creekview Center is a small private group center for clinical, school, and neurologists. The business offers specialized psychological testing including, autism, psychology, and disability evaluations. The business will use its EDGE grant funding to further invest in cutting-edge technology for psychometric test administration, marketing, and other training providers throughout the state of Delaware.
Enhanced Edge (Dover) Edge LLC is a mental health consulting firm specializing in holistic mental illness treatment through Alpha-Stim, QEEG brain mapping, biofeedback, and neurofeedback. The EDGE grant will be used to develop a variety of equipment, infrastructure, and marketing enhancements. The most important development is the QEEG “dry” brain imaging cap that will allow the company to triple the number of clients it can treat in a day.
My Sister’s Mistake (Milford) My Sister’s Mistake is a Puerto Rican-inspired bakery owned and operated by sisters Angie and Rous Robles. The bakery opened its doors in 2017 and currently has 10 employees. During the disaster, the owners switched their operations to online orders and takeout only. Since then, bread sales have increased significantly. My Sister’s Mistake will use the EDGE grant funding to purchase new refrigerators and freezer equipment that will allow them the opportunity to fulfill special cake orders, hire more staff, and extend business hours for special events.
Salt Fitness (Rehoboth) Salt Fitness is a fitness cycling studio that offers a personalized experience focused on uplifting each other, developing community and relationships, breaking down walls in life, full body health, high energy music, sweaty workouts. flowing, and fun. an environment of love and support. The EDGE grant will be used to open a second studio in Milford, advertising and teacher retention, and to complete improvements to the West Rehoboth Beach location.