DELAWARE - The Delaware Division of Small Business announced more than $700,000 in grants were awarded through the Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Program.
The division said 28 businesses and organizations were selected to receive awards through the program. The division said the First State Food Program helps expand access to health, affordable food in communities identified as food deserts or are at risk of becoming food deserts.
A total of $712,500 was awarded during the latest funding cycle, with individual grants ranging from $12,000 to $65,000. The program received 100 applications.
One of the chosen organizations was the Milton Community Food Pantry, who received $20,000 on Aug. 3, 2026. The state said the Milton Pantry is using the money to transition from canned to fresh food distribution.
Grant funding was available to Delaware farmers, independent and community grocery retailers, including those offering culturally diverse foods, food banks, food pantries and other food supply chain businesses and organizations. According to the Delaware Division of Small Business, this funding cycle awardees are nearly evenly split among Delaware's three counties.
"This cycle reflects what's possible when we meet communities where they are," said Division of Small Business Director CJ Bell. "From veteran-led farms delivering to homebound seniors to a Dominican-owned corner market expanding fresh produce access, that reach across Delaware's full food system is how we move the needle on food deserts statewide."
The Delaware Grocery Initiative is administered through a partnership between the Delaware Division of Small Business and the Delaware Council on Farm & Food Policy. The council launched the First State Food System Program in 2022 and legislation sponsored by Sen. Darius Brown in 2024 formally established the Delaware Grocery Initiative.
"Too many of our neighbors struggle with finding reliable access to healthy foods and we must do everything in our power to ensure that every community in our State has avenues to nourishing food that supports their dignity, health, and opportunity," said Brown.
Projects funded through the program must be completed by Dec. 31, 2026. Since the program began in 2022, the division said its awarded more than $2.15 million to 61 projects across the state.
