Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Program

Delaware Grocery Initiative

Runs research teams and institutions for Delaware Grocery in food technology and agriculture innovation.

The Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Program (DGI/FSFSP) is an annual grant program jointly administered by the Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) and the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy. The program was established through legislation sponsored by Senator Darius Brown in 2024, who represents New Castle, Wilmington, and Edgemoor. Its purpose is to expand access to healthy foods in food deserts and areas at risk of becoming food deserts across Delaware by providing grants and other financial assistance to eligible food businesses and food-system organizations. The 2026 cycle deployed $700,000 in available funding using a scaled award model similar to the EDGE Grant Competition; awardees were publicly announced the week of May 18, 2026. The 2027 cycle is expected to open in early 2027.

Eligible applicants cover a wide range of food-system participants: farmers and food producers growing fruits, vegetables, proteins, or other foods; independently owned grocery stores, cooperative groceries, neighborhood markets, corner stores, restaurants, farmers markets, on-farm stores, food trucks, and farm stands; food pantries, food closets, faith-based organizations, and soup kitchens; food aggregation, refrigeration, and freezer storage facilities; food pickup and delivery operators; and commercial kitchens and food processing facilities. Both for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations are eligible; applicants must operate in Delaware and demonstrate relevance to food access in underserved communities. Award amounts are not fixed — they are scaled based on application quality and available funds.

Eligible uses of grant funds include operations, capital expenses, equipment purchases, supply chain capacity expansion, and projects that strengthen collaboration among community food partners. Applications are submitted via an online portal, with DSB providing webinar-based pre-application guidance in advance of each cycle. The program does not have rolling intake; it opens once per year with a defined application window and awards announced approximately three months later.