Delco Officials And Business Leaders Launch Start Up Assitance Program

Small businesses and start ups in Delaware County have cause to be excited as the county introduced a new program that hopes to help these businesses grow and thrive in the county.

Delaware County officials and business leaders announced Wednesday the Delaware County Edge Accelerator program: a public-private partnership that will provide budding businesses with resources necessary to build a business in the county.

The program led to the Delaware County Commerce Center partnering with HeadRoom – a small business incubator based in Radnor and Media – and Delaware and Chester County Chapter of SCORE – a volunteer organization that provides free counseling and seminars to help small businesses grow.

Qualifying start ups and small businesses will be sponsored by the county commerce center to use HeadRoom's facilities, as well as using SCORE's services to better establish businesses and start ups, to help bring more jobs and businesses to the county.

Selected businesses and start up will have access to HeadRoom spaces in Wayne and Media for 50 hours a month, which will provide them with space for conferences, meetings, workshops and more. Selected businesses and start ups will also be able to work with existing businesses using HeadRoom spaces, allowing networking, referring, and even mentoring.

Applications will be reviewed by a committee of members of the Commerce Center, HeadRoom and SCORE and companies most likely to be successful in their application will have a focus on job creation and making a contribution to the local economy.

Selected businesses and start ups can participate in the program for three years if they meet milestones and goals laid out in their application business plans.

Businesses may apply to the program now through Dec. 1.

"We know that Delaware County small businesses are a vital part of our economy and their success is essential to the economic growth and prosperity of our county," Councilman John McBlain said in a statement Wednesday. "Delaware County has been leading the region coming out of this last recession, surpassing our counterparts in nearby counties in job creation. Part of the reason why we are successful in doing that here, is due to the strong and diverse small business community. The Delaware County Edge Accelerator will propel our small business community even further."

Images via Delaware County Council, Shutterstock