New Castle County Small Business | Website Development Support Program

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected the way goods and services are sold worldwide. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the use of e-commerce and home delivery for goods and some services. As such, more and more consumers are turning to companies that have a robust web presence and e-commerce capabilities to buy goods instead of returning to brick-and-mortar stores. Many small retailers were not able to pivot quickly to online sales and have experienced a reduction in sales and revenues. E-commerce sales are expected to grow which has and will continue to slow small business recovery back to pre-pandemic levels.  To assist these small businesses adapt and be more competitive on the online market place, New Castle County through its Office of Economic Development created a Website Development Program.

The Program consists of qualified web developers (pre-vetted by the County) competing for scopes of work provided by eligible small businesses.  Each applicant must attend an education seminar on website development and e-commerce and then create a scope of work needed to help their business recover from the lasting impacts of Covid-19.  The program will pay the web developers directly who will work individually with each small businesses that successfully applies.

Only Small Business (defined as a business with 25 of fewer full time employees) and are located in unincorporated New Castle County are eligible to apply but should complete all requirements before submitting an application.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Review eligibility requirements carefully to determine if you qualify for the New Castle County Web Development program.  
• Attend educational seminar
• Develop Scope of Work
• Complete application 

ELIGIBILITY

• The Application is only available to Small Businesses (less than 25 full time employees) located in unincorporated New Castle County.  Click Here to Determine if You Are in Unincorporated New Castle County
• The Small Business is required to attend one of the free educational sessions about e-commerce and online sales.
• Required Attendance At Education Seminar on June 28th
• A submitting Small Business shall not have made nor make application for or to any other relief programs to be considered. Further, the Small Business shall be subject to audit at the request of New Castle County, or the State or Federal Government in accordance with the terms of the Subaward Agreement issued to each recipient of funds. 

Headquarters Address (If different from Business Address)

Business Type and Current Details

Website Development Scope of Work (check all that apply)

Please attach additional information that shows that your business experienced any of the following due to the COVID-19 pandemic:  *

•    Decreased revenue or gross receipts in 2020 or 2021 compared to pre-pandemic levels;

•    Evidence of financial insecurity

•    Evidence of increased costs to your businesses compared to pre-pandemic levels

•    Evidence of challenges in covering payroll, rent, or other operating costs during the COVID-19 pandemic

Acknowledgement                          

Eligibility for assistance from New Castle County is determined by the information presented in this application and in the required exhibits and attachments. Any change in the status of the applicant from the facts presented herein could disqualify the applicant.

I, the undersigned, being duly sworn upon my oath say:

1. The Applicant as listed is the recipient of the services, if awarded.
2. The Applicant hereby agrees, if this application is approved, to comply with all federal, state, and local laws affecting the grant to be issued and the operation of the proposed project.
3. The Applicant hereby agrees that any officers, employees, agents or attorneys of New Castle County may have access to and copy any and all information in any form pertaining to Applicant, including, but not limited to, tax returns and information from tax returns as used in 30 Del. C. §368.
4. The Applicant hereby states that it has not received any other funds or aid for the services and expenses proposed in its application.
5. This application, with all attachments & exhibits, is the product of a diligent and reasonable investigation that I have either overseen or been personally involved.
6. I have carefully read this application, including all attachments and exhibits, and the information contained in this application, including all attachments and exhibits, is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my information and belief.
7. I am a director or officer acting within the scope of my employment and authorized to act on behalf of the Applicant.
8. I understand that if I have intentionally made a false statement in this application, or someone else has made a false statement herein that I know or believe to be false, I can be subject to criminal prosecution. Further, New Castle County, at its option, may terminate its financial assistance.
9. That the information reported herein is true, accurate, and complete. I understand that these reports are made in support of claims for government funds.
10. I understand the New Castle County may also require additional information as determined by New Castle County staff, including but not limited to before and after revenue and sales figures and other website traffic analytics.
11. The Applicant agrees and understands that all information contained in this application or obtained by New Castle County in investigating or considering the application may be subject to public disclosure pursuant to Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act.
12. I understand that submission of an application does not guarantee receipt of funding or services from New Castle County.

The undersigned certifies that any statement or representation in this application or information provided herein, is true and complete to the best of their knowledge and hereby acknowledges they meet and are in compliance with the regulations published as published herein.