G&R Campground has been announced as a State of Delaware – Division of Business $50,000 Edge Grant Winner. The Edge Grant program helps small businesses start or grow during the first few years of operation. The Delaware Division of Small Business announced the most recent grant awards for the Encouraging Development, Growth, and Expansion (EDGE) competition on May 23rd in Dover. The awards given to 10 Delaware small businesses for the spring 2024 round, bring the total number of businesses awarded funds under the EDGE program to 100.
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G & R Campground (Houston)
G&R Campground is the oldest black-owned campground and RV park in the United States. The owners have self-funded the campground since its acquisition, making significant improvements to attract a younger demographic of campers and expand their business. The general store, solar panels, hammocks, park, outdoor games, and garden have all been updated to enhance the overall experience for visitors. G&R will use the EDGE grant funding to renovate the activity hall, aligning with its mission to enhance visitor experiences and promote eco-conscious celebrations that support local businesses. The renovation includes infrastructure improvements, structural repairs and upgrades, flooring and lighting enhancements, accessibility features, eco-friendly design, energy-efficient lighting, waste reduction initiatives, outdoor landscaping, and technology upgrades including Wi-Fi.
Leonard and Yolanda Young are the new owners of G & R Campground. Nestled in the heart of Houston, Delaware, G&R is situated on over 32 acres with 200+ RV and tent sites, cabins, glamping, an outdoor pool, playground, lawn game garden, hammock park, and other amenities.
The Houston Gun and Rod Club was created for black soldiers coming home from WWl and WWII who weren’t able to go to area Rod and Gun, social clubs. The name was reversed to show that distinction. Later on, the grounds were used by baseball players from the Negro Leagues to practice, a juke joint that hosted parties all night long, and ultimately in 1997 transformed into a campground.
For more info:
Web www.gandrcampground.com
Facebook @gandrcampground
Instagram @gandrcampground
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/gandrcampground
TikTok @gandrcampground
YouTube @GandRCampground
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Including this round, $6.51 million has been awarded to 100 promising Delaware small businesses since the program launched in 2019, in industries ranging from advanced medical technology to farming and restaurants.
Governor John Carney, Deputy Secretary Kristopher Knight, and Division of Small Business Director Regina Mitchell announced the companies at an event on May 23, at the Kent County Administration Building in Dover.
“We started the EDGE grant program in 2019 to give small businesses an ‘edge’ over their competition. I’ve been impressed every year with the innovation and creativity of business owners across the state, and what EDGE grant winners have done with their awards to advance their business,” said Governor Carney. “I’m proud that we’ve been able to deliver this necessary funding to 100 small businesses since 2019 and I congratulate this year’s winners.”
“I want to congratulate today’s winners for their success, as well as the Division of Small Business in helping 100 small businesses take their businesses to the next level,” said Deputy Secretary of State Kristopher Knight. “Small businesses create economic diversity in our state by helping create new industries and markets, not to mention trying new ideas which can spur development of new products and services, shining a spotlight on the place we call home.”
Businesses under seven years old and employing no more than 10 full-time employees (or FTE equivalents) are eligible to apply for an EDGE grant. The grants are awarded through a competitive selection process. After a thorough internal review, 14 finalists were selected to pitch their proposals to an outside expert panel of judges. Ten companies are selected each round for awards. Five STEM-based companies receive up to $100,000 for eligible expenses while five Entrepreneur Class (non-STEM) businesses receive up to $50,000.
“I am so proud of our team, and what we’ve been able to accomplish through the EDGE program,” said Division of Small Business Director Regina Mitchell. “Each awardee today, and each applicant who applied, had a story to tell about how they want to make our state, and the lives of the people who live here, better and easier through their proposals. We’re excited for the winners and pleased to contribute to their journey.”
The application period for the next round of the EDGE program will open in August.
EDGE is a matching grant program. The Division of Small Business matches a winning business’s investment on a 3-to-1 basis. The business can spend EDGE grant funds on expenses that help improve the company’s long-term chances of success, such as a marketing campaign to help acquire more customers or purchasing a needed piece of equipment that can increase production capacity.
This is the ninth round of funding for the program. One hundred twenty businesses applied for funding in February, 97 in the entrepreneur category and 23 in the STEM category. Fourteen finalists gave public presentations in early May at the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center. From those, the below recipients were selected.
 competition on May 23rd in Dover.){kind=link}