22 Businesses/orgs Get First State Food System Grants

This round of food grants awarded thousands to 22 entities in Delaware. (Photo by vejaa/Getty Images)

Twenty-two businesses and nonprofits across Delaware have been awarded grants through the Delaware Grocery Initiative, part of the state’s effort to fight food insecurity and expand access to nutritious food in underserved communities.

The initiative, also known as the First State Food System Grants, is run by the Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) and aims to support food access in areas classified as food deserts or at risk of becoming so.

Grants ranging from $5,000 to $12,500 were awarded, with a total of $25,000 distributed in this round of funding.

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The money will help recipients improve supply chains, expand cold storage, and strengthen partnerships among community-based food providers.

“The Delaware Grocery Initiative is about bolstering economic development and uplifting some of our most vulnerable communities,” said State Senator Darius Brown, who sponsored the legislation that created the program. “Access to nutritious food is essential for living a long and healthy life. This program ensures that critical component of personal health is a reality for all Delawareans, regardless of their tax bracket or the neighborhood they live in.”

More than 50 applications were submitted for this round of funding. DSB officials said they prioritized projects that focused on infrastructure improvements such as food aggregation, transportation, and storage—key elements in strengthening Delaware’s local food system.

Among the 22 grant recipients are organizations like Native Roots Farm Foundation, Lutheran Community Services, The HOPP, Jefferson Street Center, and YWCA Delaware.

The list also includes small businesses like Woodenhawk Farms Inc., Forever Freeze Co., and Farmacy Market.

All projects supported by this grant must be completed by December 31, 2025.

Since the program began in 2022, it has awarded more than $1.9 million to fund 39 projects throughout the state.