COMMUNTIY NAVIGATOR PROGRAM
DESIGNED TO SUPPORT HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED ENTREPRENEURS IN DELAWARE
The Community Navigator program is driven to connect entrepreneurs with community organizations and specialized support as they grow their small business. According to the Small Business Administration, Community Navigator will help level the playing field for America’s entrepreneurs, especially our underserved women, people of color, veterans, and rural and low-income communities.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Facilitated by the “Hub”, our our original community “Spokes” work together to not only ensure access to resources but expand the help available to entrepreneurs all over the state. Through outreach efforts, trainings and programmatic development, our partners and providers play a key role in ensuring necessary information reaches all communities.
THE SBDC HUB
Operating since 1983, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is dedicated to helping new and scaling businesses grow and prosper within Delaware by providing no or low-cost advisory and training services.
The SBDC is the only statewide, nationally accredited program that provides high-quality one-on-one consulting, training and information resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. Through partnerships with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of Delaware and the University of Delaware, the SBDC is committed to serving Delaware’s entrepreneurs.
In 2021, the Delaware SBDC was awarded a $2.5 million Community Navigator Pilot Program Grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Selected from out of 700+ applications, Delaware SBDC was one of eleven “Tier 2” winners. With this funding, a team of dedicated business advisors and support staff have fortified a network of organizations around the state and expanded support for historically underrepresented communities.
