AdvocacyArts and Culture CaucusCreative EconomyEvents

“The Division [of Small Business] does a really good job of helping startups and big business, but we need improvement and the missing middle, and the creative economy fits that bucket. When I say “missing middle”, we don’t have a lot of programs specifically geared towards that. That’s something we’re looking to change, and hopefully this conversation can be the brainchild that stirs that forward.” – Division of Small Business Director CJ Bell, Lt. Governor’s Creative Economy Convening, Sept. 11, 2025.

Meeting Summary

On Sept. 11, Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay convened stakeholders to discuss “Creative Economy Small Business Supports” with guest speaker Director CJ Bell, Anastasia Jackson, and Joe Zilcosky from the Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB)

Link to the bi-monthly ‘Lt. Governor’s Creative Economy Convenings’

Calls to Action

  1. Support Arts Education
    • Email Congress – Support National Arts in Education Week! (americansthearts.quorum.us/campaign/138934/) – Reach out to your Members of Congress to support well-rounded funding education funding in FY26 appropriations.
  2. Upcoming Events 

Access Resources from the Division of Small Business

  1. EDGE 2.0 – EDGE Grant Competition (business.delaware.gov/edge/) ​– Funding competition hosted by the Delaware Division of Small Business twice annually (Fall & Spring) to Entrepreneur or STEM businesses. 
  2. SSBCI – State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) (business.delaware.gov/state-small-business-credit-initiative-ssbci/)​ – “Race to $14M” – Delaware Capital Access Program (DCAP), Delaware Loan Participation Program (DLPP), and Delaware Accelerator and Seed Capital Program (DASCP) – incentivizes lending to those who traditionally do not qualify and provides early-stage businesses access to matching funds for capital.
  3. Main St. Accelerator – Delaware On Main (business.delaware.gov/on-main/) ​– 8-week accelerator program for small businesses on Main Streets to grow their businesses, and technical assistance and sponsorship opportunities for accredited and affiliate Main Street organizations. 
  4. Film Commission – (email: Joe.Zilcosky@delaware.gov) Entertainment Industry Fund – projects between $200K – $500K can seek reimbursement of up to 20% of production (including pre/post) expenditures incurred in the State. 

Opening Remarks 

Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay thanked advocates for contributing their time and ideas to guide these bi-monthly calls, noting that the administration is working across agencies to support efforts in the creative economy and benefit the State of Delaware. 

  • Meeting Agenda: 
    • Context/Creative Economy Landscape, Neil Kirschling, Executive Director of the Delaware Arts Alliance
    • Presentation from Delaware Division of Small Business Director CJ Bell, and Regional Business Managers Anastasia Jackson and Joe Zilcosky
    • Q&A and Discussion with Arts Stakeholders

 

Watch a recording of the full meeting at the link below: 

Access the Meeting’s Slides Here.

 

Sign up for the next Lt. Governor’s Creative Economy Convenings at https://bit.ly/LTGOVCEC 

Categories: Advocacy, Arts and Culture Caucus, Creative Economy, Events