A state-led project putting businesses into empty downtown Delaware storefronts returns for another year.
Run by the Delaware Economic Development Office or DEDO, Project Pop-Up pairs up business owners with landlords to fill vacant store space. Businesses selected get three months of free rent during the holiday shopping season, only paying utilities.
The number of open slots this year tripled from 2012 to nine available locations, but DEDO’s Diane Laird says she expects competition for those spaces to be fierce.
“Last year, I would say that we had about 30 to 40 applications and this year, just a rough target in my mind would be eight to ten applications for each space that we’re offering,” said Laird.
The locations this year are in Dover, Smyrna, Milford, Milton and Wilmington.
Laird adds more landlords are realizing what a valuable opportunity this program is.
“I think that they find that with their vacant spaces this is a very small investment on their part to offer the free rent, while the business owner is paying the utilities," said Laird. "It’s a very small investment to make for a potential long term tenant.”
Two of last year’s three participants signed long-term leases at their locations, with one, First And Little in Middletown, recently named as the “Best Baby Boutique in Northern Delaware” by Delaware Today magazine. The other store, Yo-Yo Joe’s, recently announced it was closing its main location in North Wilmington.
Those interested in the program must submit an application by August 11th.