As Delaware’s economic reopening gets started and prepares for Phase 2 on June 15, the Delaware Division of Small Business is helping small businesses get back in the swing of things.
The Division, along with the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, assembled about 5,000 one-time personal protective starter kits for small businesses.
Division of Small Business director Damian DeStefano explains what’s in each kit.
"They're getting 64 to 128 ounces of hand sanitizer depending on the exact size in the bottle that's in a kir, 20 face coverings, and 32 ounces of surface cleaner," said DeStefano.
DeStefano says the kits are meant to be a bridge to help businesses until they can get some of these needed items on their own.
"One of the things that businesses are going to have to be doing more of is extra cleaning, maybe more than what they're used to prior to COVID-19. [And] the face covering requirement is now in place" said DeStefano. "All of these things add additional costs to businesses. We know that. We've talked to them. I think they're all committed to it and feeling like they could manage."
The state has also created a business-to-business toolkit and portal for businesses seeking PPE and cleaning supplies.
He says the kits and creating the portal is the least the state can do.
"We've asked a lot of our small businesses over the last few months. I think it was necessary from a health perspective and we continue to put that at the forefront," said DeStefano. So, anything we can do just to help them get back on their feet. We always look for those opportunities, like providing them signs, providing them with PPE, trying to help to find where to go to get PPE, they're all small steps we can do that could make a large difference for some of these businesses."
The state is providing businesses signage for public health guidance measures on doors and windows.
It’s also offering a window cling verifying a business has completed a state checklist for safely reopening to bolster consumer confidence. About 500 of those window clings had been sent out as of Friday.
