DOVER, DE- A Dover city council committee is considering a small business relief fund aimed at helping existing businesses manage rising utility costs during ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.
The proposal would establish a relief fund capped at $75,000 to provide financial support to small businesses impacted by construction tied to the city’s Capital City 2030 redevelopment plan.
The funding source is still being determined, but city officials say the money could come from either Dover’s Utility Reserves or the city’s Economic Development Fund, which currently holds about $1.5 million.
The small business relief fund is under review as part of Dover’s fiscal year 2026 budget.
Gloria Brown, who owns Pastries, Deli and More in downtown Dover, said the rising cost of doing business is putting significant strain on local shop owners like herself.
“Utility bills are sporadic. Sometimes when we’re not really using that much energy, we got a $1,300 bill because we’re with the city of Dover. Sometimes it’s shocking. So that’s something that we really could always use help with.”
Council President Dave Anderson, who introduced the proposal, said the goal is to support small businesses that will be affected by the city’s many upcoming infrastructure projects—by helping them cover a month or two of utility costs.
“The goal is to give a utility credit when businesses are affected by construction."
Dover recently received a $1.5 million grant to begin upgrading aging infrastructure downtown, a major step toward the city’s long-term redevelopment goals.
While Anderson acknowledged the improvements are necessary, he also noted that the construction process could pose challenges for some businesses.
“We do not want to lose the businesses that stuck with us through the pandemic and tough times. We want to keep what we have and build on it.”
However, not all council members are convinced the measure will go far enough.
Councilman Brian Lewis expressed concern that the proposed assistance may have only a limited impact.
“Don’t get me wrong, I support small businesses. But if we’re offering help to them, we also need to consider the residents in the area.”
Lewis added that covering utility expenses for a short time may not be enough to keep struggling businesses from closing.
“I do not think it’s going to be a deciding factor, whether people stay or not."
The small business utility relief proposal, which passed through committee, is set to go before the full Dover City Council for discussion on Tuesday.