The New Castle County Economic Development Subcommittee convened on September 9, 2025, to discuss initiatives aimed at enhancing support for small businesses within the county. The meeting focused on the mission of the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) office, which is dedicated to capacity building and diversifying county spending to ensure that local business owners have ample opportunities to engage with county operations.

The SBE office serves as a vital resource for vendors and contractors, particularly in informing them about business opportunities, including those categorized as "quotes," which refer to opportunities under a certain financial threshold. This initiative aims to connect small and diverse business contractors with prime contractors, thereby broadening the pool of vendors eligible for subcontracting opportunities.

Additionally, the SBE office collaborates with both public and private sector stakeholders outside of county government to promote small business participation in various projects. This collaborative approach is designed to enhance the overall economic landscape of New Castle County by ensuring that small businesses are integrated into larger public and private sector initiatives.

The meeting underscored the importance of these efforts in fostering a robust local economy and highlighted the ongoing commitment of the county to support its small business community. The subcommittee plans to continue exploring ways to strengthen these initiatives and expand opportunities for local entrepreneurs.