New Castle County Government and West End Neighborhood House Working Together to Launch New Small Businesses
West End’s Launcher Entrepreneurship Program is making extraordinary strides in driving economic growth and fostering entrepreneurship in Delaware. The program offers comprehensive training, mentoring, and resources to empower aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those from low-income backgrounds and underrepresented communities.
To date, the program has trained 792 entrepreneurs, started or expanded 256 businesses, and added or retained 483 jobs. As we look to the future, West End is excited and committed to expanding its impact by forging a partnership with New Castle County.
With the County’s support, Launcher will be able to expand the program by training and empowering 75 new entrepreneurs, foster the initiation of 15 or more business startups or expansions, and facilitate the creation of over 30 new job opportunities by the conclusion of 2024. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with West End and the Launcher Program,” said County Executive Meyer. “The program invests valuable resources to new and expanding business creating services, and, more importantly, jobs in our communities.”
This expansion involves the addition of five new classes, strategically located near County and State libraries, at three different county libraries: Bear/Glasgow, Claymont, & Rt. 9. These classes will have a special focus on providing support to aspiring entrepreneurs and businesses that were disproportionately affected by the challenges posed by COVID-19. West End's Executive Director, Paul Calistro, said, "We are excited to partner with the county to continue to expand upon this successful entrepreneurial program, as we continue to launch hundreds of new jobs."
The media and community are invited to join New Castle County Executive, Matt Meyer West End, and Launcher, for an official announcement, on Wednesday, September 20th from 4:30-5:15 p.m., at the Westside Farmers Market at Cool Spring Park (Van Buren St. & Park Place).
Opportunities will be available for photos and interviews with the County Executive, along with current Launcher graduates, who will also be selling products during the weekly Farmer’s market. Additional speakers include Kristin Bowen, Launcher Director, and Launcher vendors.
About West End Neighborhood House (WENH)
In “Our House,” our staff, clients, volunteers, and donors work together to resolve complex social challenges throughout Delaware. Through our outcomes-driven programming, we provide support that meets each of our customer’s unique needs, whether that be in finances, housing, education, employment, or family services. To learn more about WENH, visit westendnh.org. For more information about West Side Farmers Market at Cool Spring Park, visit westsidegrows.org/westside-farmers-market.
