Community Development Initiatives

A deteriorating stucco building on North Market Street in Wilmington emerged as the stunning stone-clad Christopher Early Childhood Center, thanks in part to a grant from the New Castle County Corridor Revitalization Fund. “People keep calling me to tell me it looks terrific and amazing,” said Everett Harris. “We wanted our school and daycare to be a beacon of hope in this community.” The renovated building also has an outdoor spot where community children can come to watch educational programs. “It makes us feel good that the little children like to come here. It’s one way we enrich the community.”

The Mighty Muffler and Tire Shop buildings on Philadelphia Pike in Claymont had been in need of renovation for a long time. “They looked pretty bad,” said the new owner, Nelson Whitlock. “They were built in the 1950s, and no one had maintained them.” A large renovation project was already on the drawing board when Nelson heard about the Corridor Revitalization Fund Grant Program. “It was perfect timing,” he said. He put the funds toward the pressing needs for roof repairs, new signage, and exterior lighting. “The grant helped me complete the improvements a lot sooner.”

Hell’s Belles Bake Shop is a women-owned and operated small business in Wilmington’s West End that serves scratch-made pastries and draws creative inspiration from multiple cultures and ethnicities. Owners Stephanie Grubb and Hannah Schoenbach share years of culinary experience and “a love for all things butter.” When they were opening the bakery and incurring high startup costs, they heard about the grants and loans available from the West Side Corridor Revitalization Fund. “It came along at just the right time,” said Hannah. “The machinery needed for a bakery is very extensive and expensive,” she said. They were pleased to receive a forgivable loan from True Access Capital. Now, Union Street is the home of a popular and thriving new business. “We are very grateful to True Access,” she said.