Why Delaware is rising as a top spot for Black-owned businesses

Delaware has been ranked one of the top states in the country for Black-owned businesses, underscoring the state’s growing entrepreneurial community and efforts to expand opportunity. The distinction comes as the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce launched a new business incubator in Wilmington, aimed at helping entrepreneurs overcome barriers and build sustainable success.

Nationally, Black entrepreneurs make up just 3% of business owners, yet contribute more than $217 billion to the economy and support over 1.3 million jobs, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy.

A 2025 analysis by B2B Reviews, released this August during National Black Business Month, placed Delaware second in the nation for support of Black-owned businesses, just behind Georgia. The study evaluated all 50 states and the District of Columbia on factors such as the percentage of Black-owned employer businesses, business growth, survival rates and payroll. Delaware outperformed larger neighbors Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which ranked 25th and 26th, respectively.

Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce's partnership with WGU

The report also coincided with the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce’s ribbon-cutting for its new headquarters on Aug. 26 in Wilmington. The launch drew entrepreneurs, elected officials and community leaders to celebrate a resource aimed at strengthening minority-owned businesses statewide.

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Located in the former Elwyn building, now owned by the Delaware Affordable Housing Group, the facility will also house a business incubator, backed by Western Governors University’s School of Business. The program is designed as a launchpad for early stage and mid-level businesses, providing development programs at no cost to participants.

“Over 7% of the students at WGU are underserved. Over 7% of our students are also first generation, so our goal is to help our students, entrepreneurs or whatever walk of life they come from ... make that dream reality,” said K.L. Allen, regional vice president at Western Governors University.

Curriculum areas include sales and marketing, finance, human resources, contracting and access to capital, with sessions delivered in-person by industry professionals.

You can contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware's small business community gets boost with Wilmington incubator