Local businesses in Bethany Beach thrive with federal support

BETHANY BEACH, Del. –  Local businesses in Delaware are thriving with holiday sales as Black Friday and Christmas rapidly approach. Small business owners say that’s thanks to support from congressional lawmakers and the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Gypsy Teal is one of the many small businesses in Bethany Beach. “We are all small businesses,” said Manager of Gypsy Teal Michelle Cook. “We are mom and pop shops, and we really are about the community, the people who live here. We appreciate all the people that walk through the door and shop with us.”

The small business is more than ready for customers to start their holiday shopping. “We just had our holiday event last week and it really was a success, and we feel that people are really starting to gift shop. It’s exciting,” Cook said.

U.S. Senator of Delaware Tom Carper checked in with local businesses, making sure state and federal agencies are helping to keep them afloat.

“In some cases it was through grants, in some cases were loans,” said Sen. Carper. “But a lot of the small business that survived would not have made it without the help of the Small Business Administration, which is a federal agency.”

The SBA supports small businesses by providing counselors, mentors and support services locally.

“We do that through resource partners,” said SBA Delaware Director Michelle Harris. “Our small business development centers are in Georgetown and Newark Delaware. There services are free and they can help you with business plans, marketing and financing. Running your numbers and determining what kind of financing you need.”

Cook says the help makes sure that small businesses can keep the community alive and cater their products to the people they see on a daily basis.

“We are here for the locals, so we do have a tourist season where we have people come all summer,” Cook said. “But we really are here for the locals. We have events for the locals, we buy for the locals and we try to cater to the tourists, as well as the people who live here.”