Philadelphia is a city of builders, dreamers, and doers, and its heartbeat is found in the small businesses that line our streets. For entrepreneurs looking to scale, the Philadelphia Small Business Catalyst Fund serves as a resource and fuels the growth of small businesses, offering the capital and support needed to turn ambitious visions into lasting assets.

Designed to help growth-minded small businesses scale operations, increase production or service capacity, and expand to meet growing market demand, the Catalyst Fund provides grants of up to $50,000 along with advisory services per eligible business, based on demonstrated need, growth potential, and economic impact. This comprehensive support ensures they have the tools to achieve long-term stability.

Last fiscal year alone, the Catalyst Fund invested $7.1 million into 182 businesses, proving that when Philadelphia invests in its entrepreneurs, the entire city reaps the rewards.

The Philadelphia Small Business Catalyst Fund is an initiative of the Department of Commerce that fuels collaboration and business growth citywide.

Business owners share their stories

Hear from Catalyst Fund awardee Denise’s Delicacies, a family-owned business that has been a staple in the North Philadelphia area for almost four decades. Discover how the business is using Catalyst Fund capital to move their business forward, how they leveraged community support to remain relevant over the years, and their plans to expand their footprint nationwide.

Adapting in an unpredictable market

For nearly four decades, the scent of fresh baking from Denise’s Delicacies has been a staple on Philadelphia’s North 22nd Street. Founded in 1992 by Denise Gause, the bakery started out of love for baking as a family tradition. Today, Gause serves in a business mentorship role as co-owners Keshia Davis and Cynthia Benton carry that legacy forward.

Davis stepped in eight years ago to preserve the neighborhood bakery while navigating the ever-changing nature of the modern marketplace. As consumer habits shifted and the economy evolved after the pandemic, businesses were forced to reevaluate their operations. Davis recognized then that sustaining her family-owned bakery meant more than just operating locally and staying the course.

“If we want to stay here, we’ve got to spread our wings and fly, and additional funding was needed for that,” Davis shared.

She immediately turned to local resources for the support needed to make her ambitious plans for her bakery a reality. That’s where the Catalyst Fund and other programs, such as the Boost Your Business program by PIDC and the Department of Commerce, came in handy.

For Davis, the challenge was preserving the heritage and stability of a local, long-standing, family-owned shop while balancing the growing customer demands for expansion. The business is currently focused on implementing nationwide shipping for their signature pound cakes and scaling up wholesale distribution to reach wider retail markets.

To support these efforts, Davis has been expanding the business’ national presence by increasing brand visibility through a television show she is working on. “…We’re trying to prime it up so that we have a national presence, so we can ship our cakes to people who want…Denise’s in their home,” she said. “This growth strategy requires not just capital but also greater operational capacity.”

Using the Catalyst Fund for business expansion

The Department of Commerce played a pivotal role in this growth journey by offering guidance on planning and resource allocation. “The one thing that I’m going to say that was helpful about the program is it really helped me fine-tune what I needed for the business to help it get to the next level,” Davis said. This process helped her team move beyond initial ideas to the implementation of practical financial projections and capacity building.

Community impact and legacy

The additional funding and business knowledge from Department of Commerce programs, along with other resources, helped sustain the business. Davis used funding to purchase and upgrade shop equipment to make daily baking and other operations run more efficiently.

However, the impact of the bakery’s growth and sustainability extends beyond the practical side of business; it’s evident in the community as well. With nearly 25 employees, most of whom live in the surrounding neighborhood, the bakery serves as an anchor for the local economy. Davis views her role as maintaining a standard of excellence that benefits both the community and her staff.

The results are represented in the stories of customers who have supported Denise’s Delicacies for generations. Davis said the customers would tell her things like, “My grandmother used to get my cakes [here]; now I get my baby’s cakes here!”

You, too, can leverage City resources

For Philadelphia business owners considering their next phase of growth, the path forward often requires the right resources. With the help of the Catalyst Fund and other Department of Commerce programs and initiatives, local business owners can refine their strategies, plan carefully, allocate funding to growth initiatives, and position their businesses for long-term sustainability.

Apply for the Catalyst Fund

To get started, view the grant FAQs for eligibility requirements. Then, apply for the Catalyst Fund today.

If you need assistance with applying, the Mayor’s Business Action Team (MBAT) provides personalized assistance in multiple languages to entrepreneurs for all aspects of doing business in Philadelphia. Contact MBAT by emailing business@phila.gov or calling 215-683-2100.