Delaware

October 12, 2009 -- WILMINGTON – Delaware Governor Jack Markell on Monday encouraged Delaware’s business leaders to play an even larger part in turning our economy around by serving as “eyes and ears” for the state’s economic development officials.

Business owners, Markell told the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, should let state officials know when they hear of businesses interested in expanding or relocating in Delaware, and they should also raise a red flag when they hear of fellow business owners who are running into governmental red tape.    » read more »

Bond agencies praise state’s responsible management of taxpayer dollars

October 07, 2009 -- Dover – The country's three major bond-rating agencies have affirmed Delaware's triple-A ratings based, in part, on the state's strong fiscal management practices.

“Delaware is being rewarded for the fiscal discipline exercised during these challenging times,” Gov. Markell said. "Members of the General Assembly and this administration made the tough choices to responsibly solve last year's historic budget challenge and those decisions are paying off now. We will still face significant challenges in the upcoming budget, and it is important we work together in a bipartisan way and exercise the same discipline as we address Delaware's financial future."    » read more »

HB 232 is part of broad statewide effort to combat foreclosure and foreclosure-related fraud

October 05, 2009 -- WILMINGTON – Delaware Governor Markell signed legislation into law today clarifying protections of homeowners in foreclosure. House Bill 232 clarifies that companies that offer to negotiate modifications of secured debt, such as a mortgage, on behalf of consumers are subject to the provisions of the Mortgage Rescue Fraud Protection Act, which prevents companies from charging homeowners who are in foreclosure thousands of dollars in up-front fees to negotiate with loan servicers or lenders.    » read more »

NASA funding will launch research center for optical sciences

September 30, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell praised Delaware State University’s receipt of a $5 million grant from NASA that will allow the university to establish an Optical Sciences Center for Applied Research (OSCAR) on its campus.

The center will foster new NASA-related science and technology developments based on optical sciences and technology, enhance the aerospace science and technology workforce, and develop partnerships with industry, NASA research centers and other federal laboratories, and minority and non minority-serving colleges and universities.. Specific research areas include Planetary Science, Space Communications & Navigation, and Astrobiology.    » read more »

Governor highlights need for policies that create jobs while helping the environment

September 17, 2009 -- BENSALEM, Pa. – Delaware companies talked face-to-face with U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and other White House officials Thursday at a town meeting hosted by Delaware Governor Jack Markell.

The event, which was also hosted by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, highlighted the success local companies are having creating jobs in industries that protect the environment, such as alternative energy and energy conservation.    » read more »

HB 139 would allow health care coverage of all kids at no cost to state; HB 199 would provide developmental screenings for infants and toddlers

August 27, 2009 -- NEWARK – Delaware children now have better access to health care after Governor Jack Markell signed two bills into law on Thursday that expand the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and provide developmental screenings for infants and toddlers.

“I am delighted to be signing legislation that will make Delaware’s children healthier,” Governor Markell said. “These initiatives are creative ways to improve health care for children without increasing the costs to taxpayers.”    » read more »

Responsibly closes historic shortfall; lauds passage of administration’s education and energy reforms

July 01, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell on Wednesday morning made the following remarks after he signed the fiscal 2010 operating budget into law at the close of the 2009 General Assembly session. The operating budget, for the first time in years, is significantly smaller than the 2009 spending plan. Markell also signed the FY 2010 Bond Bill and Grant-in-Aid budget.

In addition to addressing the historic $800 million shortfall, Markell and the General Assembly worked to pass historic equal-rights and open-government legislation, as well as significant education and energy reforms as well other legislation that will move Delaware forward.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The Delaware congressional delegation, Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), issued the following statement in response to Vice President Joe Biden’s announcement today of an Executive Order creating the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers and naming Ed Montgomery as the executive director of recovery for auto communities and workers.

The goal of this new inter-agency council is to help communities and workers hit hardest by auto plant closings.    » read more »

June 19, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell and DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara announced today that Delaware will be receiving $2.6 million for investment in clean energy projects from the state’s participation in the fourth Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions allowances held Wednesday, June 17.

The 10 RGGI partnering states hold quarterly allowance auctions and invest the proceeds in energy efficiency, renewable energy and other programs that benefit energy consumers and create green jobs.

“RGGI offers an opportunity to invest needed resources in energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction efforts, and at the same time create jobs and help consumers reduce energy costs,” said Governor Markell.    » read more »

June 18, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell released the following statement Thursday in response to U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu’s announcement that the Department of Energy is providing more than $5 million in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding to expand weatherization assistance programs in Delaware:

“Weatherization programs are good for our economy and good for our environment,” Markell said.

“Increasing energy costs are squeezing the budgets of Delaware families. Weatherization programs put money back in people’s pockets and give Delaware’s citizens more money to save and more to spend close to home. Weatherization reduces our energy consumption. The cleanest energy is the energy we do not use.”

Source: Delaware Governor

Gov. Markell Announces Foreclosure Mitigation Initiative and Declares June ‘Homeownership Month’

June 17, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell today signed a proclamation officially declaring June as “Delaware Homeownership Month”. To help celebrate the First State’s ongoing commitment to homeownership, Governor Markell also announced the Foreclosure Mitigation Initiative – formed through a partnership among federal and state governments, local jurisdictions, legislators, financial institutions, housing counselors, and other for-profit and nonprofit organizations. The Initiative consists of three basic ideas:    » read more »

Agreement will create structure for states to collaborate on offshore renewable energy and other pressing ocean issues; Senior Obama Administration advisors join governors to endorse agreement

June 4, 2009 --    » read more »

Portal access begins today

June 4, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell announced the launch Thursday of the State’s new online portal for agency bid solicitations, which will become the central repository for Request for Proposal (RFP) bids and Invitation to Bid (ITB) solicitations statewide. The new service will provide a one-stop shopping experience for businesses interested in bidding on a state contract. The portal can be found at http://bids.delaware.gov.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell, Rep. Valerie Longhurst and Sen. Patricia Blevins joined with advocates Wednesday to call for greater protections for senior citizens and Delawareans with disabilities.

Markell thanked Longhurst and Blevins for introducing House Bill 165, which will give the public online access to the Adult Abuse Registry. Delawareans seeking to hire someone to help care for their elderly loved one could easily go online and check the job applicant’s name against the registry. HB 165 is scheduled to receive a committee hearing later this month.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- DOVER - Delaware Governor Jack Markell announced Tuesday that the Division of Parks and Recreation will receive nearly $370,000 in AmeriCorps grant funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The grant will support a total of 65 AmeriCorps members who will meet vital needs across the state in environmental and preservation initiatives.

“AmeriCorps teaches young people important lessons about the value of public service and help them pay for college,” Markell said. “The AmeriCorps positions coming to Delaware will help DNREC keep our great state parks looking good during the busy summer season, when many Delawareans take advantage of the parks’ natural beauty.”    » read more »