Delaware

House Bill 102 enables state to participate in Teach for America program

April 20, 2009 -- WILMINGTON – Joined by leading legislators and education advocates, Delaware Governor Jack Markell on Monday signed House Bill 102 into law, which makes important changes to the state’s education system that will enable Delaware to qualify for the prestigious Teach for America program.

“We will not be able to grow our economy and create jobs without a top-level school system that graduates students ready to compete in the modern job market,” Markell said. “Signing this legislation demonstrates that we are willing to transform our education system by changing the underlying policies and practices that will make the greatest difference in how we educate our children.”    » read more »

Initiative will help get Delaware’s economy moving again by facilitating access to capital for small businesses

April 20, 2009 -- NEW CASTLE – Delaware Governor Jack Markell unveiled a program Monday that will help small businesses survive the current economic downturn and get Delawareans back to work.

The initiative – Markell's Limited Investment for Financial Traction (LIFT) – uses $5 million from the state’s Strategic Fund to subsidize the interests on small-business loans. Businesses receiving the LIFT subsidy will repay the money to the state after two years, with the individual business owners themselves given personal guarantees as part of the program.    » read more »

April 10, 2009 -- DOVER -- Following swift action by the Senate and House this week, Delaware Governor Jack Markell on Friday signed legislation into law that reduces the shortfall the state is facing for the current fiscal year.

Despite the $12.9 million of savings in the legislation, Delaware is still facing a $30.8 million shortfall in the current year and a historic $750 million deficit for fiscal 2010. Both figures could increase if revenue estimates worsen over the next two months.    » read more »

March 26, 2009 -- DOVER -- It’s going to be easier for some firefighters and ambulance crews to get through traffic and to the firehouse thanks to a new law signed Thursday by Delaware Governor Jack Markell.

Under the law, firefighters and ambulance crews, specifically designated by their departments as first responders will be able to have so-called “wig-wag” light kits installed on their cars as an aftermarket item. Previously emergency crews could have the light kits, which rapidly cycle a car’s high- and low-beam headlights, but they had to be factory-installed.

This new law will make it easier for firefighters to do their jobs and to keep us safe,” Markell said. “I consider protecting Delawareans' safety one of state government's most fundamental responsibilities."    » read more »

Senators, Governor make announcement at Newark Solar Panel Company

March 23, 2009 -- WILMINGTON – Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) and Gov. Jack Markell (D-Del.) joined together Monday to announce how nearly $38 million in federal funding to help make Delaware homes and businesses more energy efficient. The three elected officials appeared at CMI Electric, a solar panel producing small business that will benefit from the new federal funds, which comes from the recently passed economic recovery package.    » read more »

Ion Power Inc. receives grant from Delaware Green Energy Fund

March 16, 2009 -- NEW CASTLE -- Officials in Delaware Governor Jack Markell's administration praised Monday's activation of the first commercial wind turbine in New Castle County, which will harness an abundant natural resource and convert it into electricity. Funded in part by a grant from the Delaware Green Energy Fund, Ion Power estimates its wind turbine will generate up to 100 mega-watt hours per year of electricity for use by its manufacturing facility.    » read more »

Markell executive order creates "Governor's Stimulus Solutions Group," launches www.Recovery.Delaware.Gov Web site for transparency

March 11, 2009 -- WILMINGTON – After Vice President Joseph R. Biden asked every Governor to appoint an "Implementation Czar" to oversee federal stimulus spending in their states, Governor Jack Markell today asked Lt. Governor Matt Denn to take on that responsibility and to help the state maximize the assistance Delaware will receive from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).    » read more »

March 9, 2009 -- NEWARK – Delaware Gov. Jack Markell on Monday praised Fraunhofer USA on receiving a $12 million federal grant and on the company’s plans to add more jobs at its Newark facility.

The funding will help Fraunhofer continue its development of a process to quickly manufacture vaccines in the event of serious outbreaks, such as a flu pandemic or anthrax attack.

Fraunhofer is the only company in the world with this technology, which was developed in Newark. Fraunhofer expects its workforce in Delaware to grow by 50 percent over the next three years.    » read more »

March 5, 2009 -- WILMINGTON – Delaware Governor Jack Markell announced Thursday that the state’s housing authority will be offering incentives that, combined with a tax credit in the federal economic recovery package, will help more Delawareans become first-time homeowners and get our economy moving again.    » read more »

Web sites give new marketing opportunities to Delaware's agricultural industry

February 26, 2009 --
CAMDEN – Delaware is using technology to better connect farmers with customers and boost the state’s agriculture economy, Governor Markell and Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee announced on Thursday.
“It is never easy being a farmer, but it is especially difficult given the historic challenges we face,” Markell said.

“Delaware's vibrant agricultural industry is essential to our economic success, and my administration is determined to do all it can to help farmers through these trying times. Not only will these innovative Web sites assist farmers, but they will also provide the rest of the state with easy access to fresh and healthy local produce.”    » read more »

Financial services company will open new facility in Newark

February 25, 2009 -- WILMINGTON – Delaware Governor Jack Markell announced Wednesday that Barclaycard US, the credit card business of Barclays PLC in the United States, will be creating hundreds of new jobs in Delaware over the next five years.

Barclaycard will be opening a new customer contact center in Newark to support its growing payment card operations. The opening of the new facility, which will be operational in early April, will initially create 300 new jobs and could add as many as 500.    » read more »

Address to New Castle County Sustainability Seminar on Green Buildings Follows Climate Prosperity Announcement and Green Jobs Grant to build Electric Vehicles

February 18, 2009 -- WILMINGTON – Delaware Governor Jack Markell today welcomed over 100 business and community leaders who gathered to move Delaware forward in the state’s push towards more sustainable building practices.

“The health of our economy and our environment should no longer be at odds. Our economic well-being and environmental prosperity will both grow from the sustained success of the other and the elimination of inefficiencies and waste,” Markell said. “Your presence here, your commitment to this topic affirms the idea that building green makes economic sense.”    » read more »

Despite infusion, historic budget shortfall remains; tough choices still on horizon

February 18, 2009 --
WILMINGTON – Delaware Governor Jack Markell and U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman gathered at the Department of Labor on Wednesday to discuss the federal Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s benefits for Delaware, which include the creation of thousands of jobs and the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in key improvement projects.

Markell estimated that $802 million in stimulus funding will flow into Delaware, not counting the tens of millions that go will directly to Delawareans through tax cuts, increased unemployment benefits, expanded student grants for higher education and other initiatives.    » read more »

Award is part of Markell's vision for environmentally friendly economic development; latest in efforts to create jobs, promote climate prosperity

Febuary 17, 2009 -- NEW CASTLE -- One day after announcing Delaware’s participation in a landmark climate prosperity project, Governor Jack Markell on Tuesday awarded a workforce training grant to AutoPort Inc. that will allow the Fortune 500 company to begin converting gasoline vehicles to electric vehicles in the First State.    » read more »

Markell is first governor to propose statewide jobs strategy focused on climate protection

February 16, 2009 -- WILMINGTON -- Delaware Governor Jack Markell announced Monday that Delaware will be the only state participating in a national project that places sustainability and environmental health and welfare squarely at the center of economic development efforts.    » read more »