And The Winner Is…

Issue 12.12

March 27, 2026

2026 COOLEST THING MADE IN DELAWARE

ARTNSAW CHAINSAW CARVINGS

At its annual Spring Manufacturing & Policy Conference, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Delaware Manufacturing Association (DMA), announced Artnsaw Chainsaw Carvings as the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Delaware winner.

“I’ve worked for large manufacturers, and now I’m doing this as a one-man operation, so I often joke that I’m the ‘Lead Sawdust Manufacturer’ at Artnsaw,” said Artnsaw Chainsaw Carving Founder Josh Miller. “I’m grateful to be able to support my family doing something I love, and it’s an honor to be up here alongside so many amazing people. To be voted as the “Coolest Thing Made in Delaware” is a true honor amongst so many other products manufactured here in the First State.” Read more >

THIS WEEK IN DOVER

Delaware continues to reinforce its position as a national leader in financial services and corporate innovation. In a recent meeting with the Governor’s office, the State Chamber was briefed on a forward-looking package of legislation aimed at modernizing the state’s banking framework and keeping it competitive in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. This week, Senator Spiros Mantzavinos introduced two key pieces of that package: Senate Bill 16 and Senate Bill 19. We are currently monitoring both of these bills. Read more >

EPISODE 29 | MEETING EMPLOYEES WHERE THEY ARE

FEATURING TOM BELMONT AND KEVIN USSERY

Season 6 of the Delaware Deep Dive is here! In this episode, Kelly sits down with Kevin Ussery from Beebe Healthcare and Tom Belmont, Jr. from the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health to explore how employers can make preventive care more accessible and why prevention is critical for long-term workforce well-being. Because after all, preventive care isn’t just a health benefit—it’s a business strategy.

Listen to the episode on your favorite streaming platform >

Check out past episodes of the Delaware Deep Dive podcast >

HOW MUCH IS SPENT ON PERSONAL

HEALTHCARE IN THE US?

Personal healthcare spending has grown by $4.3 trillion over the past 45 years, a 2,005% increase. These expenditures went from $214.3 billion in 1980 to $4.5 trillion in 2024; at the per-person level, spending went from $943 to $13,265.

During that half century, the population grew by 50% and consumer prices in general went up 281%. Specific trends that impact healthcare spending to increase faster than inflation are: technological developments, demographic changes (particularly an aging population), changes in how people use and access healthcare, and price increases for healthcare-related goods and services. Read more >

BENDING THE HEALTH CARE COST CURVE

Delaware's health care affordability challenge has become a defining issue for employers across the state. Rising health insurance premiums are no longer a background concern; they are a recurring constraint on wages, hiring, benefit design, and long-term competitiveness. Each renewal cycle forces employers to make tradeoffs that directly affect their workforce and growth plans. Simply put, health care costs are not rising because any single sector is failing. They are rising because the system remains complex, fragmented, and insufficiently aligned around value. Read more >

A CLEARER PATH TO AFFORDABILITY

For those following Delaware’s House Bill 350, the bill that first created the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board, health care costs have been in the public eye for the better part of two years. After much debate and an agreement reached to settle litigation over the law, Senate Bill 213 puts Delaware on a better path to address health care affordability. There are many challenges facing health care both at the national level and here in Delaware. Recent federal policy changes will affect the Medicaid program and could lead to more uninsured Delawareans.

Check out past episodes of the Delaware Deep Dive podcast >

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