Are you a Superstar?

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

April 1, 2024

In a shrinking world, businesses must be more agile and adaptable than ever before. This is true of businesses of every size and industry, and the pressure is really pronounced for small to medium sized businesses because of staffing limitations and resource constraints, in particular. This is, in part, why we set aside a day each year to recognize some incredible small businesses and nonprofits at our Superstars in Business awards luncheon every November. Established in 1998, the awards are given annually to extraordinary businesses in honor of Marvin S. Gilman, who was a distinguished small business leader in Delaware.

The application period for companies interested in this prestigious program is now open ! The deadline for submission of completed applications is July 18 at 4:30 PM. Click here to view or download the application >

If you're interested in learning how to write your best application, join us for a free webinar on May 8th, where members of the Superstars Selection Committee and past winners will share advice and best practices. Register >

This marquee event is one of the most significant of the year for the State Chamber, and we will provide more details on sponsorship and ticket registration for this sell-out event soon. We look forward to recognizing and celebrating the achievements of businesses that have gone above and beyond in their industry.

News You Can Use

Welcome to the start of Q2 for most and the end of the fiscal year for many retailers. This will be a busy and important week for economic news and data, and we kick things off today with February construction spending results and manufacturing figures from March. On Tuesday, February factory orders and February job openings are scheduled to report, as are U.S. auto sales for March. ADP unemployment numbers for March are released on Wednesday morning, and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is speaking at noon. U.S. trade balance data from February is out on Thursday, and Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker, along with many other Fed Presidents, are speaking throughout the day. We wrap up a busy week on Friday with March unemployment figures, U.S. hourly wage data from March, and consumer credit figures.

By contrast, this is a very light week for companies hosting earnings calls. On Tuesday we’ll hear from Paychex, Dave & Buster’s, and Cal-Maine Foods. Levi Strauss and Sportsman’s Warehouse are on Wednesday's schedule, while Lamb Weston, Radius Recycling, and Simply Good Foods are among the small group of others with calls later in the week.

Michael J. Quaranta

President

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

Uniquely Delaware

Wilmington Blue Rocks support Minor League Baseball's Hispanic fan engagement initiative

In its seventh season, Copa de la Diversión, or "Fun Cup," is the foundation of Minor League Baseball's Hispanic fan engagement initiative ― a season-long event series designed "to embrace the culture and values that resonate most with participating teams' local U.S. Hispanic communities."

The Blue Rocks are now among 90 teams participating in the outreach program, which will take over Frawley Stadium each Sunday home game this season. In the spirit of Copa de la Diversión, the Wilmington Blue Rocks will become Rocas Azules de Wilmington for those 11 Sunday home games, starting April 7 at 1:05 p.m. against the Brooklyn Cyclones.

A new look uniform will be featured, with Mr. Celery dressed in a sombrero and serape swinging a rock pick on the team's ballcap and jersey sleeve. Read more >

Every enterprise has its ups and downs. Breakwater is here to shield small to medium-size business owners and nonprofit executives from mistakes that come with growth, help them avoid the tidal waves of paperwork that slow them down, and protect their futures.

Learn more