Issue 10.18

May 10, 2024

THIS WEEK IN DOVER

The General Assembly has only 12 session days remaining before they adjourn on June 30. But there’s still much work to be done. Several important bills saw movement this week including:

HS 2 for HB 350: Hospital Cost Review Board

SB 233: Service Worker Protection Act

Superstars in Education & Training

BRANDYWINE SCHOOL DISTRICT

BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH EMPATHY

EMPATHETIC ENGINEERING PROGRAM EMPOWERS STUDENTS & TRANSFORMS LIVES

Amidst rows of lockers in Brandywine School District’s (BSD) high schools, a revolution is underway—one that marries technical skills with compassionate innovation. BSD’s Empathetic Engineering Program, founded in the 2015-2016 school year at Concord and Brandywine High Schools, is a groundbreaking initiative that merges engineering principles with empathy to create inclusive technical solutions for individuals with special needs. The program has since expanded into Mount Pleasant High School as well, where 250 students participate every year districtwide. Read more >

WATCH THEIR VIDEO:

END-OF-SESSION POLICY CONFERENCE

MAY 30 | 9 AM - 1 PM | DOVER

The decisions made in Dover have a direct impact on your business and employees. 2024 is an election year where Delaware will see new leaders in multiple positions—governor, lieutenant governor, Congress, and more. Verity Watson, partner at Ruggerio Willson & Watson, and Kim Gomes, partner at ByrdGomes, will provide an inside look at these key races and explain what those outcomes could mean to the business community. Join us on May 30 >

THE POWER OF APPRENTICESHIPS

LEADING THE WAY IN

TEACHER APPRENTICESHIPS

Across the country, we’re grappling

with a shortage of teachers, and Delaware is no exception. Despite

these concerning figures, Delaware is performing better than other states. According to a 2023 Policy Memo

from the U.S. Department of Education, only three states experienced any growth in their educator workforce

post-pandemic. Delaware led the pack with a 5.1% increase. In its commitment to leading the nation, the state is actively developing more high-

quality pathways into teaching.

One initiative is the introduction

of a Registered Apprenticeship in Teaching. Read more >

INVESTING IN TOMORROW'S WORKFORCE

In the ever-evolving landscape of the construction industry, apprenticeships stand as beacons of opportunity. At M. Davis & Sons, apprenticeships aren't just a program but a cornerstone of their workforce development strategy, driving innovation, productivity, and empowerment within the team. As CEO Peggy DelFabbro puts it, "Graduation from an apprenticeship program is just as important and meaningful as that of a college graduation." The genesis of our apprenticeship program arose from a fundamental need: the necessity to nurture and cultivate a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of our industry. Read more >

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

“Electricity demand is forecast to grow 20% by 2030, according to Wells Fargo,” shared a CNBC article yesterday. The return and reshoring of manufacturing and the electrification of almost everything means we need to act on our energy needs now. “AI data centers alone are expected to add about 323 terawatt hours of electricity demand in the U.S. by 2030. The forecast power demand from AI alone is seven times greater than New York City’s current annual electricity consumption of 48 terawatt hours. Goldman Sachs projects that data centers will represent 8% of total U.S. electricity consumption by the end of the decade.” What does this mean for suppliers of natural gas and hydrogen, to name but a few sources? Read more >