Connections that Move You

Issue 9.27

July 14, 2023

QUETLY HUMMING IN THE BACKGROUND, THIS INDUSTRY POWERS YOUR LIFE

When an enormous container ship ran aground into the banks of the Suez Canal in 2021, blocking a crucial trade artery for days, everyone was suddenly talking about transportation.

Hauling goods and passengers is one of those things that’s so much a part of life, you rarely think much about it until something goes wrong. In this case, the blockage came around the same time as excruciating supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic that drove up the price of what seemed like everything.

In Delaware, we may think of transportation as mainly the traffic that clogs Route 1 and I-95 every day, but it’s far more than that. The state plugs into the national and global supply chain through its shipping and aviation channels, which supply not just goods from other countries, but a big boost to the local economy. Read more >

DELAWARE RIVER & BAY AUTHORITY BY THE NUMBERS

17.9 million: Vehicles that crossed the Delaware Memorial Bridge in 2022

722,000: Cape May-Lewes Ferry passengers in 2022

4,130: Jobs supported by the Cape May-Lewes Ferry

20: Dollars of economic activity per dollar spent by the DRBA on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry

43,827: Passengers through Wilmington Airport this year, as of May 15, 2023

8,436: Passengers through Wilmington Airport by May 15 last year

$1.1 billion: Economic impact of the aviation industry in Delaware in 2017

2,619: Jobs supported by Wilmington Airport in 2017

MORE THAN MONSTER MILE RACING

DOVER MOTOR SPEEDWAY A VITAL COMMUNITY PARTNER

Since 1969, Dover Motor Speedway’s (DMS) high-banked, one-mile, concrete oval has more than earned its nickname of the “Monster Mile”. It is one of only 10 tracks in the country to have hosted 100 or more NASCAR Cup Series events, and annually draws the biggest crowds for a sporting event in Delaware.

Not only is DMS an icon in the racing world, but it is a centerpiece of community activities and charitable works in Kent County. Read more >

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

YMCA OF DELAWARE

The YMCA of Delaware has long been a catalyst for positive change, offering a wide range of programs and services that empower individuals of all ages and strengthen communities. With a rich history spanning 130 years, the organization has never wavered in its mission of promoting health, wellness, and social responsibility within the Delaware community. And yes, it’s so much more than a gym. Read more >

President's Message

Key inflation data is scheduled for publication this week and Q2 earnings reports will emerge too. In an interview and video released this week, Societe Generale economist Kokou Agbo-Bloua lays out the case for why he believes the U.S. economy will enter into a recession in the first quarter of 2024. Read more >