Delaware Business Roundtable Launches Delaware Investment Agenda

This past Tuesday, the Delaware Business Roundtable issued a challenge to fellow Delaware business, nonprofit and political leadership to confront what is holding the state back and invest in what propels the economy and workforce forward.

Roundtable leaders stressed that the decisions Delaware political leaders make in the next few months will be pivotal in determining the state’s future economic health. To help inform their work, the Roundtable released the “Delaware Investment Agenda” report, which represents a comprehensive, fact-based framework for Delaware’s political leaders to set a bold course toward prosperity and growth. Read the full report >

The ambitious set of recommendations focused on 3 key areas for Delaware:

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Create a statewide science and technology strategy to guide Delaware’s efforts to foster and promote its innovation and entrepreneurship infrastructure.
Redefine and retool the Division of Small Business to increase its outreach and impact on the state’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Develop more robust storytelling about successes and assets to attract new talent and investment and foster an entrepreneurial culture.
Create new incentives to attract new investment and entrepreneurs to Delaware.
Expand technology transfer and commercialization opportunities at Delaware universities

TALENT AND WORKFORCE

Support equitable investment in early childhood education to increase access and improve outcomes for children in the state.
Restructure the state workforce development system to reduce redundancy, enhance funding, and improve alignment with the business community’s needs.
Support the development of workforce housing in Delaware to improve availability and affordability across housing types.
Establish innovative training programs and nontraditional training delivery methods to help Delawareans find employment opportunities in high growth, high-demand, and/or emerging industries.
Build industry-led sector partnerships supported by education, workforce providers, and economic development organizations to strengthen Delaware’s talent pipeline.
Establish a workforce task force to streamline communication with new and existing businesses and identify opportunities to meet workforce needs.
Make Delaware more competitive for talent attraction by increasing job resources and information for potential new residents.
Advocate for increased support for returning citizens to ensure they can access work opportunities.

LONG-TERM COMPETITIVENESS

Establish a nonpartisan independent Delaware Futures Council to inform and advise Delaware’s leaders on the fundamental challenges impacting the long-term economic competitiveness in the state.
Identify and prepare large scale commercial and industrial sites for future development.
Support the passage of state legislation to require state agencies and counties to expedite the review of certain types of development projects, consistent with local land use planning and informed by public input.
Support local communities in developing authentic and brandable places that attract and retain young adults and leverage the synergies to live, learn, work, and play.
Request that the State of Delaware commission a report that examines how successful the state is pursuing and securing all available federal funding opportunities.

IT'S ALL ABOUT BUSINESS CANDIDATE FORUM

SITTING DOWN WITH DELAWARE'S MAJOR

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES

In It’s All About Business, a first-of-its-kind program hosted by The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and DETV, Sarah McBride and Eugene Young, two of Delaware's leading U.S. Congressional candidates, step into the spotlight to address crucial business-related questions on-air.

Join Delaware State Chamber of Commerce President Mike Quaranta as he moderates these candid conversations, providing voters with a unique opportunity to hear the candidates' perspectives on key issues that will shape the future of Delaware. Watch the full program >

THIS WEEK IN DOVER

Today wraps up a busy week for the General Assembly! Several bills were acted on or introduced that will impact the business community. Below is a summary of those bills.

Bills introduced:

HB350 (Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board)
SB237 (County Comprehensive Plans)
HS1 for HB149 (Personal Income Taxes)

Bills acted upon:

SB233 (Service Worker Protection Act)
HB327 (Sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination)
HB333 (Artificial Intelligence Commission)

Delaware Business Roundtable Launches Delaware Investment Agenda

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