Live Work Play

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

March 27, 2023

Recently, the City of Dover, along with several partners, announced a multi-million dollar plan to revitalize Loockerman Street and its downtown area. This is very exciting news for Delaware and, of course, Dover and Kent County!

The proposed plan integrates historic Dover with modern design and aims to create a multi-modal hub and pedestrian-friendly downtown to support the city's long-term growth. While the downtown area will also be home to professional services, hospitality businesses and more, the intentional building of a mixed use, walkable community is growing in appeal—"live-work-play communities". You see this concept being implemented in the Avenue North Complex development in Wilmington as well.

For too long, planners isolated housing or commercial development from retail and everyday conveniences. If you have been to an office park or industrial park, you know exactly what I mean. All of us complain about traffic, yet for many employees that work in areas like these, simple things like running a quick errand or grabbing lunch require a commute in a car.

So, congratulations Dover—and municipalities like you who plan holistically through prioritizing people. Live-work-play communities are on the rise, and municipalities that embrace this concept will reap the benefits.

News You Can Use

This week’s economic news gets started on Tuesday with February wholesale and retail inventories, the FHFA January home price index, and U.S. consumer confidence results from March. Wednesday brings us important testimony before Congress from Fed Governor Michael Barr (Vice Chairman for Supervision), and U.S. home sales from February. Thursday is about jobs data, while we wrap up the week on Friday with February personal income and spending results, and several speeches from several Federal Reserve Bank Governors.

BioNTech and Carnival open the week today with earnings calls, followed on Tuesday by chipmaker Micron Technology, Walgreens Boots Alliance, and McCormick. Cintas, H.B. Fuller, and Sportsman’s Warehouse lead things off on Wednesday, while BlackBerry and Neogen are scheduled for Thursday.

Michael J. Quaranta

President

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

Uniquely Delaware

Insider Insights - What Business Should Come to Delaware?

Delaware already has a rich business community, featuring a wide variety of industries—for profit and nonprofit alike. But what's missing? We asked our members what business or industry they think should be represented or see more of in Delaware. Hear their responses >

What business or industry do YOU want to see in Delaware?

Bernardon provides design-focused architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture services. Bernardon is engaged in the downtown Dover revitalization plan.

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