PRAC delivers interim report

Issue 6.32

August 7, 2020

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS AUGUST 14!

Message from the President

For years, the State Chamber has made workforce development a priority. We heard back in October of 2018 at our Developing Delaware Conference this was a significant issue. Since then we have elevated this topic to the top of our list.

While the pandemic has changed things, we are heartened to see the Governor today sign Executive Order #43, which establishes a Rapid Workforce Training and Redeployment Initiative for Delaware workers displaced during the COVID-19 crisis. We believe that investing in Delawareans by providing them with skills that meet in-demand job vacancies will help businesses and our neighbors succeed. Many of these positions have good, entry-level wages along with benefits and growth potential that their previous employment could not offer. Read more >

Pandemic Resurgence Advisory Committee Delivers Interim Report

On July 31, the Pandemic Resurgence Advisory Committee (PRAC) delivered its interim report to Governor Carney. The report outlines all recommendations from the three subcommittees: Health, Business and Equity.

In the Business Subcommittee, we focused on five goals:

Build resilience
Protect employment
Capitalize on trends
Create accountability and consistency
Communicate proactively

More on PRAC

Interim Report

Detailed Subcommittee Recommendations

TRAINING TOMORROW'S CHEFS

As Delaware and the nation continue to reboot their economy in a COVID-19 world, never has it been more important to focus on meaningful, relevant job training. And if any state is positioned well to make the necessary pivots, it’s Delaware.

Thanks to some forward-thinking state leaders from across the public and private sectors, the First State is seen as a first-class example of nimble, on-the-ground youth job training. Delaware Pathways, the official partnership launched by former Governor Jack Markell in 2016, is seen as one of public education’s biggest success stories of the last decade. Read more >

COVID-19's Impact on Child Care

Child care is a two-generation workforce issue, essential to support the workforce of today and vital to develop our workforce of tomorrow. To better understand the impact of COVID-19 on childcare, the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation surveyed both working parents and employers to learn their challenges on the ability to return to work. The Delaware State Chamber was a partner in the employer survey process.

By understanding the diverse perspectives of those impacted, we can begin to identify solutions to recover together. Read more >

Employers, Childcare, & Returning to Work in COVID-19

Families now face immense pressure to re-evaluate how to meet their childcare needs. Faced with this burden, families are having to make tough decisions regarding their employment situation. As a result, businesses will surely encounter difficulties with their return to work plans, including recruiting and retaining employees. Download the employer survey results >

Working Parents, Childcare, and COVID-19

Childcare is important for children, and it is essential for working parents. Parents rely on childcare to help them enter, re-enter, or remain in the workforce, but access to affordable, quality childcare is hard to come by. Now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, families are experiencing additional challenges in finding childcare that meets their needs. Download the parent survey results >

CREATING A PATH FORWARD WITH BETTER MONEY HABITS

The impacts of the coronavirus have had a significant effect throughout the state of Delaware and in nearly all of our lives. Financially, some people have lost jobs or experienced a sudden reduction in income. To provide meaningful guidance for what’s next, Bank of America’s free financial education platform, Better Money Habits, has pulled together a collection of tips and resources to help people navigate challenges they are facing and establish a plan to put themselves on the best path forward. Read more >