Tackling the Permitting Process

Issue 9.14

April 7, 2023

THIS WEEK IN DOVER

DELAWARE AIMS TO IMPROVE

PERMITTING PROCESS

Today wraps up the final week before the General Assembly goes on break for two weeks, returning on April 25th. Two bills of importance, House Bills 102 and 104, passed the House and now move to the Senate for debate. The bills are part of a larger package of four bills, sponsored by Representative Bush, which are aimed at improving and quickening the permitting process for economic development projects in Delaware. Read more >

EPISODE 8 | INTO THE WEEDS

FEATURING JOHN GOODEN & PETER MURPHY

The push to legalize recreational marijuana in Delaware has been going on for almost a decade, and despite a previous veto by Governor Carney, the General Assembly has passed it again. What would the impact of legal recreational marijuana be for Delawareans? At the table for the latest episode of Conversations with Kelly, we have Peter S. Murphy from Saul Ewing and John Gooden, president of M. Davis & Sons. This episode was filmed prior to the passing of HB 1 and 2.

Listen on your favorite streaming platform >

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One Policy, Two Viewpoints

DELAWARE PILOTS AN "OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL" AGENDA IN CONSTRUCTION

By Cerron Cade

In 2022, the Delaware Office of Management & Budget (OMB) released a disparity study with sobering results. The 300-page study confirmed what many have known anecdotally for decades; Delaware does an abysmal job of hiring minority-owned contractors to perform public works projects. ... After decades of inaction in Delaware, while surrounding states and the federal government have implemented minority business goals, Governor Carney decided to act. OMB was tasked with developing a two-part pilot with the purpose of building a system to support broad implementation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals and to increase minority and local workforce participation on state construction projects. Read more >

IS THIS WORKING FOR

THE COMMUNITY?

By Ayanna Khan

In January, Senate Bill 35 was signed by Governor Carney into law. The law establishes a pilot program under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), which mandates Community Workforce Agreements (CWAs) on state-funded construction projects. ... A major challenge with this law is that CWA’s limit black- and minority-owned contractors’ ability to participate and compete for state-funded construction projects. All projects should be inclusive of DBE requirements, not just select projects. A unified approach—incorporating all enterprises (DBE and otherwise)—ensures that a level playing field exists for all Delaware businesses and their employees. Read more >

PUT YOUR ADVOCACY SKILLS TO WORK

SMALL BUSINESS DAY IN DOVER | THURSDAY, MAY 4

Learn why Delaware's small business community's presence in Dover is crucial and how you as a small business leader can get more involved.

Learn about the most important issues this legislative session
Hold educated conversations with Delaware's decision makers
Attend the House Small Business Caucus meeting
Put your advocacy skills to work and meet with your organization’s legislators

President's Message

Workforce shortages will be a discussion topic for a long time if we don’t adjust federal and state policies to immediately address employer needs. The federal government could open the immigration door to a few million skilled workers from around the world to fill jobs in health care, the building trades, and hospitality sectors, to name but a few. Washington policymakers could also consider the income limitations associated with Social Security distributions. Read more >