Delaware Adds Its Voice to Discussion on US-Israeli Business Innovation

Governor Jack Markell rang The Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) this morning as part of an event recognizing US-Israeli partnership in business innovation. Thousands of Israeli-based businesses – not to mention 55% of the companies listed on the NYSE – are incorporated in Delaware, and there are ever-increasing trade opportunities between Israeli and Delaware companies.

“There are many ways in which Israeli and Delaware businesses can collaborate and build partnerships now and in the future,” said Governor Markell. “Over many decades, Israel has led the world in finding ways to successfully commercialize research.   For over a century, Delaware industries have also been at the forefront of commercializing research and, in the past 15 years, our State and universities have focused increasingly on finding ways to commercialize academic research. We have had success in many areas, becoming a national leader in bio-technology, alternative energy, composites, and electrical engineering.”

“Israeli and Delaware businesses share the a great potential for partnership,” said Governor Markell. “Israel has led the world in finding ways to successfully commercialize research. Delaware businesses and our universities have focused increasingly on finding ways to commercialize academic research. We are becoming a strong national leader in bio-technology, alternative energy, composites, and electrical engineering. Delaware welcomes innovation and we want more innovative businesses to call Delaware home.”

The annual Israel Day at the New York Stock Exchange event was a prime opportunity for Governor Markell and others to talk about Delaware as a center for business startups, research and development, as well as finance. Sponsored by NYSE Euronext and the America-Israel Friendship League, the event brings together dozens of CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors and legal professionals to attend a day of presentations and roundtable sessions on cooperative trade and development efforts between Israel and the United States.

This year, in addition to Governor Markell, attendees heard from people such as the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, the CEO of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, and CEOs from Israeli companies looking to grow their business in the United States.

Delaware plays an important role in enabling the types of innovative, cross-border business partnerships that were the subject of the event. With its modern and flexible laws, highly respected courts, and friendly business environment, Delaware is a leading jurisdiction for intellectual property matters and personal wealth management products and services. The State’s legal system has been consistently named the Best Legal System in the nation by the US Chamber of Commerce.

Karl Steiner, the University of Delaware’s Associate Provost for Research and Development, participated on a panel discussing ways academic groups are working with businesses and governments to boost trade and research partnerships between the U.S. and Israel.

The University of Delaware and Delaware’s business community have been partnering for over a decade to develop world-class research, incubation and commercialization facilities which have included the Delaware Technology Park, the Delaware Bio-Technology Institute and the Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Bio-Technology.

Governor Markell noted that the small country of Israel has given birth to companies at the cutting edge of so many fields, but added: “Though my state is also small, we have the highest per capita concentration of patent holders and Ph.D. researchers in the United States.”

In addition to Governor Markell, other Delawareans participating in today’s event included Delaware Secretary of State Jeffrey W. Bullock; Delaware Business Roundtable Chair Ernie Dianastasis; ILC-Dover CEO William Wallach, and past President of the Delaware State Bar Association Benjamin Strauss.

WILMINGTON – Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden and Attorneys General in 34 other states recently asked  the Federal Trade Commission to impose stringent marketing guidelines on super-sized alcohol drinks.  The Attorneys General, along with the San Francisco City Attorney, want the FTC to take action as part of a proposed settlement with Phusion Projects LLC, the maker of the flavored malt beverage “Four Loko,” which is 12% alcohol by volume and is packaged in 23.5-ounce cans.
 
Because the drink is so high in alcohol compared to a single beer, and comes in a container much larger than a typical beer can or bottle, the FTC believes Phusion’s marketing of these super-sized drinks as single servings – i.e., as if they can be safely consumed on a single occasion – is misleading because one container contains the alcohol equivalent of almost five beers.  Drinking one can of Four Loko is often referred to as a “binge-in-a-can” because it equals a dangerous “binge drinking” episode.
 
“This product has proven to be dangerous to consumers, and deceptive marketing has hidden its true impact on those who drink it,” Biden said. “The FTC is taking a step in the right direction but should go even further to protect the public.”
 
The FTC has charged Phusion with violating federal law by making false or misleading representations that a 23.5 ounce can of Four Loko can be safely consumed on a single occasion and by failing to disclose the number of alcohol servings in one can.  To resolve these charges, the proposed settlement requires, for containers with more than two and a half servings of alcohol, that Phusion disclose on the label the equivalent number of regular beers and make the containers resealable so the drinks do not have to be consumed all at once.
 
Biden and his colleagues praised the FTC for acting but believe the commission should do even more to address the safety risks posed by the drinks and to ensure consumers are not deceived by the labeling on Four Loko bottles.
 
Among the additional steps Biden urged the FTC to take include:
 
– Limiting the number of alcohol servings per can to two standard drinks because the label disclosure and resealability to do not eliminate binge-drinking risks. The proposed FTC settlement does not limit the servings per can.

– If the FTC does not limit the number of servings per can, it should impose the disclosure and resealability requirements to cans with at least 2 servings of alcohol, instead of the proposed 2.5.

– Enlisting public health experts to study the impact of its new requirements, particularly on young persons, since the settlement would make Four Loko the first and only alcoholic beverage to display the number of servings.

– Better defining what constitutes a resealable can and strengthening proposed prohibitions on Four Loko running ads that show the drink being consumed directly from the can;
 
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“Small Business Saturday” is Nov. 26

See photos of the visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/delawaregovernor/

Wilmington – In an effort to encourage holiday shoppers to shop locally, Governor Jack Markell has declared the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, 2011, as “Small Business Saturday” in Delaware. “Small Business Saturday” is a national movement to drive shoppers to patronize small, independently-owned local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and invigorate neighborhoods across the country.

Governor Markell started the promotion early by stopping at several small businesses in Wilmington today. He was joined by Alan Levin, director of the Delaware Economic Development Office. They visited Babe Styling Studio, Homme: A Gentlemen’s Barber, Bain’s Deli, and Dimensions & Co. by Ace, all newly opened this year in the city’s revitalized LOMA District (short for “Lower Market”) .

“It’s great to see small business owners excited about their start-ups. We want them to be successful and they will be if shoppers patronize them,” said the Governor. “This shopping season, we hope shoppers remember small businesses. These businesses play a vital role in our economy and help define our communities. ”

Babe Styling Studio and Homme: A Gentleman’s Barber, at 213 N. Market and 223 N. Market Street respectively are co-owned by Wilmington residents Ebon and Yvonne Flagg. Babe Styling Studio offers a range of organic, multicultural hair services. Homme: A Gentleman’s Barber specializes in haircuts, straight-razor shaves, beard trimming and design, and clipper cuts—all in environment that is designed exclusively for men. Babe Styling Studios came into existence when Ebon Flagg branched off from his family’s salon to start his own business in 2009. Originally, the salon was located at 213 N. Market street and Ebon acquired larger space for the salon at 223 N. Market and created a barbershop out of the old space specializing in high quality men’s haircuts, calling it a “gentleman’s barber” with the intention of attracting professionals and father-and-son haircuts.

“So far, the business is exceeding our expectations and look forward to it continuing to grow,” said Yvonne Flagg. ”We’re thrilled about the trendy LOMA area and the diversity of people it’s attracting to Wilmington.”

Bain’s Deli at 225 N. Market Street is a family-owned regional New York-style deli that delivers a healthier and higher-quality alternative to typical fast food, including a selection of fresh deli meats, breads, sides and breakfast sandwiches. Bain’s Deli is operated by General Manager Ken Friedman, who grew up in North Wilmington and spent many weekends dining with his parents at the Jewish Deli’s around town—namely Jack Lundy’s with its Satellite Room and Gamiel’s for delicious corned beef or pastrami sandwiches always served with a Kosher pickle. After returning to this area, Ken believed that a site in the Exciting LOMA District would attract a strong breakfast and lunch crowd.

“This is the perfect location for this kind of business, ” said Ken Friedman, General Manager. “The energy in the neighborhood is fantastic.”

Dimensions & Co. by Ace, at 221 N. Market Street, offers a range of men’s outerwear and accessories and select footwear. “Dimensions offers shoppers the contemporary style and sophistication of a Madison Avenue-style boutique, but at much more reasonable prices,” said Danny ” Ace” Valentine, Founder and CEO. “Legislators like Governor Markell and our own Mayor, James M. Baker, understand that small businesses are critical to our economy and they’re committed to making Delaware the best place to start and grow a business,” he said. “Not only was I honored to meet with the Governor today to discuss the path forward for niche’ businesses like Dimensions & Co. by Ace, I gained a deeper understanding of the necessity for Wilmington’s business community and the State of Delaware to be in lockstep to drive the economy, along with small businesses, toward longevity and success.”

Delaware joins many other states and cities across the country in supporting the campaign, which is an initiative of American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Small businesses are critical to the nation’s overall economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there were nearly 28 million small businesses in the United States last year. Over the past two decades, they created 65 percent of net new jobs. They serve a greater impact to local communities. Small businesses represent 92.9 percent of all businesses in the state. There are 18,922 small business employers in Delaware. “Small Business Saturday” is about supporting independently-owned local businesses that create jobs.

“We’re proud of our local small businesses that contribute so much to our state’s economy and sense of community,” said DEDO Director, Alan Levin. “That’s why we continue to make investments in small businesses.”

In July, DEDO announced a new program for small businesses to access capital, thanks to $13.1 million from the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The approved plan dedicates $1 million to the Delaware Access Program, a private-public match program that provides access to bank financing for qualifying Delaware businesses. The plan also dedicates $12.1 million to the Delaware Strategic Fund to create a new participation program between DEDO, banks and their small business clients. Delaware expects to leverage at least $10 in new private lending for every $1 of federal funding, generating more than $131 million in private investments in the state’s small businesses.

Social media will play a central role in helping to raise awareness of the importance of supporting small business and recognizing “Small Business Saturday.” American Express launched campaigns on Facebook and Twitter to drive consumers and business owners to the pages where they can participate in many ways. More information can be found at http://smallbusinesssaturday.com.

(DOVER, DE) In his Thanksgiving Week message, Governor Jack Markell sends a message of thanks to Delawareans, who make this state a great place to grow up, raise a family, go to work and retire.

“I want to use this message, this week, to say thanks. To thank you, your friends and your neighbors. For giving me and others the incredible honor of having the chance to serve you. For giving us the chance to commit ourselves each day to the goal of making some of these tough times a little easier, to fight to bring more jobs and opportunity here, to work to make our state’s schools even stronger,” said the Governor. “Thank you, for everything you do, to make this such an incredible place to call home – To make Delaware such a great place grow up, a great place to raise a family, a great place to work and, as more and more of the country is noticing, a great place to retire.”

One of the characteristics that define our state is how quickly people pull together, to fight together to overcome obstacles. The Governor put those characteristics in a historical context: “From the very moment we became The First State, Delawareans have pulled together and made clear along the way that we don’t settle, and we don’t stop. We look forward, and we push forward and we fight, for our families, and friends and neighbors in this, our great state of neighbors,” he said.

During his Thanksgiving, the Governor will join others in serving a Thanksgiving Day meal to those in need at Emmanuel Dining Room in Wilmington.

“Please accept this thank you, from me, from our Lt. Governor Matt Denn, the members of our Cabinet and others, for the chance to work with you and for you, to keep Delaware, moving forward,” Markell said.

About the Governor’s Weekly Message:

At noon every Friday, a new video message is posted to the Governor’s website and YouTube channel and is distributed to Delaware media outlets. Transcripts of the messages are posted and the audio version of the Governor’s message is available on iTunes as a podcast for distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. The Governor’s weekly message is currently being carried on the air and posted on websites by various media outlets, and the direct link is: http://youtu.be/DGPVdVhPniI.

Constituents, media outlets and others are free to link to the Governor’s video message on YouTube –http://www.youtube.com/user/GovernorMarkell – or on his Facebook page –www.facebook.com/governormarkell – or on the Delaware State website athttp://governor.delaware.gov/information/podcast_video.shtml. All are also invited to follow him on Twitter – www.twitter.com/governormarkell – and submit ideas through http://ideas.delaware.gov.

Transcript of the Governor’s weekly message: Giving Thanks