DOVER (January 3, 2020): As part of a systems-wide upgrade to State of Delaware banking processes, the Office of State Treasurer Colleen C. Davis and the Department of Labor have announced improvements to unemployment benefit payment distribution. By the end of this month, the state will move unemployment debit cards to the U.S. Bank ReliaCard®, which offers additional cardholder benefits. Individuals currently utilizing direct deposit will not be impacted by the update.

Recipients will soon receive a letter from U.S. Bank in the mail. The letter will contain important information about the new debit card program and will remind individuals that they can enroll in direct deposit to increase ease-of-use.

For those not enrolling in direct deposit by January 31, 2020, a new card will be distributed by mail. It must be activated by the designated recipient prior to use. The ReliaCard can be used for purchases, bill payment, and cash withdrawal from anywhere that Mastercard is accepted. The new card is blue with a U.S. Bank ReliaCard logo, and it will be delivered to recipients in a plain, white envelope.

Recipients should work to ensure that the Department of Labor has a correct and current mailing address by reviewing their contact information in the Department of Labor Claimant Portal.

Those currently receiving unemployment benefits on a debit card will continue to do so, even after their new card is received, until the card has a zero balance. The ReliaCard will have funds added to them on February 10, 2020 and can be used after that date.

Upon receiving the new ReliaCard, claimants will need to follow the instructions in the letter to activate their cards and contact ReliaCard customer service at 866-567-8590 or visit the website at www.usbankreliacard.com. Remaining balances on the Key Bank Key2Benefits debit card WILL NOT transfer to the ReliaCard, so claimants should keep the Key Bank card and continue to use it until the balance reaches zero. Visit the Key Bank website for more information.

About U.S. Bank 

U.S. Bancorp, with 74,000 employees and $488 billion in assets as of September 30, 2019, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States. The Minneapolis-based bank blends its relationship teams, branches and ATM network with mobile and online tools that allow customers to bank how, when and where they prefer. U.S. Bank is committed to serving its millions of retail, business, wealth management, payment, commercial and corporate, and investment services customers across the country and around the world as a trusted financial partner, a commitment recognized by the Ethisphere Institute naming the bank a 2019 World’s Most Ethical Company. Visit U.S. Bank at www.usbank.com or follow on social media to stay up to date with company news.

WILMINGTON, DE – The Delaware Department of Labor will be celebrating the Fifth Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) with three open house events, one in each county throughout the state from 6 – 7 pm to showcase the value of apprenticeship in the community.

Secretary Cerron Cade from The Delaware Department of Labor will be attending Adult Education Apprenticeship Open House for legislators, employers, school leadership officials to engage with apprentices, educators, and one another to learn more about Delaware’s commitment to apprenticeships in various trades.

“Apprenticeship programs can provide paths into the middle class for Delaware workers and their families,” said Governor John Carney. “Delaware businesses that participate in apprenticeship programs help develop a strong local workforce and strengthen our economy. Thank you to the Delaware Department of Labor for highlighting the importance of apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship Week, and to all of the trades and businesses that offer these important training programs.”

 Learn how these “earn-while-you-learn” training programs make a difference in each county. There will be a mix of tours and recognition of achievement, and what is needed to expand apprenticeship in Delaware. Light refreshments will be served at each location.

EVENT DATES, LOCATIONS, AND TIMES

Tuesday, Nov 12th – New Castle County
Delcastle Technical High School
6:00 P.M.- 7:00 P.M.
1417 Newport Rd
Wilmington, DE 19804 

Wednesday, Nov. 13th – Sussex County
Sussex Technical High School
6:00 P.M.- 7:00 P.M.
17099 County Seat Hwy
Georgetown, DE 19947

Thursday, November 14th – Kent County
POLYTECH High School
6:00 P.M.- 7:00 P.M.
823 Walnut Shade Road
Woodside, DE 19980

 “The benefits of registered apprenticeship are substantial for Delaware job seekers and job creators.
This “earn and learn” model enables employers to fill open jobs, improve productivity and profitability, and reduce turnover while providing the Delaware workforce with pathways to start new careers and acquire the skills necessary for good jobs,” said Secretary of Labor, Cerron Cade.  

Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Employment & Training, Office of Apprenticeship

Visit de.gov/apprenticeship or contact apprenticeship@delaware.gov and 302-761-8328 to learn more about the Delaware Apprenticeship Programs.

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a nationwide celebration that offers leaders in business, labor, education, and other critical partners a chance to express their support apprenticeships. NAW also allows apprenticeship partners to showcase their programs, facilities, and apprentices in their community. The events highlight the benefits of preparing a highly-skilled workforce to meet the talent needs of job creators across diverse industries. For more information, visit http://apprenticeship.gov/NAW.

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NEW CASTLE (Oct. 14, 2019) – Nearly two dozen students with disabilities, including clients of the Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities Services and the Division for the Visually Impaired, will participate in career-building experiences during the University of Delaware’s Disability Mentoring Day on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at various locations in New Castle County.

The day will begin at the Courtyard Marriott-University of Delaware in Newark as 15 students from UD’s Career & Life Studies Certificate (CLSC) program and six from the Spectrum Scholars program will gather for a welcome breakfast and morning speaker. The students will hear from Anthony Pacilio, Vice President at JPMorgan Chase and Program Manager for JPMorgan’s Autism at Work program. JPMorgan Chase launched Autism at Work in July 2015 as a four-person pilot program to employ people on the autism spectrum. Since then, it’s grown to more than 150 employees in eight countries.

In September 2018, JPMorgan Chase partnered with UD and provided a 10-year grant to start the Spectrum Scholars program, which is administered by UD’s Center for Disabilities Studies. This is the first year the Spectrum Scholars students are participating in Disability Mentoring Day.

“The opportunity that Disability Mentoring Day provides these students to experience possible career paths and explore beyond a classroom is incredibly valuable,” said Governor John Carney. “As the students consider what is next for them, it’s important they have the chance to discover for themselves what their calling is, and just as importantly, what it isn’t, as they look to their future.”

Following the morning session, participants will take part in job shadowing experiences with employers in New Castle County before returning to the hotel for lunch and reflections on their experiences.

“Disability Mentoring Day gives our students a great opportunity to work with employers to learn the day-to-day responsibilities of particular positions and what education and experiences will help them prepare for a career in their chosen fields,” said James Sellers, Program Manager, Career and Life Studies Certificate program at the UD Center for Disabilities Studies.

Work sites that will provide job shadowing for the CLSC students are VCA Newark Animal Hospital, Early Learning Center at UD, Winterthur Museum and Library, Delaware Museum of Natural History, The College School, Short Order Productions Teakettica Graphic Design, Passport Health, Embassy Suites, You’ve Been Framed and DelDOT Canal District Terminal. The Spectrum Scholars students will be shadowing at UD Prosthetics Laboratory, Predictive Analytics Group and JPMorgan Chase.

“The benefits to the students, the businesses and mentors taking part in Disability Mentoring Day are countless,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Cabinet Secretary for Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services. “Not only do the students get a feel for the employment options available to them when they are ready, the employers get a chance to see the potential benefits of having a diverse workforce.”

Disability Mentoring Day is a national program usually held in October during National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies started the first Disability Mentoring Day in Delaware 10 years ago. Today, a collaboration of agencies have joined the center, including the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), the Department of Labor’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Department of Education, the New Castle County Transition Committee, DisabilityIN: Delaware and Easterseals of Delaware & Maryland Eastern Shore, in planning events.

The group is co-chaired by two young people with disabilities – Alyssa Cowin, an operations support specialist with DHSS, and Julia Hensley, who is working through Easterseals at Victory Fellowship Church.

In a change from recent years, the Disability Mentoring Day event for a group of Delaware high schools will be held in November instead of October to allow more time after the start of the school year for planning the event. Several New Castle County school districts will host their third annual Career Development Day on Nov. 20 at the Siegel Jewish Community Center in Talleyville.

About 70 students from Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Christina, Colonial, Red Clay and New Castle County Vo-Tech school districts, as well as the Delaware School for the Deaf and Independent Resources, Inc., usually participate in the Career Development Day. Past sessions have included how to be a self-advocate under the Americans with Disabilities Act, work readiness, Q&A sessions with people from various careers and social media matters.

Online portal to streamline business licensing, registration, employer requirements

NEWARK, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday officially launched a new online tool to help streamline documentation and reporting requirements for new businesses. The new Delaware One Stop, available at onestop.delaware.gov, allows businesses to interact with core state agencies whether they are starting out or ready to grow.

Delaware One Stop is a convenient, centralized transactional platform created to help business owners work through the necessary steps to begin operation in Delaware. Using one website, businesses can apply and pay for a Delaware business license, make required filings with the Department of Labor, and create formation documents for a legal entity with the Division of Corporations.

“One of the things we hear all the time from small businesses is how hard it can be to figure out what you need from the state in order to open your doors. We know that entrepreneurs just want to take care of those things quickly and get to work, but state government doesn’t always make it easy,” said Governor John Carney. “Today we’re taking a big step in that direction and bringing many of those functions together on a single portal – Delaware One Stop.”

One Stop is the product of a collaborative effort among multiple state agencies and real-world entrepreneurs that allows users to access many services via a single login. This offers a clear road map to ensure continuous engagement between businesses and various state agencies.

“We want to make it easier for businesses to succeed in Delaware,” said Secretary of Finance Rick Geisenberger. “With the new Delaware One Stop portal, we’re partnering among multiple state agencies to leverage technology that makes registering a business seamless, faster, and more efficient.”

The core functions of the new site include business license registration via the Division of Revenue, hiring reporting through the Division of Unemployment Insurance, and coverage verification with the Office of Workers’ Compensation. 

“We’re excited about the launching of Delaware’s new One Stop portal,” said Secretary of Labor Cerron Cade. “Leveraging technology to create better efficiencies in business creation and compliance only continues to reinforce Delaware’s position as a premier destination for businesses, entrepreneurs, and their workers.”

New to One Stop is a step-by-step guide to creating business entity formation documents for submission to the Division of Corporations, helping users on the path to organizing a Delaware corporation, partnership, or LLC.

“Delaware’s world-leading corporate franchise isn’t just for the Fortune 500; our home-grown small businesses have the same access to the services of the Division of Corporations when it comes to forming their own legal entities,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “One Stop will absolutely change the way Delaware entrepreneurs think about dealing with state government.”

The new site is a significant rebuild of the original One Stop portal, launched in 2005. Designed and built by vendor Breakline Digital in cooperation with the Delaware Government Information Center (GIC) and the Department of Technology and Information (DTI), the modern design prioritizes user experience and revolves around an account dashboard that tracks and saves progress. The new One Stop is hosted in cloud-based architecture built on the trusted Salesforce platform.

“The Delaware Business One Stop portal is the initial iteration of our new unified citizen engagement platform,” said Delaware Chief Information Officer James Collins. “We’re striving for all citizens and businesses to have access — anywhere, anytime and from any device — to an array of secure digital government services through a single point of entry. We couldn’t be more proud of this initiative to ease the process of doing business in Delaware.”

One Stop also features an integrated survey that takes the pulse of users who seem stuck on one screen for an extended period of time, allowing for real-time feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Before launch, members of the business community tested One Stop for its real-world usability.

“The new streamlined process brings an efficient solution to form a new business in Delaware. The State Chamber applauds the Governor’s initiative to make the new One Stop website a reality,” said Mike Quaranta, president of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, which assisted with reviewing and testing the One Stop site prior to launch.

Delaware One Stop Tips

• The Division of Revenue Business License is $75 per year and is pro-rated (renew by the end of December for the next calendar year).
• You can print a temporary business license from the One Stop; you will receive your official copy in the mail in about a month if all looks good.
• After you register your business, you will need to pay gross receipts tax.
• Businesses that hire employees need to register with Department of Labor – with both the Division of Unemployment Insurance and the Division of Worker’s Compensation. You can do this from One Stop under “Report Hiring” as soon as you know you’ll have employees.
• Other licenses, such as professional licenses, environmental permits, and local/county licenses, are not yet included in the One Stop system. You need to apply for these separately.

Free, family-oriented career fair to expose middle school students, adults to careers in construction industry

WILMINGTON, Del. — Governor John Carney on Friday announced the second annual Governor’s Construction Career Expo – a family-friendly career fair for adults and youth to explore a career in construction – will take place on Monday, September 23. The Expo will introduce training and career paths to roughly 2,000 middle school students in the morning and feature a career fair for students, families, and community members from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

“We’re working hard to make sure that all Delawareans have the opportunity to succeed and share in our state’s economic progress,” said Governor Carney. “This year’s Construction Career Expo will help connect Delawareans with meaningful career opportunities in construction fields, which have historically provided paths into the middle class for thousands of Delaware workers and their families. It’s also a chance to expose Delaware students and adults to good-paying, skilled construction careers that are in demand and can help strengthen Delaware’s workforce.”

The construction industry has added almost 2,000 jobs in the past two years, and further growth for the industry is projected. The career fair is open to the public and will provide hands-on learning opportunities and interactive experiences. This initiative will connect employers and career-seekers, and continue to train and develop a strong, skilled Delaware workforce.
 
 
 
“Increasing awareness and access to career training and apprenticeship opportunities in the in-demand industries of our state will be key to meeting Delaware’s workforce needs,” said Cerron Cade, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Labor. “Specifically, careers in the construction industry provide excellent wages and benefits to its workers. Those are two of the most important ingredients to creating strong families, strong communities, and a robust economy.”

The Governor’s Construction Career Expo is presented in partnership with:

• Office of the Governor
• AFSCME
• Delaware State AFL-CIO
• Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council
• Delaware Chief School Officers Association
• Delaware Contractors Association
• Delaware Department of Education
• Delaware Department of Health and Social Services
• Delaware Department of Labor
• Delaware Department of Transportation
• Associated Builders and Contractors
• The Committee of 100
• City of Wilmington
• Delaware Technical Community College

“A career in construction provides paid training, room for advancement, a good paycheck, and solid benefits. Regardless of age or experience, we are always seeking hardworking men and women who are looking for a career opportunity,” said Alisha Wayman Bryson, Vice President of Wayman Fire Protection. “We look forward to welcoming students and Delawareans at this year’s Expo, where they will get a firsthand look at all the construction industry has to offer them and their families.”

“Governor Carney’s Construction Career Expo is an opportunity for our Unions to showcase the contributions made every day by the working men and women of our state, and how big of a role they play in Delaware’s economy,” said James Maravelias, President of the Delaware State AFL-CIO. “We are pleased to be partnering with the Governor again on this event, which will also introduce young Delawareans to careers in construction. We look forward to working together to promote good-paying careers in the Building Trades Unions.”

“This career event exposes our students to people, programs, and equipment that they otherwise wouldn’t see and experience either at home or in school,” said Dr. Mark Holodick, Superintendent of Brandywine School District. “They also get to interact with folks who actually do the work, gaining a better understanding of the skills they are going to need when they enter the workforce. It helps make the connection between what’s happening in the classroom and what they are aspiring to do as adults.”

Learn more and sign up to receive updates about the Governor’s Construction Career Expo.

Use the hashtag #DEBuilds to spread the word and follow discussion about the Governor’s Construction Career Expo on social media.

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Watch and share a video about the event.

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