Governor Carney, Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy Announce Call for Women’s Hall of Fame Nominations

Deadline for consideration for the 2018 induction cycle is May 15, 2018

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney, Delaware’s Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy, a division of the Delaware Department of Human Resources, and the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee are now accepting nominations for induction into the 38th Hall of Fame of Delaware Women. An awards reception to honor the 2018 inductees will take place on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at Dover Downs.

“Delaware women contribute significantly to our communities, our workforce, and our culture across the state,” said Governor Carney. “We look forward to receiving a diverse group of nominees who have made lasting impacts, and recognizing their achievements through this annual honor.”

“Delaware women do not neatly fit into one box; we represent all ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds, and I am excited to seek a pool of nominees that reflects the unique and vast diversity of women in the First State,” said Melanie Ross Levin, Director of the Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy.

The Hall of Fame of Delaware Women was first established in 1981 to celebrate the contributions and achievements of Delaware women. More than 100 women have been inducted into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women.

“While the current members of the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women are all hardworking and inspiring women, I can’t help but wonder how many other impressive Delaware women there are who also deserve recognition for their contributions to our state,” said Kay Keenan, Chair of the 2018 Hall of Fame Committee. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to cast a wide net in our search for additional remarkable Delaware women, and shine a light on the many ways women have added to the legacy of the First State.”

Eligible nominees must have made an important and lasting impact on the lives of Delawareans and been born in Delaware or resided in the State for 10 years. Posthumous nominations are also accepted.

“We are fortunate that so many exemplary women call Delaware home,” said Saundra Ross Johnson, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Human Resources. “Everyone is encouraged to nominate a woman who inspires and contributes to the welfare of our community.”

Application forms are available online at de.gov/women until midnight EST on May 15, 2018.

For additional information or inquiries about the Hall of Fame, please contact the Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy at DelawareWomenHOF@delaware.gov or 302-577-8970.

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Governor Carney: Small State, Big Steps on Climate

The below text is from Governor Carney’s Facebook Note published on Friday, April 20, 2018.

On Sunday, April 22, we all come together to celebrate Earth Day. But we work every day to show that even one of the smallest states can have a big impact when it comes to reducing carbon emissions, preserving our farmlands and combating climate change.

I started Earth Week with a visit to North Star Elementary School where I met with Adithi, Madison, Rachel, Julia and Emma – five, nine-year-olds who created the aptly-named “We Help the Earth” group. We talked about recycling, electric cars and the need to address litter. They also showed me their outdoor classroom, and an indigenous Willow Oak tree they planted a few days earlier. These girls, and many children like them, are the future of our state; we owe it to them to focus on these issues now.

 

The Time is Now

We need to pay attention to climate change now. Delaware is experiencing sea level rise at two times the global average. We are the lowest lying state in the nation, with 380 miles of shoreline, making us extremely vulnerable to any sea change. Any changes in weather patterns jeopardize Delaware’s $8 billion agricultural industry and tourism economy. For the sake of our economy and our environment, it’s crucial we address climate change.

 

Standing Together

That’s why Delaware has taken steps to join the national – and international – dialogue on conservation, carbon reduction and climate change. In 2017, Delaware signed on to the U.S. Climate Alliance – a coalition of states and Puerto Rico – which upholds the goals of the global Paris Accord. Because of this promise, Delaware is committed to reducing our emissions by at least 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.

A few weeks ago, I sat down with Senator Tom Carper, Ranking Member of the Committee for the Environment and Public Works, to discuss Delaware’s role in acting on climate change. We covered all issues from electric fleets to the Clean Air Act. Check out our discussion in this video:

 

 

Celebrate Earth Day on April 22 and Every Day

On Earth Day, I plan to join many other Delawareans in celebrating the wonderful things that come with preserving our planet, including kayaking on Trapp Pond, zip-lining over Lum’s Pond and enjoying a relaxing on the Delaware beaches. And we will continue to work on preserving those areas for generations to come.

Adithi, Madison, Rachel, Julia and Emma – I’d love to become the newest member of the “We Help the Earth” group. In Delaware, we remain committed to finding solutions to problems that impact our state and our planet.

 


Governor Carney’s Statement on Bond Bill Committee Approval of Port of Wilmington Transaction

DOVER, Del.Governor John Carney on Thursday issued the following statement on the unanimous vote by the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Capital Improvement to move forward with the transaction to expand the Port of Wilmington:

“Thank you to members of the Bond Bill committee for endorsing the transaction to expand the Port of Wilmington and invest in good-paying, blue-collar jobs for Delawareans. The Port has long been one of Delaware’s most important employment centers. This expansion agreement will result in significant new investment that will allow the Port to create new jobs and compete over the long term. I urge members of the Delaware House of Representatives and Delaware Senate to take up and pass a concurrent resolution that will allow this transaction to move forward.”

Last month, Governor Carney announced the preliminary agreement with Gulftainer to lease the Port of Wilmington from the State, construct a new container shipping facility on the Delaware River, and significantly expand jobs at the Port over the next decade. Under terms of the preliminary agreement, Gulftainer’s subsidiary GT USA would make annual royalty payments to the State of Delaware reaching an estimated $13 million over the next decade. The company also would agree to invest more than $580 million in the port over the next nine years, including approximately $410 million for a new container facility at DuPont’s former Edgemoor site, which was acquired by the Diamond State Port Corporation in 2016.

The transaction must be approved by members of the General Assembly.

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Related news:
Governor Carney’s Statement on Diamond State Port Corporation Board Approval of Gulftainer Agreement
Governor Carney Announces Preliminary Agreement with Gulftainer to Expand the Port of Wilmington


Communities Across Delaware Receive ‘Opportunity Zone’ Designations

Federal tax incentives available for qualifying investments in Opportunity Zones

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney announced on Thursday that communities and economically-distressed properties across Delaware could see additional private sector investment after 25 census tracts were designated as Opportunity Zones by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Earlier this month, Governor Carney nominated the tracts – from Claymont to Laurel – for the federal designation to spur additional private sector investment in Delaware communities. Qualified investors in the zones will become eligible for federal tax incentives. The Delaware sites include a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial properties that are well-positioned to compete for the significant investment needed in low-income communities across the state.

“Strengthening neighborhoods and communities across Delaware helps improve our economy, stabilize families, and make our state an even better place to live, work and visit,” said Governor Carney. “These Opportunity Zone designations will help build on our ongoing community development efforts, and encourage additional private investment where it can have the most impact – in economically-distressed communities. We look forward to working with private sector partners, and with local leaders across our state, on this important initiative.”

“The Office of State Planning is very excited about the certification of the Delaware Opportunity Zones,” said Connie Holland, Director of the Office of State Planning Coordination. “Working very closely with the Governor’s Office and realizing his mission to lead the state’s economic revitalization, this program will enhance our planning goals through private investment in distressed communities across the State. Delaware communities will see job and economic growth which can only be a benefit to all citizens of Delaware.”

Delaware’s Opportunity Zone tracts include neighborhoods in Wilmington; properties along the Route 9 Corridor in New Castle; areas in Dover, Milford, Georgetown, and Seaford, including the Seaford Nylon Capital Shopping Center; the STAR campus in Newark; and aging industrial sites along the Delaware River in northern New Castle County that are eligible for additional development and cleanup under the Coastal Zone Act.

Many of the newly-designated Opportunity Zone tracts are located within Downtown Development Districts, where investors may already qualify for state investment rebates, local tax abatements, affordable bridge loans, and other state and local incentives. Since the downtown program launched in 2015, roughly $21 million in state-funded investment rebates has leveraged $371 million of additional public and private investment in Dover, Georgetown, Harrington, Laurel, Milford, Seaford, Smyrna and Wilmington. Governor Carney’s recommended Fiscal Year 2019 budget sets aside an additional $8.5 million for the program.

“We look forward to having another tool in Delaware’s toolbox. These economic development incentives are vital to growing jobs and strengthening neighborhoods,” said Anas Ben Addi, Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority. “The future Opportunity Zone investments will further amplify the strength of Delaware’s downtown development impact.”

“As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Cinnaire is very excited to potentially facilitate these opportunity zone partnerships and strengthen Delaware’s economy,” said Jim Peffley, Executive Vice President of Cinnaire. “Delaware has been a priority target for most of our investment funds, and we are always seeking ways to bring new resources to the state.”

View a map of Opportunity Zones in Delaware.

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Governor Carney Signs House Bill 174, Strengthens Penalties on “Straw Purchases”

Senator McDowell, Rep. Mitchell legislation makes jail time more likely for purchasers of illegal guns

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney signed legislation on Wednesday alongside members of the General Assembly, law enforcement and gun safety advocates, that strengthens penalties for illegal purchases of firearms, deterring “straw purchases” by making jail time more likely for the offender.

In 2013, Delaware became the eighth state to require that gun owners report lost or stolen weapons to police. Today, Delaware has taken additional steps to confront illegal transfer of weapons. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Harris McDowell and Representative Larry Mitchell, raises the first offense of purchasing or obtaining a firearm for someone not legally qualified to own, possess or purchase one from a Class F to a Class E Felony.

“This legislation takes necessary steps to toughen the penalties for purchasing a gun illegally,” said Governor Carney. “This passed with support from both parties, emphasizing our state’s commitment to confronting the issue of gun violence. I look forward to continuing to work with the General Assembly on this issue to make communities across our state safer.”

“Straw purchasers are circumventing the laws that we have set up to interdict illegal firearms,” said Senator Harris McDowell. “We have to stop them if we are going to keep our families, neighborhoods, and law enforcement officers safe. Anyone who would purposefully buy a firearm with the intent to put it in the hands of a dangerous criminal deserves to face charges that not only fit the crime, but also make clear that nobody is above the law. I think we have done that with this bill, and I am proud to have sponsored it.”

“Reducing gun violence throughout Delaware requires a multi-pronged approach. There is no single effort that will solve the problem, so we have to be open to several different efforts,” said Representative Larry Mitchell. “Studies into gun-trafficking cases have shown that straw purchases are a huge part of the problem – nearly half of gun-trafficking cases involved straw purchases. If people know that significant jail time is more likely, we can hopefully reduce these crimes before they occur.”

“Every step we take to prevent gun violence in Delaware is a step in the right direction. Every step is meaningful,” said Dennis Greenhouse, Chair of the Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence. “The Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence applauds this legislation and the bipartisan support it received in the General Assembly. Making our communities safer is a goal we can all unite behind.”

“The Delaware State Police stands with the Governor and members of the General Assembly in support of this legislation as it specifically focuses on increasing consequences for those that purchase and illegally supply guns to those that cannot and should not have them. In some cases these are the very guns that contribute to gun violence and significantly impact the safety of communities across the state,” said Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr., Superintendent of the Delaware State Police.

The bill signing can be viewed here: livestream.com/StateofDelaware/hb174

Visit de.gov/gunsafety to learn more about Governor Carney’s call for comprehensive gun safety reforms.

 

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