DOVER – Environmental Finance within DNREC’s Office of the Secretary and the Delaware Division of Public Health will host a State Revolving Loan Fund public workshop Thursday, July 25 in preparation for the development of the 2019 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving (DWSRF) Revised Project Priority Lists. The workshop begins at 2 p.m. in the Kent County Administrative Complex, Conference Room 220, 555 South Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901.

The workshop will inform and provide municipal government representatives, privately-owned businesses, wastewater and drinking water utilities, consultant engineers, and other interested parties with detailed overviews of the CWSRF and DWSRF programs. The combined program workshop will provide attendees with an accurate and efficient source of information for requesting financial assistance for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure project needs.

Notices-of-Intent (NOI) for wastewater, drinking water, stormwater, and related infrastructure projects will be solicited starting Wednesday, July 25 and are due by Friday, Aug. 30 to prepare the 2019 CWSRF and DWSRF Revised Project Priority Lists (PPLs). Projects must be listed on the CWSRF and DWSRF Revised PPL, respectively, to be considered for funding. Workshop attendance is required by applicants and/or their consulting engineering firms who plan to apply for CWSRF and DWSRF assistance.

Workshop participants will learn about the following CWSRF and DWSRF program changes and infrastructure financing tools:

• One-stop loan application process for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure project assistance
• Land conservation and water quality improvement loan sponsorship programs
• Source water protection loans for drinking water supplies
• Wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater facilities matching planning grants
• Community water quality improvement grants
• Asset management plan development incentives
• Project planning advances
• Expanded eligibilities for privately-owned businesses

In addition, detailed information will be presented at the workshop about how and when to submit projects for funding consideration, project ranking criteria, project construction requirements, and how to apply for infrastructure planning grants.

To reserve a place at the workshop, please contact Laura Rafferty, DNREC Environmental Finance, by emailing Laura.Rafferty@delaware.gov or phone: 302-739-9941.

Contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 49, No. 2

Please visit DNREC’s website for winter energy-saving checklist,
weatherization assistance program information for low-income families

DOVER – DNREC is encouraging Delawareans to mark National Weatherization Day, Tuesday Oct. 30, by taking action to weatherize their homes – which will help save energy, reduce their energy costs, and contribute to improving air quality by reducing their carbon footprint.

“Everyone can do simple things around their residence to help make their homes more comfortable during cold winter days, reduce the amount spent on heating costs, and do your part in reducing the carbon in our air that contributes to global warming,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “And, beyond that, for residents with bigger weatherization challenges, DNREC offers a weatherization assistance program for low-income families.”

Homes lose heat and energy in ways we often don’t notice, such as leaky windows or electric chargers that are left plugged in when they are not being used. Combined with our need to keep warm in the winter, this can mean higher energy use and more costly energy bills.

To help residents, especially homeowners, find easy ways to reduce their energy use and bills, DNREC’s Division of Climate Coastal & Energy has posted an online winter activity checklist. Most of the actions on this list are no-cost, and home improvements such as weather-stripping and foam socket covers cost less than $10 at your local hardware store. Many families have cut their energy bills by making basic energy efficiency upgrades or taking energy conservation measures. In addition, good energy habits are environmentally responsible and set a great example of conservation and stewardship for children.

Low-income homeowners and renters in Delaware can apply to the Division of Climate Coastal & Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program for an energy assessment of their homes and receive improvements such as weather-stripping, insulation, energy efficient light bulbs, and other energy-saving measures – all free of charge. To learn more about the program, visit http://de.gov/wap.

For more information on the Weatherization Assistance Program and other DNREC Division of Climate Coastal & Energy programs, visit https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/climate-coastal-energy/, or contact the Division of Climate Coastal & Energy at 302-735-3480.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 48, No. 296

-End-

The Delaware Division of Revenue will extend certain deadlines for filing individual and business tax returns, as well as for making certain tax payments for taxpayers who have been directly impacted by the severe storms and flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.

“The Division of Revenue recognizes the impact that Hurricane Harvey has had on taxpayers and will take all steps necessary to assist hurricane victims who need assistance with Delaware’s tax filing obligations,” said Division of Revenue Director, David Gregor.

Delaware will follow the rules outlined by the Internal Revenue Service in news release IR-2017-135. The extended tax return filing due dates apply to taxpayers located in the impacted disaster areas identified in the IRS notice. The tax relief postpones various tax filing deadlines that occurred starting on Aug. 23, 2017 thru January 16, 2018 to January 31, 2018. This includes an additional filing extension for individual taxpayers with valid extensions to Oct. 16, 2017, and businesses with valid extensions to Sept. 15, 2017.

To avoid a penalty assessment for late filing, taxpayers should submit a written request seeking an additional extension via email to Jeffry.schott@delaware.gov. If your request is based upon the tax records being located in the disaster area, please include the address where those tax records are located. Business taxpayer requests should be on company letterhead and signed by a company official.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn was joined by disabilities advocates, legislative leaders, and educators to address the rights to reading interventions that students with disabilities gained under a new law passed in June. The new law requires that schools provide young students with dyslexia and decoding disabilities and other disabilities with early, intensive, evidence-based assistance in order to better help those students learn to read.

Senate Bill 229 requires that IEPs for any child with a disability – who is not beginning to read by the age of seven – document the evidence-based interventions the school is using to build the child’s ability to read or document why such interventions are inappropriate. The law also requires the school to provide the interventions through extended school year or summer services, regardless of whether the child would otherwise qualify for those services.

For children who have struggled to read – and their families – this new law presents an opportunity to ensure those students are receiving the instruction most likely to make them readers who are able to access many more opportunities for learning and growth. Because any intervention may deem itself “evidence-based,” the Lt. Governor has a guidance document, included at the end of this post, for parents on how they can determine that their child is receiving interventions in compliance with the law.

The purpose of today’s announcement was to inform parents of eligible children that their children are entitled to this assistance, so they can specifically ask their schools for it.

“Reading is the foundation of education,” said Lieutenant Governor Denn. “When children are exposed to best practices in reading instruction, learning becomes a more positive experience. These practices have the potential to improve lives by giving these kids paths to information and imagination.”

Lieutenant Governor Denn was joined at today’s press conference at the Bear Library by Sen. Nicole Poore, House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, and parent Kim Hamstead.

Sen. Poore noted that when children have difficulty reading, they may also develop social and emotional problems that can affect their learning and peer relationships. “A child who sees they are not meeting expectations – their own, their teacher’s, their family’s – are known to be more at risk for anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, and they don’t always have the language to relieve those feelings through appropriate self-expression.”

“The fact that support will be available throughout the year is a major step forward for these students,” Rep. Longhurst said. “A lot of kids lose some ground over the summer and if you’re already falling behind, it’s even harder to get caught up with everyone else without that extra time for learning and practice.”

“With help from my son’s school, I found a reading specialist that used a specific curriculum and teaching methods that had proven effective for children with reading challenges,” said Ms. Hamstead. “My son followed this program for over 2 years and now he is a very confident reader and likes to volunteer to read in front of his class. The key to his success was early intervention and following an evidence-based reading program.”

Reading Interventions FAQ for Parents

WSFS Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:WSFS), the parent company of WSFS Bank, today announced that it has created the WSFS Small Business Loans-for-Job Creation Program. Under this new program, through the end of 2011, WSFS Bank will make available a special pool of $25 million to qualified small businesses located throughout the marketplaces it serves.

“In supporting our mission to strengthen our communities, the WSFS Small Business Loans-for-Job Creation Program will provide loans to help small businesses grow immediately and help fuel the broader economy,” said Mark A. Turner, WSFS President and Chief Executive Officer. “WSFS has been lending to businesses throughout this extended downturn,” continued Mr. Turner. “We also know small businesses are the engine of job creation and they have been hit especially hard over the last several years. Creating this program allows us to do our part to support small businesses right here, right now.”

“WSFS has a long record of helping Delawareans access the credit they need to start and grow a business,” said Sen. Carper. “It’s been tough out there the past several years for small business owners to find affordable access to capital, and I’m proud that a Delaware community bank is helping to extend this much needed credit to Delaware small businesses. I applaud WSFS’s Small Business Loans-for-Job Creation Program, which is another step in the right direction to get our economy moving and help put Delawareans back to work.”

“This announcement from WSFS is exciting news for Delaware’s business community,” Sen. Coons said. “The WSFS Small Business Loans-for-Job-Creation Program is a model for the type of institutional support that businesses need to grow and create jobs, and I’m optimistic that it will give Delaware’s economy a much-needed shot in the arm. This is how communities help get people back to work – by working together to help small businesses grow and create jobs. This program is win-win for Delaware.”

“Helping small businesses succeed is critical to creating jobs and strengthening the economy,” said Congressman Carney. “I applaud WSFS Bank for developing the Small Business Loans-for-Job Creation Program and making resources available that will directly benefit small businesses in our community. This is exactly the type of support needed to grow the economy and help get Delawareans back to work.”

Creditworthy businesses with annual revenues up to $10 million that commit to using the funds for immediate investment (equipment investment, hiring of employees, etc.) will be eligible for loans up to $500,000 with no closing costs or other bank fees and at an attractive fixed rate. Business owners interested in the WSFS Small Business Loans-for-Job Creation Program can call Cheryl Rodriquez at 1-877-WSFSBIZ to learn more about this program.

About WSFS Financial Corporation
WSFS Financial Corporation is a multi-billion dollar financial services company. Its primary subsidiary, WSFS Bank, is the oldest, locally-managed bank and trust company headquartered in Delaware with $4.2 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $9.3 billion in fiduciary assets, including approximately $1.0 billion in assets under management. WSFS has 48 offices located in Delaware (38), Pennsylvania (8), Virginia (1) and Nevada (1) and provides comprehensive financial services including commercial banking, retail banking and trust and wealth management. Other subsidiaries or divisions include Christiana Trust, WSFS Investment Group, Inc., Cypress Capital Management, LLC and Cash Connect. Serving the Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS is the seventh oldest bank in the United States continuously operating under the same name. For more information, please visit www.wsfsbank.com.