Newark, Del. — Governor John Carney and U.S. Senator Tom Carper joined state and local officials on Wednesday for a groundbreaking for the next phase of work on the Newark Regional Transportation Center (NRTC) which will construct the new train station building.

“This new station will become an important hub for thousands of people who live and work within the region,” said Governor John Carney. “Having a state-of-the-art transportation facility here will attract economic development while taking cars off of the road and represents another important infrastructure investment we are making in our state.”

“This transportation center will have an impact not just on passenger rail service to Newark, but on the economy of the entire region,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “TIGER grants are competitive and awarded to projects that will advance mobility, community and sustainability. I worked hard to make sure Delaware got a fair shot at this award, and I’m thrilled it won. Now that the station is almost a reality, I look forward to the day it is up and running and attracting residents and businesses to the area.”

“We are excited that the exposed platform which for years has serviced Amtrak and Septa passengers will soon be gone, and in its place will stand a safe, accessible station that will provide upgraded rail service to the University of Delaware and its ever-growing STAR Campus and the region,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.

The improved station will provide an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant high-level platform, expand parking, and provide significantly improved passenger amenities including a station building with bathrooms.

Phase 2 of the project was awarded to Bancroft Construction for $7,622, 320.18 and has a construction schedule of 453 calendar days. The project is partially funded by a $10 million TIGER IV Grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Phase 3 of the project will consist of platform and track modifications, and a pedestrian overpass.

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Dover, Del. – The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has received a $7 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant award from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Georgetown East Gateway Project in Sussex County.

The project will construct a multi-modal improvements at the intersection of Route 9, Airport Road and Sandhill Road in Georgetown. Improvements will include roadway realignment, additional turn lanes, signal enhancements, pavement resurfacing, bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, transit stops, and lighting. The current projected cost is $14.6 million and is estimated to begin in spring 2020.

“Improving infrastructure in Sussex County continues to be a priority, and Route 9 is one of our most heavily traveled east/west arteries,” said Governor John Carney. “This project will modernize and improve safety for all those traveling in and around our county seat of Georgetown.”

TIGER grants are fiercely competitive, and are awarded to projects that do more than just fix a problem, they enhance the community,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “As we have more people coming to Sussex County to enjoy our tax free shopping, world class beaches, and a great way of life, we will need to maintain and improve our infrastructure to keep up, and this TIGER grant-a first for Sussex County-will help us do just that.”

“This TIGER grant is a perfect example of how federal investment can help local communities. This funding will provide better access to the Delaware Coastal Airport, CHEER Center and future development of the area while ensuring motorists in Sussex County will have safer travel to their homes and work,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “It’s time to build more of these needed projects in America to help repair our aging infrastructure, get new projects off the ground, and get Americans back to work.”

“The continued investment into Delaware’s roads and infrastructure is not only necessary to ensure our roadways are paved and free of hazards such as potholes, but also in keeping Delaware’s infrastructure modern and up to date with the latest technology and engineering,” said Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. “This new TIGER Grant funding will allow the Delaware Department of Transportation to deliver the Georgetown East Gateway project several years earlier than expected, while supporting roadway resurfacing and realignment improvements. Once completed, the Georgetown project will ease traffic flow, enhance roadway lighting, and add additional turn lanes and bike lanes to the area.”

“DelDOT identified this existing intersection for significant pedestrian and traffic improvements as part of our Hazard Elimination Program. We are very excited to receive this federal grant that will help us deliver this needed project for Sussex County,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.

“Sussex County is pleased to see DelDOT and the federal government’s investment in the Georgetown East Gateway project. The US 9/Airport Road/Sandhill Road intersection serves as a critical link in the local transportation system, and is the main entrance to the Delaware Coastal Airport and the County’s Emergency Operations Center. Unfortunately, over the years, this intersection has become a confusing, inefficient, and, frankly, frustrating mess. We believe the TIGER grant will assist in improving access to both eastern Georgetown and the County’s facilities at the airport; which is greatly needed; and make travel to, from and through Georgetown much easier for our local and visiting motorists.” said Sussex County Administrator Todd F. Lawson.

New law establishes a refundable tax credit for qualified investors in Delaware small businesses

NEWARK, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday signed into law House Bill 170, the Angel Investor Job Creation and Innovation Act, at the Delaware Technology Park at the University of Delaware’s STAR Campus.

The Angel Investor Job Creation and Innovation Act establishes a refundable tax credit for qualified investors in Delaware small businesses to spur job creation and innovation. The law establishes guidelines for awarding a tax credit worth up to 25 percent of the investment in a qualified, Delaware-based small business. Businesses receiving the investment must pay decent wages, employ fewer than 25 employees, and engage in innovation in one of several areas as its primary business activity.

“We should do everything we can to support Delaware’s innovators and entrepreneurs who are leading Delaware’s new economy, and this law will help connect our most talented entrepreneurs with the resources they need to be successful,” said Governor Carney. “Delaware is already a hub of innovation, and this tax credit will help to encourage investments in innovative, Delaware-based small businesses.”

Governor Carney called for passage of the Angel Investor Job Creation and Innovation Act in his 2018 State of the State Address. The bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Representative Michael Ramone, Representative Bryon Short, Representative Melanie George Smith, and Representative Dave Wilson. Senate sponsors included Senate President Pro Tem David McBride and Senator Cathy Cloutier.

“As a prime sponsor of the Angel Investor Act, I know that by enacting this legislation we are taking a significant step in helping to strengthen Delaware’s economic development climate,” said Representative Michael Ramone. “Getting to this point today was certainly a collaborative effort by legislators, the Governor, and the small business community, and one that I believe will result in definite job growth in Delaware.”

“By encouraging investment in technology startups, Delaware is making another strategic move to enhance its economic competitiveness. It is painstaking and difficult work to advance a startup and this new program will provide an infusion of capital to businesses at a critical time,” said Representative Bryon Short. “These resources will foster innovation in our state and support entrepreneurs growing their businesses.”

“We believe that keeping innovation created in Delaware in the state is a key component of future success for the life sciences industry,” said Helen Stimson, President and CEO of Delaware BioScience Association. “We are delighted to have this new Angel Investor Tax Credit program to entice investors to support our startup companies. This benefit coupled with Delaware’s attractive R&D tax credit program provides key benefits needed to keep our innovators in the state.”

“As a longtime advocate and mentor of early stage technology-based businesses, the Angel Investor Tax Credit should be a stimulus for new investors to support entrepreneurs in Delaware,” said Michael Bowman, Associate Director of the University of Delaware’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships, and President of the Delaware Technology Park.

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Details about the Angel Investor Job Creation and Innovation Act:

The Angel Investor Job Creation and Innovation Act establishes guidelines for awarding a tax credit worth up to 25 percent of the investment in a qualified, Delaware-based small business. Businesses receiving the investment must pay decent wages, employ fewer than 25 employees, and engage in innovation in one of several areas as its primary business activity. By statute, the Delaware Division of Small Business will have until November 1, 2018 to create and publish an application for small businesses looking to participate in the program in calendar year 2019.

Qualified business activities include:

• Using proprietary technology to add value to a product, process, or service in a qualified high-technology field.
• Researching or developing a proprietary product, process, or service in a qualified high-technology field.
• Researching, developing, or producing a proprietary product, process, or service in the fields of agriculture, manufacturing, wildlife preservation, environmental science, financial technology, or transportation.
• Researching, developing, or producing a new proprietary technology for use in the fields of agriculture, manufacturing, financial technology, or transportation.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday issued the following statement on the Joint Finance Committee’s vote to appropriate only 97 percent of available revenue this year and conserve surplus revenue:

“Delaware has a tradition of fiscal responsibility, and I want to thank members of the Joint Finance Committee for their vote today, which shows restraint, and a commitment to making responsible, long-term decisions about our finances. On our current pace and without action, our spending needs will outgrow our ability to pay for them. That’s why we’ve been focused since taking office on addressing our long-term challenges, on responsibly investing one-time revenue, and on making sure we don’t spend beyond our means. This will require a long-term commitment. Today’s vote is a major step toward that commitment and I look forward to working with the entire General Assembly through this session to ensure this additional surplus revenue is set aside. Thank you to members of the Joint Finance Committee for their partnership in this effort.”

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WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and the co-chairs of the General Assembly’s Joint Finance Committee, Senator Harris McDowell and Representative Melanie George Smith, released the following statements Monday on the latest revenue estimates from the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council:

“We’ve been focused since I took office on limiting spending growth, on directing one-time revenue into one-time investments, and on making sure we don’t spend beyond our means. These new estimates don’t change our priorities,” said Governor Carney. “The fact remains that our spending needs over the next several years will outgrow our ability to pay for them. If we fail to show restraint, we are setting ourselves up for difficult budget challenges next year or the year after that could require us to cut the very programs we’re funding this year. Over the next two weeks, we will work with chairs of the Joint Finance Committee on a sustainable budget plan that makes important investments but conserves resources, and sets us up for the long term.”

“During the Joint Finance Committee hearings this spring we heard from a number of Delawareans advocating for support for issues such as education, substance abuse treatment, corrections and investing in our workforce,” said Senator McDowell. “Over the next two weeks we will debate these issues with the goal of producing a prudent, sustainable spending plan that limits base budget growth while addressing the needs of Delawareans for Fiscal Year 2019 and beyond.”

“We are fortunate that the DEFAC estimates have been trending upward this spring,” said Representative Smith. “As a result, we will be able to address areas of highest priority for funding. However, this does not necessarily mean that we should irresponsibly increase ongoing spending, but look to limit ongoing costs and direct surplus revenue into one-time investments or savings.”

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