On Friday, October 20, 2017 members of the Delaware State Police Community Outreach Unit along with representatives from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) formed a convoy of trucks and trailers bound for the Port of Wilmington. The cargo being transported consisted of supplies received as a result of a two week donation drive, benefitting the people of Puerto Rico who were affected by Hurricane Maria.

Upon arrival the convoy was met by a team of approximately twenty Port of Wilmington employees who off-loaded and packaged 32 pallets of donated supplies before loading them onto a cargo ship bound for Puerto Rico.

The donation drive which ran from October 4th-18th, was a collaborative effort between the Office of Governor John Carney, DEMA, the Delaware State Police, the Delaware Citizens Corps, and in conjunction with the International Longshoremen’s Association of Delaware and the Port of Wilmington.

On behalf of all the agencies involved in this humanitarian relief effort, the Delaware State Police would like to thank the citizens of the State of Delaware, who through their kindness and generosity made this initiative a success.

A Donation Drive for Puerto Rico Accepted at Delaware State Police Troops

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin

Released: 102117 1634

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Governor Carney releases video, highlights Delaware’s competitiveness, low tax burden, educated workforce

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday announced three sites that Delaware has proposed to Amazon as the home for the company’s second North American headquarters. Governor Carney made the announcement at The Delaware Contemporary on Thursday afternoon on the Wilmington Riverfront, joined by Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer.

Also on Thursday, Governor Carney released a video highlighting what makes Delaware an attractive place for businesses to grow and create good-paying jobs. The video is available at OptionsInDE.com.

“Delaware is extremely well-positioned to be the home of Amazon’s second North American headquarters, and we believe that Delaware has submitted an aggressive, competitive proposal worthy of Amazon’s consideration,” said Governor Carney. “Delaware has great communities to live and raise a family, low taxes, responsive leadership, and a central location that has long been a great place for businesses to grow and create good-paying jobs. We look forward to talking more to Amazon about their options in Delaware.”

Delaware’s HQ2 site options are:

• First State Crossing – Claymont
  • 425 acres at the former Evraz Steel Mill with utilities in place
  • Future home to Claymont Train Stationo 1/3 of a mile to I-95 and I-495
  • 20 miles to Philadelphia City Hall, 13 miles to PHL Airport

•  Riverfront – Wilmington
  • A combination of properties on South Market Street along the Christina River
  • 82+ acres on the beautiful Wilmington Riverfront with utilities in place
  • 1/4 of a mile to I-95 and I-495
  • 1/3 of a mile to Wilmington Train Station
  • 27 miles to Center-City Philadelphia

• 1800 Concord Pike – Fairfax
  •  82 acres with utilities in place that is already home to AstraZeneca and a large JP Morgan Chase facility
  • 1 mile to I-95o 500,000 sq. ft. of existing office space available
  • 26 miles to Center-City Philadelphia

Delaware’s HQ2 sites meet the major requirements of Amazon’s RFP, which called for a second headquarters site within 30 miles of a population center of at least 1 million people, with proximity to an international airport with daily flights to Seattle, San Francisco, New York City and Washington, D.C., and easy access to mass transit, and major highways. Amazon also sought initial space of 500,000 square feet, with possible total space up to 8 million square feet, which Delaware’s site options would accommodate.

“Delaware and New Castle County are uniquely positioned to welcome Amazon’s second North American headquarters,” said New Castle County Executive Matthew Meyer. “Delaware has made a compelling case to Amazon – and to other job creators looking to expand – that demonstrates the exceptional value of our productive and skilled workforce, high quality of life, reasonable cost of living and responsive and responsible public sector. New Castle County is where they should build for their future.”

“The process of crafting the Amazon proposal has actually been quite uplifting. It’s given us the opportunity to collectively reflect on what’s been accomplished over the years to make our city, county and state wonderful places to live, work, enjoy life and raise our families,” said Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki. “This effort has also confirmed a fact that makes Delaware a tremendous place to live and conduct business, and that is the ease with which government, community and business representatives can come together on a moment’s notice to meet, collaborate and make progress. We certainly know why Wilmington and Delaware are excellent locations for the new Amazon headquarters, and hopefully Amazon will agree after reviewing our proposal.”

In addition to the strength of the sites, Delaware’s application focused on the state’s low tax burden, central location, comparatively affordable cost of living, highly trained and educated workforce, transportation flexibility, connectivity speed, and significant cultural and recreational opportunities.

Part of the state’s response to Amazon’s request for proposals is an attractive and competitive package of incentives. Companies considering expanding in Delaware have access to a number of programs designed to encourage growth, including the New Economy Jobs Tax Credit, Business Facility Tax Credit and grants or loans through the Delaware Strategic Fund. Amazon – which is incorporated in Delaware and has fulfillment centers in New Castle and Middletown – has said it will make a selection for HQ2 in 2018 but has not announced a specific timeline for announcing that decision. The company issued a nationwide RFP last month as it sought to add a new headquarters to its existing one in Seattle.

Letters of support for Delaware’s HQ2 application:

• Batta Environmental
• Chemours
• Christiana Care
• Corporation Service Company
• Delaware’s Congressional Delegation
• Governor John Carney
• Incyte Corporation
• New Castle County Executive Matthew Meyer
• Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware
• Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki   

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Related:

Delaware Will Compete for Amazon Headquarters 

Governor Carney to hold Facebook Live Q&A on Education TONIGHT at 7 p.m.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Given the ongoing search for a suspect wanted in connection with shooting incidents in Wilmington and Edgewood, Md., tonight’s town hall meeting on Wilmington schools at Bancroft Elementary School has been postponed.

At 7 p.m. tonight, Governor Carney will be joined by Dorrell Green, Director of the Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement, for a Facebook Live Q&A. They will discuss the joint letter of intent to partner with Christina School District and Christina Education Association to improve Christina’s five schools in the City of Wilmington.

Updated schedule:

Facebook Live Q&A on Wilmington Schools

This event is open to the press.

WHAT: Governor Carney will be joined by Dorrell Green, Director of the Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement, for a Facebook Live Q&A to discuss the joint letter of intent to partner with Christina School District and Christina Education Association to improve Christina’s five schools in the City of Wilmington.

WHO: Governor John Carney
Dorrell Green, Director, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Delaware Department of Education

WHEN: Wednesday, October 18, 2017
7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Governor’s Carney’s Facebook Page

Town Hall Meeting on Wilmington Schools

This event is open to the press.

WHAT: Governor John Carney will join Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg, Office of Innovation and Improvement Director Dorrell Green, the Christina Education Association, representatives from Christina School District, and community organizations to discuss the partnership, and ideas for improving Wilmington schools, with families and educators in Wilmington. Governor Carney, Superintendent Gregg and others will take questions.

WHO: Governor John Carney
Richard Gregg, Superintendent, Christina School District
Darren Tyson, President, Christina Education Association
Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary, Delaware Department of Education
Dorrell Green, Director, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Delaware Department of Education
Representatives from Christina School District

WHEN: Wednesday, October 25, 2017
6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bayard Middle School
200 S. DuPont Street
Wilmington, DE 19805

Town Hall Meeting on Wilmington Schools

This event is open to the press.

WHAT: Governor John Carney will join Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg, Office of Innovation and Improvement Director Dorrell Green, the Christina Education Association, representatives from Christina School District, and community organizations to discuss the partnership, and ideas for improving Wilmington schools, with families and educators in Wilmington. Governor Carney, Superintendent Gregg and others will take questions.

WHO: Governor John Carney
Richard Gregg, Superintendent, Christina School District
Darren Tyson, President, Christina Education Association
Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary, Delaware Department of Education
Dorrell Green, Director, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Delaware Department of Education
Representatives from Christina School District

WHEN: Monday, October 30, 2017
6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bancroft Elementary School
700 N. Lombard Street
Wilmington, DE 19801

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WILMINGTON, Del. – On Thursday, October 19 at 2:00 p.m., Governor John Carney will join Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, elected officials, and community members to announce the sites Delaware has proposed to Amazon for the company’s second North American headquarters. The event also will include the screening of a video highlighting what makes Delaware an ideal location for businesses, including Amazon, to grow and create jobs.

WHAT:         Announcement on Delaware’s proposed sites for Amazon’s second North American headquarters.

WHO:           Governor Carney

Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester

Executive Matt Meyer, New Castle County

Mayor Mike Purzycki, City of Wilmington

Cerron Cade, Division of Small Business, Development, and Tourism Director

Members of the General Assembly

Community members

WHEN:        Thursday, October 19

2:00 p.m.

WHERE:       The Delaware Contemporary

200 S Madison Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

RSVP:           Media planning to attend Thursday’s event should RSVP to Jessica.Borcky@delaware.gov by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 18 to receive additional information prior to the event.

(DOVER, Del.—Oct. 16, 2017)—On Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Woodburn: The Governor’s Residence, located at 151 Kings Highway S.W. in Dover, Del., will host “Halloween Family Fun Day at Woodburn.” The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available on surrounding streets. In the event of inclement weather, all activities will be cancelled. For additional information or for notification of cancellation, call 302-739-5656 or e-mail Woodburn@delaware.gov.

“Halloween Family Fun Day at Woodburn” will feature the following activities:

–Guided tours of Woodburn
Visitors will be guided through the public spaces of this 1798 home that has served as the official residence of Delaware’s governors since 1965

–18th-century games
Guests will learn how children amused themselves in the 1700s including playing games like hoop and stick, graces, quoits, ninepins, and badminton; and enjoying the folk toys jacob’s ladder and bilbo catcher

–Sachet making
Visitors can create their own scented sachet filled with herbs and spices

–Craft activities
Guests can decorate pumpkins; make a Tootsie-Roll-Pop spider, pumpkin or ghost; create a Halloween card or bookmark; make a pom-pom pencil; or decorate a Halloween mask

Woodburn is one of Delaware’s most historic homes and an outstanding example of late-18th-century Georgian architecture. The house was built in 1798 by Charles Hillyard, III (1759–1814), a fourth-generation Delawarean from a family of affluent landowners who were frequently active in the governmental, social and economic life of Kent County. Woodburn has served as the home of Delaware’s governor since it was purchased by the state in 1965. It was listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs has been responsible for the care and conservation of Woodburn since August 2009. The division’s charge includes repair and maintenance of the building; design and upkeep of the property’s garden and horticultural displays; and furnishing of the home.

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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov