Study Gives Delaware A+ for Small Business Friendliness

Division of Small Business, Development & Tourism hosting listening sessions statewide

WILMINGTON, Del. – Delaware received an A+ rating and ranked #2 out of 50 states in the 2017 Small Business Friendliness Survey released on Thursday by Thumbtack, a web and phone application for small businesses.

Thumbtack awarded the state A+ ratings in 9 of 12 categories studied – most importantly in Overall Friendliness.

“Thumbtack’s study confirms what people living and working in Delaware see every day. This state is a great place for entrepreneurs and small business owners to succeed,” said Governor John Carney. “We continue to work to make Delaware an even better home for small business. Since taking office, my team has focused on this area of economic development with the creation of the Division of Small Business, Development & Tourism, which will take Delaware’s support for small businesses and entrepreneurs to the next level.”

“The ranking reflects Delaware’s previous and continuing efforts to have a direct and immediate impact on small businesses through close working relationships with owners and entrepreneurs,” said Cerron Cade, Director of the Division of Small Business, Development & Tourism. “This is gratifying feedback from the community, and we are looking for even more as we continue to improve our approach to economic development.”

The Division is hosting three listening sessions Tuesday through Thursday – one in each county – to allow the public to share how the state can further support small business development.

Tuesday’s study release also comes on the heels of the state launching its new #OptionsInDE campaign, which is highlighting the many reasons Delaware is an appealing location for business of any size to grow and thrive.

Between July and September of this year, Thumbtack surveyed more than 13,000 small business owners across 50 states and 80 cities to determine how easy government makes it to start, run and expand a small business. This is the sixth year the company has produced the nationwide survey.

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ADVISORY: Announcement on Delaware’s Amazon HQ2 Application

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.

Carney, Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Announce a $3 Million Grant Award for Delaware Innovation Space

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, Governor John Carney, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) announced a $3 million grant award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). This federal grant will support capital investments in the Delaware Innovation Space, a new mission based public-private partnership between the State of Delaware, DuPont and the University of Delaware, formed to accelerate science entrepreneurship and build a new world-class innovation community focused on growth and incubation of new business.

“We’re about supporting innovation in Delaware, and working with business and higher education to prepare our workforce, create good-paying jobs, and drive economic growth,” said Governor Carney. “That’s exactly what is happening at the Delaware Innovation Space, and why we have redesigned how our state does economic development to build on this model. Our partnership with DuPont and the University of Delaware will provide supports for early-stage science-based companies, give Delaware innovators the tools they need to build a business, and connect young scientists with leaders in their field. This grant will build on that work, and I want to thank Senator Carper, Senator Coons, and Representative Blunt Rochester for their continued leadership on behalf of Delawareans across our state.”

“After losing thousands of jobs over the year to plant closures and layoffs, Delaware continues to find innovative ways to drive economic growth and opportunity – and the Innovation Space is a critical component to this recovery,” said Senator Carper. “The EDA has recognized that Delaware has a long history of scientific innovation, and this project will leverage their federal investment and use the resources of the University of Delaware and DuPont to attract, retain and grow new industry here. We must continue to find ways to grow our economy for the long-term, and this grant will help foster that innovation.”

“This money will allow Delaware to build on its strong chemical heritage for the future,” said Senator Coons. “With this EDA grant, we will help transform an impressive lab on the DuPont Experimental Station campus and make it more accessible for smaller companies to help fuel the future of our economy. This grant, combined with funding from the State, DuPont, and University of Delaware, will make Delaware home to one of the largest deep technology wet lab incubators in the country.”

“Small business incubators and accelerators are crucial to the future of Delaware’s economy,” said Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. “The Delaware Innovation Space will provide an environment for small businesses to grow through STEAM education and research, as well as create good paying jobs here at home. This grant from the Economic Development Administration is an important investment in the Delaware Innovation Space and in building a 21st century economy in the First State.”

“EDA’s investment in support of the Delaware Innovation Space will be used to advance and sophisticate our capabilities to better support the needs of the emerging and high growth businesses that we are attracting from across the United States and beyond,” said Delaware Innovation Space President and CEO Bill Provine.“Sharing the innovative strength of Delaware in key markets and sectors from advanced materials, biotechnology, and health care with science entrepreneurs will accelerate economic growth that will sustain for decades, if not for hundreds of years.”

The Delaware Innovation Space is a vital resource in the scientific startup ecosystem and is a non-profit, public-private partnership that offers multi-dimensional, resource-rich support for scientific entrepreneurs at the Experimental Station campus in Wilmington, Del. The Delaware Innovation Space offers a centric location and proximity to world-renowned research institutions, global multi-national corporations and a thriving scientific start-up community.

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Governor Carney, Delaware Prosperity Partnership Announce Interim CEO

John Riley will help develop strategic plan and lead search for permanent leader

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday announced that John Riley, a former state Director of Business Development, will serve as interim CEO of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership – the newly-established public-private partnership that will lead the state’s economic development efforts.

In the position, Riley will help launch operations, develop a strategic plan for the new nonprofit, and conduct a search for a permanent chief executive.

“John is well-known and respected across our state, and has significant experience in economic development,” said Governor Carney, who will serve as co-chair of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership board. “I’m pleased he has agreed to help us launch the partnership. We are committed to changing the way we do business, fostering innovation, and growing our economy. I’m confident John will help position the partnership to succeed.”

“Establishment of this entity was a critical step to enhance the state’s ability to attract, grow and retain companies; to build a stronger entrepreneurial culture and to support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent,” said Rod Ward, President of CSC and co-chair of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership board. “As Interim CEO, John will work with the board on the recruitment of a permanent CEO and development of a strategic plan for Delaware.”

“Thank you to Governor Carney and the entire board of the partnership for this opportunity,” said John Riley. “Delaware has great assets – a talented workforce, a strategic location along I-95, responsive leadership, and great communities up and down our state. I look forward to doing everything I can to attract investment and additional good-paying jobs to our state, and setting up this new partnership to succeed in helping grow our economy.”

Riley served as Director of Business Development under then-Governor Thomas R. Carper. He retired from Ashland where he was Director of Government Relations and previously served as Director of Public Affairs for Hercules Incorporated. Riley has continued to be active in economic development and assisted Governor Jack Markell’s Administration with Delaware’s strategy in responding to the DuPont-Dow merger.

Members of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership board approved the hiring of Riley at an organizational meeting this week.

Governor Carney, who took office in January, has made it a top priority to restructure Delaware’s economic development efforts, and strategically partnering with the private sector on economic growth was a key recommendation of the Governor’s Action Plan for Delaware. Last month, Governor Carney signed House Bill 226, creating the Delaware Prosperity Partnership and a new division within the Department of State to support small business growth.

The Delaware Prosperity Partnership will be run day-to-day by the chief executive officer and a full-time staff. The nonprofit will lead business marketing efforts for the state, with a focus on attracting early-stage and technology-focused businesses, recruitment of large employers, and expansion of international business opportunities for Delaware companies. Its leaders also will work with employers and Delaware educators to fill key talent gaps in the state. The state will jointly fund the partnership’s operations with private business.

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Governor Carney Announces Appointments to Board of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Public-private partnership will lead economic development, business marketing and recruitment for Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday announced appointments to the board of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership – the public-private partnership that will lead Delaware’s economic development efforts, and business marketing and recruitment for the state. Board members represent a cross-section of Delaware’s economy – with representatives from Delaware’s financial industry, leading corporations, the nonprofit sector, higher education, and the legal community.

Governor Carney will co-chair the partnership’s board alongside Rod Ward, President of CSC.

“Collectively, this group of leaders from across our state will ensure that Delaware is positioned to create good-paying jobs, to attract talent, and to lead in a 21st century economy,” said Governor Carney. “As co-chair, I will remain closely involved in the direction of the partnership, and Delaware’s economic development efforts. And we will focus on promoting innovation, attracting technology-focused jobs to Delaware, connecting entrepreneurs with available resources, and building a talented workforce. Thank you to Rod Ward for agreeing to co-chair this group, and to all of those who have agreed to serve.”

“We are extremely pleased with the Governors foresight and leadership in establishing a public-private partnership to expand economic development here in Delaware,” said Ward. “Increasing business community involvement and support was one of the major recommendations of the Delaware Business Roundtable’s Delaware Growth Agenda. The board appointed by the Governor for the Delaware Prosperity Partnership is ready to roll up their sleeves and work to attract new business and entrepreneurs into our state.”

Governor Carney, who took office in January, has made it a top priority to restructure Delaware’s economic development efforts, and strategically partnering with the private sector on economic growth was a key recommendation of the Governor’s Action Plan for Delaware. Last month, Governor Carney signed House Bill 226, creating the Delaware Prosperity Partnership and a new division within the Department of State to support small business growth.

The Delaware Prosperity Partnership – which will be run day-to-day by a chief executive officer and a full-time staff – will lead business marketing efforts for the state, with a focus on attracting early-stage and technology-focused businesses, recruitment of large employers, and expansion of international business opportunities for Delaware companies. Its leaders also will work with employers and Delaware educators to fill key talent gaps in the state. The state will jointly fund the partnership’s operations with private business.

Partnership board members include:

Governor John Carney (co-chair)

Rod Ward, President, CSC (co-chair)
Desmond Baker, Founder, Desmond A. Baker & Associates
Alan Brangman, Executive Vice President, University of Delaware
Patrick Callahan, Founder, CompassRed
Eric Cheek, Associate Vice President, Delaware State University
Doneene Damon, Executive Vice President, Richards, Layton, & Finger
Jeanmarie Desmond, Co-Controller, DowDuPont
Robert Herrera, Co-Founder, The Mill
Nick Lambrow, President of Delaware Region, M&T Bank
Senator Greg Lavelle, Delaware State Senate
Greg Moore, Vice President, Becker Morgan Group
Lori Palmer, Ventures Executive Leader, Trellist Marketing Technology
Rob Rider, CEO, O.A. Newton
Representative Bryon Short, Delaware House of Representatives
Richelle Vible, Executive Director, Catholic Charities
Senator Jack Walsh, Delaware State Senate
Representative Lyndon Yearick, Delaware House of Representatives

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