Governor’s Statement on Unanimous Passage of 3 Regulatory Reform Bills Related to State of the State Proposals

SB 113 & SB 120 move to House; HB 147 moves to Senate for consideration

Dover, DE – Responding to proposals Governor Markell made in this year’s State of the State address, the House of Representatives today unanimously passed House Bill 147 to establish regular reviews of state regulations, while the Delaware Senate today unanimously passed Senate Bill 113 and Senate Bill 120 to require that state agencies announce any additional burden that a new regulation would place on small businesses. In response, the Governor issued the following statement:

“Although regulations are sometimes necessary, we must strive to ensure that they do not impose unnecessary burdens upon our citizens and businesses,” said Governor Markell. “All three bills build upon my Administration’s previous efforts to reduce the burden of regulations on Delawareans, as well as the efforts of legislators on both sides of the aisle. There is no monopoly on good ideas, and I am grateful that Democrats and Republicans are working together to support entrepreneurs and small businesses by eliminating the red tape that inhibits growth.”

HB 147 now moves to the Senate for consideration, while SB 113 and SB 120 move to the House.

House Bill 147 – sponsored by Rep. Bryon Short, Rep. Danny Short, Sen. Brian Bushweller, and Sen. Greg Lavelle – would require each executive branch agency to conduct an in-depth examination of the regulations on its books every four years, and to solicit public input in doing so. The bill would codify the Governor’s Executive Order No. 36, which in 2013 resulted in the elimination or modification of more than 100 agency regulations.

Senate Bill 113 – sponsored by Sen. Gerald Hocker, Sen. Bobby Marshall, Rep. Bryon Short, Rep. Quinn Johnson, and others –  is one of two bills that comprise the Regulatory Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015 (“RTAA”). SB 113 would require each agency to submit a “regulatory impact statement” whenever it proposes regulations that would place additional burdens upon small businesses. Among other things, each statement must include an estimate of the costs of complying with the regulation. In addition, SB 113 requires the Registrar of Regulations to submit regulatory impact statements to the appropriate committee of the General Assembly.

Senate Bill 120 – sponsored by Sen. Bobby Marshall, Sen. Gerald Hocker, Rep. Q. Johnson, Rep. B. Short, and others – is the second bill that is part of the RTAA. Under SB 120, whenever an agency proposes a regulation that would place additional burdens upon small businesses, it must submit a “regulatory flexibility analysis.” In a regulatory flexibility analysis, each agency generally must consider ways to reduce the regulation’s burden on individuals and small business. That includes considering less stringent requirements or deadlines for individuals or small businesses that must comply with the proposed regulation. In addition, SB 120 provides that if an agency does not submit the required information to the Registrar, a proposed regulation may not be published in the Register of Regulations.

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Milford Project Pop-Up business turns success into expansion

Delaware Branding Company launches screen printing segment to make T-shirts and more

Milford, DE – Since its inception in 2012, the Project Pop-Up program has been successful in helping 14 businesses sign long-term leases in once-vacant downtown spaces.

But some of these businesses are beginning to show a propensity to go beyond popping up from three months into a year. They are now expanding beyond their original footprint.

The latest business to do so is Delaware Branding Company, which received help with rent and advice from business advisors that allowed owners Mike and Amy Perfetti to move their enterprise into a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Milford.

Delaware Branding Company took off with its offering of graphic design, sign making, body art and DJ services, so much so that the Perfettis have now launched a screen printing production facility and is now making T-shirts, spirit gear for schools, athletic apparel, signs and vinyl lettering.

Gov. Jack Markell said the company is one of the many Delaware small businesses that have helped drive job growth in the state – growth that has far outpaced surrounding states over the past couple of years.

“Mike and Amy Perfetti represent the spirit, determination and talent of Delaware’s small business community,” Gov. Markell said. “The success of Delaware Branding Company is further evidence of why our state is committed to programs like Project Pop-Up that help ensure our entrepreneurs have the opportunity to turn their great ideas into thriving companies. I also applaud the City of Milford and Mayor Bryan Shupe for their efforts to welcome small businesses and work with the state to enhance Delaware’s historic downtowns.”

Delaware Branding Company, which is located at 19 NW Front St., launched through the Project Pop-Up program alongside Patty Cakes, a specialty bakery mere minutes away that has been doing brisk business since it opened last year.

The Perfettis’ business has also followed a trajectory similar to another Milford Project Pop-Up participant, Milford Massage, Wellness and Yoga. That business, which participated in 2013 and is owned by Paige Deiner, started out in a vacant space on Milford’s Front Street provided by the Pop- Up program. Within months, business had quadrupled, and Deiner had to move to a larger space a half mile away. Another business, Royal Treatments in Smyrna, expanded into a vacant space adjacent to its original Pop-Up shop, which is now home to Smyrna Cards and Gifts.

“The initial success of Delaware Branding Company demonstrated yet again that Project Pop-Up works. But its recent expansion shows Pop-Up’s ability to help these entrepreneurs reach a whole new level,” said Ken Anderson, Director of Entrepreneurial and Small Business Support for the Delaware Economic Development Office. “Project Pop-Up is not only finding the next great small business. It’s also finding the next great business on the rise. The sky is the limit for companies like Delaware Branding Company and business owners like Mike and Amy Perfetti.”

The move into screen printing was a natural one for Mike Perfetti, an award-winning graphic designer who teaches screen printing to special needs students. He said the warm welcome that he and his wife received in Milford helped Delaware Branding Company expand into screen printing.

“My wife and I have both opened businesses in the past, but have never felt the kind of connection and support that we have felt in Milford. We did some local advertising, and a bit of signage, but most of our clientele have been walk-in customers and word of mouth,” Perfetti said. “We wouldn’t be here at all without the help of the city, the state and the Project Pop-Up program, which helped us get started. Our success speaks to the potential and promise that this program offers.”

The Perfettis say that they are looking into hiring their special needs trainees to work in the screen printing shop, which would give the trainees a place to socialize and allow them to work with someone who is experienced in accommodating for their special needs.

The expansion into screen printing has also allowed co-owner Amy Perfetti to create a roller derby apparel line, MeanCat Roller Derby Apparel. Amy, who has been a roller derby player for nearly a decade, is working with business partner Maureen Maher of Philadelphia to launch an online store and attend roller derby conventions.

Project Pop-Up is a joint effort between the Delaware Economic Development Office and Downtown Delaware.

“The program has done an excellent job at boosting two key elements of the state’s economic development efforts: Downtowns and small businesses,” said Alan Levin, Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office. “Larger firms will grab the headlines and generate buzz on social media, but these smaller businesses serve as the backbone of our economy.”

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Governor Markell Launches New Website for Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs

Photos from the event

“Business First Steps” helps potential businesses find information on licensing and permitting in Delaware

FirstSteps.Delaware.Gov

New Castle, DE – Joined by Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, legislators, startup companies and organizations that help small businesses, Governor Jack Markell today launched Business First Steps, a new website to help small businesses find information on business licenses, permits, and other State requirements. The site is an index of almost 200 different industries, professions, or products that require State registrations, licenses, certifications, or permits.BusinessFirstSteps

“We must remain committed to removing unnecessary obstacles and giving our entrepreneurs the best opportunity to start and expand their companies,” said Governor Markell. “Today we take another step toward that goal with the Business First Steps website. Now the aspiring entrepreneur can find a checklist of steps to open a business in Delaware.”

In addition to State requirements, the Business First Steps site provides links to, and information about, local Delaware governments that have their own licensing requirements. Businesses, such as contractors who perform site work in multiple towns and cities, must have appropriate licenses and permits in each locality where they perform work. Often, businesses are not aware of such requirements. The Business First Steps site will help them avoid that problem.

Entrepreneurs and the business community are encouraged to continue to give feedback about the website via firststeps@delaware.gov.

Companies such as Delaware Green Mattress Disassembling and Recycling, LLC (DGMDR) were glad to see a clearinghouse for licensing and local permits, and encouraged new businesses to take advantage of the resource.

“The New Castle County Open for Business program connected me with some wonderful mentors, and I am currently navigating the licensing and permitting process,” said Tanya Whye, owner of DGMDR, and a member of the New Castle Chamber of Commerce. “The Business First Steps website is the perfect tool for a one-stop place for a wealth of information.”

Sen. Robert Marshall, D-Wilmington West, was a co-chairman of the Blue Collar Jobs Task Force which, last January, recommended setting up a one-stop, online location for issuing permits and paying fees.BusinessFirstSteps

“This is a significant building block that builds on the task force’s ideas about making Delaware a more welcoming place for small businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Marshall. “It’s important to remove the stumbling blocks and reduce the stress on people trying to start a business that can be caused by government creating a confusing and often burdensome bureaucratic process.”

Business First Steps is the result of many state agencies working together and soliciting feedback from the business community. It is the first state website to centralize information on business licensing and requirements for operating a business in Delaware across state government. It was designed and built by the Government Information Center (GIC), an office within the Delaware Department of State.

“The Governor has made knocking down barriers for Delawareans to start businesses a top priority. This is why a clearinghouse for new businesses to find information about permits and licenses is so important, and why the Business First Steps website will be a great tool that Delaware can offer to new businesses,” said Secretary Bullock.

Today’s event was held in the Emerging Enterprise Center, part of the New Castle Chamber of Commerce, and another resource for small business start-ups and existing small businesses.

“The Business First Step website will be a valuable resource for all businesses seeking information concerning licenses and permits. It will save a great deal of time for small business owners and allow them to concentrate on their business. The site also provides a wealth of information about a wide range of business assistance programs and startup information.  I think Chamber members will find the Business First Steps web site to be an invaluable tool,” said Mark Kleinschmidt, President of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations such as the Small Business Administration Delaware office, Delaware Small Business Development Center, Delaware SCORE, Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Procurement Technical Assistance Center of Delaware, Women’s Business Center at First State Community Loan Fund, and other state offices, such as the Delaware Economic Development Office and the Office of Supplier Diversity, were on hand to show their support for the new site.

“Whether an entrepreneur is a PHD scientist spinning an advanced technology out of the University or a chef trying to open a restaurant in Rehoboth, they have the common need for information on the many steps in the process of taking a business from idea to opening. Bringing this complex set of information together in an easily assessable website that also includes practical ‘how to’s’ and sources of assistance is a huge help to Delaware Businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Business First Steps is a great leap forward,” said Barbara Nercarsulmer, Deputy Director of the Delaware Small Business Development Center.BusinessFirstSteps

Rep. Michael Mulrooney, D-New Castle, another co-chair of the Blue Collar Jobs Task Force, lauded the website as a big step forward for Delaware businesses.

“One of the big complaints we hear is that there are a lot of hoops and hurdles for businesses to jump through to get started and keep being successful,” said Rep. Mulrooney. “This website will streamline processes to make it easier for Delaware businesses to succeed, which creates more opportunities down the line for Delaware workers and consumers. In this case, simple is better, and I hope we see the benefits of this new site soon.”

Fast Facts on Business, Professional, and Industry Licensing in Delaware:

About Emerging Enterprise Center

The Emerging Enterprise Center, a New Castle County Chamber of Commerce Initiative, is a small business incubator designed to provide businesses with a comprehensive program of Support, Advice and Access to resources, in a nurturing environment, so that they can grow their business, develop business skills and graduate with a sustainable business model. www.EECincubator.com

About New Castle County Chamber of Commerce

The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce (http://www.ncccc.com/) is the premier business organization in New Castle County, Delaware. The Chamber advocates for its 1,400 members at all levels of government. The Chamber also sponsors networking and other special events, provides emerging businesses with support and services, offers health and insurance benefits to our members, and oversees a wide range of programs for businesses of all sizes.

About the Small Business Development Center

The Delaware Small Business Development Center is a nationally accredited business assistance program hosted by the University of Delaware Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships. Funded by the Small Business Administration, the State of Delaware and the private sector, SBDC’s advisory services are offered at no cost to the entrepreneur. No matter where the business is in its life cycle, SBDC’s professional business advisors have the real world experience and the technical expertise to help businesses grow and succeed.  SBDC can help businesses expand markets and grow revenue, apply for funding, locate and bid on government contracts, evaluate the feasibility of new opportunities and plan for unforeseen emergencies. SBDC also offers training including free online content available 24/7. See www.delawaresbdc.org for more information.

About the Government Information Center

The Delaware Government Information Center (GIC) assists Delaware government agencies in using the internet, web-based tools, and social media to improve their communications with and services to Delaware residents, businesses and visitors to the state.

Resources for Small Business Owners/”Open for Business” Event Partners*

*Every fourth Thursday of the Month is the New Castle County Open for Business Event, which brings together many of these resource partners and others so that small businesses can easily connect to multiple organizations at one time. The next New Castle County Open for Business event is scheduled for February 26 at the New Castle Chamber of Commerce, 12 Penns Way, New Castle, DE.

*Every first Thursday of the Month is the Kent County Open for Business Event, which brings together many of these resource partners and others so that small businesses can easily connect to multiple organizations at one time. The next Kent County Open for Business event is scheduled for February 5th at 8am at Kent County Levy Court, 555 Bay Road Room 220, Dover DE.

*Every third Thursday of the Month is the Sussex County Open for Business Event, which brings together many of these resource partners and others so that small businesses can easily connect to multiple organizations at one time. The next Sussex County Open for Business event is scheduled for February 19 at 8:30am at the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center at the Georgetown Airport, 21911 Rudder Lane, Georgetown DE.

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Delaware Small Business Summit to detail new opportunities

Executive Order #44 has opened the door wider to more small businesses throughout the state

Dover, DE – The State of Delaware prides itself on its business friendliness and willingness to provide opportunities and access to the small business sector.

The recent signing of Executive Order #44 fosters that spirit of inclusion by establishing a Small Business Focus Program. The program increases access to state procurement opportunities for small businesses of a certain size, which promotes transparency and real opportunities for a broader range of small businesses in Delaware. The program also ensures representation for businesspeople with disabilities so that these individuals are included in the state’s supplier diversity initiatives.

These new opportunities and other small business initiatives will be detailed at the 2014 Delaware Small Business Summit, which will be held on Nov. 18 at Dover Downs in Dover. The half-day program begins at 7:30 a.m.

Executive Order #44, signed by Gov. Jack Markell on March 26, 2014, ensures “representation of minority and/or women business enterprises, veteran-owned businesses and businesses owned by individuals with disabilities.”

“Delaware’s small business sector is crucial to our economy, and we need to do all that we can to make sure that all entrepreneurs have a chance to turn their great ideas into successful companies,” Gov. Markell said. “Across the country, many people with disabilities have not been given the opportunities to build successful careers despite their considerable talents. Our supplier diversity efforts can help ensure they are fairly considered to work with the state. And their success will not only be important to their futures, but also to the future of our state.”

Gov. Markell will be the keynote speaker at the 2014 Small Business Summit, which will include two panel discussions: One with state small business leaders, and a second describing the state’s initiatives towards entrepreneurship and business ownership for individuals with disabilities throughout Delaware. The summit will also feature a presentation on the details of the Small Business Focus Program by the Office of Supplier Diversity.

“The Delaware Small Business Summit will reveal new opportunities created by the Small Business Focus Program for individuals with disabilities and smaller businesses throughout the state,” said Ken Anderson, Director for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Support for the Delaware Economic Development Office and Chair of the Governor’s Supplier Diversity Council. “This program will not dilute opportunities from qualified, traditional supplier diversity constituents, but will now include more small businesses that have previously been excluded from the state’s supplier diversity community. This program and the other recent policy initiatives of the Governor’s Supplier Diversity Council will go a long way toward making Delaware’s state procurement process one of the most transparent, nimble and business-friendly in the nation.”

The Small Business Focus Program established by the order is a race and gender neutral small business program for small businesses of a certain size in six different industry sectors:

  • Architecture & Engineering services
  • Construction
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail
  • Service
  • Wholesale

“Delaware’s small business community includes an abundance of high-quality companies, brilliant entrepreneurs and long-standing pillars of our community. To exclude anyone of these entities or individuals would be a disservice not only to them but also to our state,” said Alan Levin, Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office. “This executive order and the accompanying programs created by it are not just about leveling the playing field; it’s about making sure that every business has a chance to compete.”

To register, visit the Delaware Economic Development Office’s website.


Businesses selected for Project Pop-Up 2014

Participation more than doubles for state program, which offers rent-free commercial space

Dover, DE – Last year, five entrepreneurs jumped at an opportunity offered by the State of Delaware and used it to achieve their dreams of moving into a brick-and-mortar location.

Using last year’s success as a springboard for 2014, Project Pop-Up has more than doubled that number, as 13 businesses will participate in the program this holiday season.

Project Pop-Up, a joint effort between the Delaware Economic Development Office and Downtown Delaware, offers three months of rent-free commercial space and the assistance of a business advisor from October through December. The program also helps to spur economic development in towns across the state by placing businesses in renovated properties that were once vacant.

“The success of Delaware’s talented and hard-working entrepreneurs is vital to our state’s present and future economy,” Gov. Jack Markell said. “Project Pop-Up has proven to position them for long-term success, helping to turn their great ideas into thriving businesses, while reinvigorating vacant properties in our downtowns. Combined with initiatives like expanding the research and development tax credit for small businesses and reforming state regulations, this initiative is an essential part of our efforts to unleash the potential of Delaware’s small business community.

The following businesses will take part in Project Pop-Up 2014 and will open on Oct. 1:

  • Fresh Faced Skin Care, LLC, owned by Erica Suppa, 104 West Main Street, Middletown
  • Max Tax, LLC, owned by Gary and Nicole Kennedy, 202 North Union St., Wilmington
  • Patty Cakes, LLC, owned by Latricia Vicks, 22 South Walnut St., Milford
  • Skin by Hillary, LLC, owned by Hillary Reid, 105 Federal St., Milton
  • WineKnot21, LLC, owned by Amy Conroy, 113 Union Street Unit F, Milton

This year will also see the addition of a Project Pop-Up Incubator at 9th and Shipley streets in Wilmington, which will include the following businesses:

  • Barrel of Makers, owned by Jesse Taylor
  • Cherné Altovise Jewelry, owned by Cherné Bishop
  • Dolley’s Sweet Cakes, owned by Andrienne Dolley
  • Fit Body Personal Training, owned by Ositadinma Ofuani
  • FLYOGI, owned by Jason Aviles
  • London Rocks Kids, owned by Damaris Colon
  • MIZ INK, owned by Michael Hill
  • Tasty Couture, owned by Theresa Holland

“The expansion of this year’s Pop-Up program to include a three-month incubator in the City of Wilmington will create an opportunity for early stage entrepreneurs to market test their products and services, during the holiday season, in an active downtown location,” said Ken Anderson, director for entrepreneurial and small business support for DEDO. “We are confident that a number of these businesses will be in a better position to pursue longer-term lease arrangements going forward.”

Last year’s Project Pop-Up participants included 302 Fitness, a personal training studio and small group workout center in Milton owned by John Lehne; Milton Wellness Center of Delaware, owned by Dr. Bill Shearer and Mary Van House; Milford Massage, Wellness and Yoga, owned by Paige Deiner; Royal Treatments, a home décor and window treatments business in downtown Smyrna owned by Karen Gill; and Computers Fixed Today, owned by Theo Morgan and located in Dover.

“The response to last year’s program was just phenomenal, and we couldn’t be happier with the fact that we were able to more than double the number of participating businesses,” said Diane Laird, State Coordinator for Downtown Delaware. “What was most encouraging was our ability to help last year’s businesses sign long-term leases beyond the holiday season. We hope to replicate that success this year.”

Last year, all five businesses signed long-term leases and continue to do business in the communities in which they were established.

Deiner’s business did so well that it outgrew its space and moved to a larger location less than a mile away. Since she first opened her business with the help of Project Pop-Up, Milford Massage has quadrupled its business, compiling in one day what it used to bring in over a week.

“I don’t think any of this would have been possible without Project Pop-Up,” Deiner said. “It was hard to take that risk and invest in something that I was unsure about. Project Pop-Up not only gave us a start, but it gave us constant support. It gave me the opportunity to work toward that dream with confidence.”

Project Pop-Up represents a “graduation phase” of DEDO’s support of small business, which begins with programs like Start It Up Delaware and continues with the Kauffman FastTrac Program, said Alan Levin, Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office.

“Every big business started out as a small business. We provide financial assistance and support for small businesses because they are the future of our economy,” Levin said. “Project Pop-Up has been successful at identifying those individuals who are willing to take the leap and move ahead with their vision. These men and women will lead Delaware’s economy for years to come, and we will gladly support their efforts long after the ink dries on their first long-term lease.”

About the Delaware Economic Development Office

The Delaware Economic Development Office is an executive state agency responsible for attracting new investors and businesses to the state, promoting the expansion of existing industry, assisting small and minority-owned businesses, promoting and developing tourism and creating new and improved employment opportunities for all citizens of the State. Visit dedo.delaware.gov.

About Downtown Delaware

Downtown Delaware, a program of the Delaware Economic Development Office, provides Delaware’s historic downtowns, communities, and small businesses with tools to revitalize their commercial districts, increase entrepreneurial opportunity, and enhance quality of place. To learn more about the Main Street program, visit www.delawaremainstreet.com.

Contact:

Peter Bothum Delaware Economic Development Office peter.bothum@delaware.gov Office: 302-672-6857 Cell: 302-632-6665