20 November 2019 – 

This month, we had an opportunity to meet with Becky Harrington, Director of Business Development, to chat about Delaware’s economic development efforts. Below, she shares some background and insights about the Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) and its role in helping the state attract new jobs and companies. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)

Like most state economic development organizations, when the DPP was formed, it focused on creating new jobs and investment in Delaware. These efforts focus on four areas:

1. Attraction – Focusing on bringing new companies here
2. Expansion – Engaging and supporting existing employers
3. Innovation – Convening and supporting new, emerging sectors
4. Talent – Enhancing the state’s talent pool and supporting employers in their workforce needs

Most states focus on the first three areas, but the fourth area has been increasing in importance across the nation. The emphasis on workforce and talent cultivation has become an increasingly important element of attracting new companies and retaining existing employers. As a result, DPP has a focus on talent attraction, to complement what Delaware Technical Community College and other colleges and universities are doing. We want to further strengthen Delaware’s talent pipeline with a two-pronged approached – by developing local talent and attracting employees from outside the state. We have some exciting initiatives that will help Delaware stay competitive.

Our economic development efforts are fueled by strong partnerships. We include our statewide partners when we engage with new companies and site selectors. Because of these valuable partnerships, prospects considering Delaware are able to ask peer companies important questions about the business climate, labor force, taxes, and quality of life.

Delaware’s Collaborative Spirit

In Delaware, we often say that we are bigger because of our size. We can easily access elected officials, regulatory agency leaders, and community leaders to help our clients and prospects. When a prospect sees how cooperative our state is, it makes it easy to visualize how Delaware can be a good fit for their company.

Delaware’s Pro-Business Attitude

We have a pro-business attitude in Delaware, both on the government side and corporate leadership side. It is exciting to be here working with DPP – From Governor John Carney to our Congressional delegation to our private sector investors, there is a great focus on creating the right kind of jobs and the right kind of investments in our state.

If you’re looking to grow or expand your business or would like to learn how our Delaware economic development agency can help you, contact us today at (302) 477-7497.