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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Michelle Reardon |
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Friday, May 12, 2000 |
302/577-8701 |
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Dover - Referring to Dover as a city that has "displayed incredible employment potential, a top-notch quality of life, outstanding educational standards, [and] opportunities for companies interested in relocating," Employment Review magazine named Dover, Delaware as one of the best small cities to live and work in its May issue. "Dover is one of Delaware's jewels," Governor Thomas R. Carper said. "Since 1683 when William Penn commissioned the building of the state's Capital in Dover, our historic city has embodied Delaware's past and also demonstrated that it is very much a part of the 21st Century economy, with significant job growth and unemployment remaining low. This national study illustrates that this Administration's economic development strategy is successfully promoting the city of Dover and all of Kent County as a premiere location to live and work." Employment Review magazine researched 300 U.S. cities, comparing population, unemployment rates, cost of living and job opportunities as factors for its decision. Sarasota, Florida, Austin, Texas, Ft. Worth, Texas, Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Salt Lake City, Utah were the top five large cities, according to this survey. In addition to the large city recognition, for the first time ever Employment Review magazine named 10 small cities "for job seekers looking for a much quieter lifestyle." A recent study conducted by the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) shows Kent County is in a prime position for company and job growth. Over the past 30 years, the county's labor force has more than doubled while the number of new companies has increased by over 10% in the last decade. The State's economic development strategy includes providing high quality jobs throughout Delaware. In Kent County, two recent initiatives have provided the potential for an influx of technology businesses to the City of Dover. On Monday, Director Darrell J. Minott of the Delaware Economic Development Office requested $3 million over two years from the General Assembly's Bond Bill Committee for the construction of a 20,000 square foot Technology Business Incubator, to be located at Delaware State University. Director Minott said on Monday, "this facility will provide a supportive environment for start-up technology businesses with necessary resources that will help them to quickly become viable and independent. An incubator in Kent County will help draw technology companies to the area, and will be a key component of the state's economic development strategy." A second initiative is the City of Dover's Garrison Oak Technology Park, a 400+ acre tract located east of State Route 1. Garrison Oak, the City's first Technology Park, will be a location for new companies or those considering relocating to Central Delaware. DEDO, in coordination with the City of Dover, is currently marketing the site to potential businesses. Both of these initiatives stand to further improve the City of Dover's renown as one of the nation's best places to live and work. For more information about the survey, visit www.BestJobsUSA.com. |
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