FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006

Christine E. Serio, 302.672.6857

Dover -  The Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) and officials from the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration announced the dates for the next series of public meetings for a statewide economic development plan that will stimulate business, foster a diversified economy and improve the quality of life for workers and residents across all areas of Delaware. The project is the development of a blue print for a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

"In Delaware, we are a small and diverse state," said Delaware Economic Development Office Director Judy McKinney-Cherry. "We may live in different areas; however, many of our needs are universal. From Selbyville to Claymont, from Seaford to Newark, we all want good jobs that provide for our families. We want a strong and stable economy that affords us growth and reassurance for our future. This comprehensive economic development plan will build on our state's inherent strengths and provide a first-time statewide county and state plan. The plan will ensure that Delaware's economy will grow and remain vital in the future. We encourage all Delaware residents to attend the meetings and share their views on how to continue toward future success."

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy will be the first statewide economic plan and the first time the counties and states will be working toward the same goals. The development of the plan calls allows for local involvement and participation.

The DEDO program is being implemented and facilitated by a team at the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration.

The Sussex County Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 11 from 4 to 6 pm at the Lewes Public Library at 111 Adams Ave, in Lewes.

The New Castle County Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 from 3 to 6 pm at WILMAPCO, 850 Library Avenue, Suite 100, in Newark.

The next State Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Delaware Tech Terry Campus (Corporate Training Center, Room 400), Dover.

The Kent County Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Kent County Administrative Building, Room 220, in Dover.

"Creating this strategic blueprint for economic growth and vitality is a grassroots effort, calling on the collaboration of residents, community and civic groups, private industry, academia and state and municipal governments," Cherry said. "Committees representing each of the three counties provide their valuable input and ideas in formulating this statewide economic development plan."

This economic development strategy will foster federal and local partnerships to address Delaware's economic development efforts. The creation of this plan is required to qualify for Economic Development Administration (EDA) assistance and serves as a prerequisite for economic development district designation by the federal organization. EDA's policy is to direct its investment in targeted areas on strategies resulting from locally-controlled participatory planning processes established to development and maintain long-term economic development plans.

Meetings and public workshops will be held over the next several months in all three counties to collect and formulate input, projects, ideas and action plans.

The Delaware Economic Development Office, 99 Kings Highway, Dover, DE, is dedicated to retaining and creating quality jobs for Delawareans. For more information, call 302.739.4271 or visit www.state.de.us/dedo and click on CEDS.