FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 24, 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 announce the public workshops to solicit public insight and feedback on the committee work for the statewide economic development strategy.

The public workshops are part of a series of meetings and workshops 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 blueprint for a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

The New Castle County public workshop will be held on Tuesday, February 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Delaware Technical and Community College, Stanton Campus, Room 114/116, in Newark.

The Kent County public workshop will be open to the public on Wednesday, March 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Delaware Technical and Community College Terry Campus, Corporate Training Center, Room 400B, in Dover.

The Sussex County public workshop will be held on Thursday, March 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Delaware Technical and Community College Owens Campus, William Carter Partnership Building, Room 535 A and B, in Georgetown.

The final workshop, the State public workshop, will be held on Wednesday, March 29, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Delaware Technical and Community College Terry Campus, Corporate Training Center, Room 400B, in Dover.

""We encourage all community members interested in the future of the State of Delaware's economy and the future of their families to attend the workshops," Director Judy McKinney-Cherry of the DEDO said. "The public workshops are an opportunity for the general public to review the work done by the committee and to comment or ask questions about the vision, goals, objectives, strategies developed by the committee."

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy will be the first statewide economic plan and the first time the counties and state will be working toward the same goals. The development of the plan calls 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.

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.

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.