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July 5, 2001

JENNIFER BOES, 302.672.6840

(Wilmington, Del.) Expansion Management, one of the world's leading site and facility location magazines, recently named Wilmington/Newark among the top 50 metropolitan areas in the U.S. when it comes to high quality of life.

Wilmington/Newark earned the distinction of a "Five Star Community" in the magazine's annual Quality of Life Quotient rankings, which is reserved for the top 15 percent of the country's 329 metropolitan areas. Nearly 50 statistical categories are considered, including the ability of individuals to meet their financial needs, cost of housing and rentals, crime rate, unemployment rate, access to transportation, quality of public schools, proximity to community colleges and universities, the education level of the local workforce, as well as state and local tax rates.

"This latest accolade further attests that our state is one of the most enjoyable, affordable, and safest places to live in the country. Delaware's high quality of life has helped us earn national recognition for a superior business growth climate," stated John D. Wik, Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office.

In 2000, Forbes ranked Wilmington/Newark and Dover among the "Top 25 Best Places for Business and Careers," and Employment Review listed Dover as one of the best small cities in which to live and work. Site Selection has named Delaware fourth in the country for quality of life.

Expansion Management is mailed to more than 45,000 CEOs, vice presidents, directors and other executives of small- to mid-sized companies that have indicated they are considering expanding into new geographic areas. This is the third year the magazine has conducted the 2001 Quality of Life Quotient. For a copy of the Quality of Life Quotient 2001 article, go to www.ExpansionManagement.com.

For more information on the Delaware Economic Development Office, visit www.state.de.us/dedo.