DOVER (April 20, 2017) – The Governor’s Welfare Employment Committee announced the winners of its 2017 TANF Employment Awards of Excellence as it recognized 39 employers in Delaware who hire, train and maintain positive working relationships with employees who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, and 47 TANF clients who have succeeded in […]

Plan will create new public-private entity and new economic development division at the Department of State WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney announced a plan on Wednesday to create a public-private partnership and strategically realign Delaware’s economic development efforts, with a new focus on promoting innovation, supporting Delaware’s entrepreneurs, and leveraging private sector resources to […]

House Bill 180, sponsored by Representative Baumbach, has bipartisan support in General Assembly DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney and members of the General Assembly announced legislation on Thursday that would expand protections for Delawareans affected by computer security breaches. The bipartisan legislation, House Bill 180, is sponsored by Representative Paul Baumbach. Additional sponsors include […]

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Sunday published an op-ed in The News Journal titled, “Innovation is Delaware’s path to jobs and prosperity.” In the op-ed, Governor Carney outlines what his administration is doing differently to transition Delaware’s economy, to keep the state competitive, and to make sure Delaware is positioned to create good-paying […]

Department of Labor bus will connect Wilmington residents with job-seeking resources in their communities WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, and Delaware Labor Secretary Patrice Gilliam-Johnson announced a new initiative on Wednesday to send employment services teams into various communities in Wilmington using a specially-equipped bus dubbed the Mobile One-Stop (MOS) […]

October 10, 2017 As part of its ongoing work monitoring and tracking the state’s Foreign Labor Certification and Migrant Seasonal Farm Worker activities, officials from the Delaware Department ofLabor paid a recent visit to Kent and Sussex County farms enrolled in the programs. DOL Secretary Dr. Patrice Gilliam-Johnson was joined by Deputy Secretary Karryl McManus, Division […]

“Delawareans deserve clean air,” says Governor John Carney  WILMINGTON, Del. – Delaware announced today its intent to send four Notice of Intent to Sue letters to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding air pollution that comes into Delaware from other states. The NOI letters, as required by the federal Clean Air Act, inform the […]

Grant will help Delaware support high-risk youth and families in Wilmington, and bolster work of Family Services Cabinet Council WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney announced on Wednesday that Delaware has received an 18-month training and technical assistance grant from the University of Pennsylvania’s Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP) Integrated Data System Learning Community […]

Division of Revenue Director Jennifer R. Hudson has announced that the Delaware individual income tax season will begin on Monday, January 29, 2018, concurrently with the opening of the federal individual tax season announced by the IRS. While this is slightly later than previous years, the January 29 date was set to ensure the security […]

Pathways provides high school and postsecondary students with the opportunity to gain work-based learning experiences for in-demand careers WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday announced a $3.25 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to expand access to economic opportunity for Delaware students. Funding will help bolster the Delaware Pathways program, which provides high school […]

THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND THE STATE REHABILITATION COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF WORKPLACE INCLUSION AT ITS ANNUAL RECOGNITION AWARDS LUNCHEON Wilmington, DE, December 6, 2018 — The Delaware Department of Labor’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) will celebrate workplace inclusion by honoring the value and contribution […]

PRESS EVENT Delaware to Launch First Restaurant Apprenticeship Program Secretary of Labor to host program launch, in partnership with the Delaware Restaurant Association   Wilmington, DE May 13, 2019 – Delaware will start the state’s first Registered Apprenticeship Program for culinary professionals in the restaurant industry, an important expansion of Registered Apprenticeship programs beyond the […]

If you are an independent contractor or a self-employed worker in Delaware and want to receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) as detailed in the CARES Act, please review and follow the steps detailed below.   Step 1: Apply for traditional UI benefits. Get started by visiting the website ui.delawareworks.com   Step 2: Receive a denial […]

  For Immediate Release July 20, 2020 Contact: Kenneth Briscoe Director of Communications Kenneth.Briscoe@delaware.gov   (Wilmington, DE) – The Delaware Department of Labor announced today that Delaware has already begun offering the Federal-State Extended Benefits program for those who have exhausted their previous unemployment benefits.   Delaware’s most recent insured unemployment rate (IUR) exceeded the […]

For Immediate Release July 22, 2020 Contact: Kenneth Briscoe Director of Communications Kenneth.Briscoe@delaware.gov   (Wilmington, DE) –  PHASE 2 of Governor John Carney’s Economic Reopening plan began on June 15, 2020. During this rolling reopening of the state’s economy, the restrictions put in place by Governor Carney in March 2020 to reduce the spread of […]

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday August 21, 2020 MEDIA CONTACT: Kenneth Briscoe kenneth.briscoe@delaware.gov   (Wilmington, DE) – Today, the Delaware Department of Labor (DEDOL) announced that Delaware will apply for the Lost Wages Assistance Program through the United States Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).   As outlined by FEMA and the United States Department of Labor, […]

WILMINGTON (Sept. 8, 2020) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Delaware’s application to receive Lost Wages Assistance funding from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. On August 8, 2020, President Trump made available up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have lost wages due to the […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2020   MEDIA CONTACT: Kenneth Briscoe Delaware Department of Labor Communications Coordinator kenneth.briscoe@delaware.gov   Thursday, October 1, 2020, The Delaware Department of Labor announced that the effective date of The Delaware Contractor Registration Act has been extended to July 1, 2021.    On September 28, 2020, Governor John Carney […]

Delaware Department of Labor receives $9,193,902 from the H1B One Workforce Grant to provide more economic growth opportunities in the IT Industry.   WILMINGTON, DE – The Delaware Department of Labor (DE DOL) works with partners in the Information Technology (IT) sector to build pathways through educational, training, and work-based learning opportunities for Delaware citizens […]

Wilmington, Delaware February 22, 2021 Delaware Department of Labor FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   WILMINGTON, DE – Delaware Department of Labor has added new functionality to the Delaware JobLink (joblink.delaware.gov), a website created to support employers looking for qualified candidates, and individuals seeking employment.   The current website offers individuals the ability to search for jobs, […]

THE NEW YEAR BRINGS LEADERSHIP CHANGES TO THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR   WILMINGTON, DE (February 23, 2021) – The Delaware Department of Labor has announced leadership changes for the organization. Karryl Hubbard will now serve as the new Delaware Secretary of Labor, Rachel Turney will serve as the incoming Deputy Cabinet Secretary, and Richard […]

Getting Tax Credit for Your Employees Just Got Easier: Introducing the New Delaware CertLink Delaware Businesses can receive up to $9,600 in tax credits per employee for hiring members of target groups by visiting the newly updated Delaware CertLink, located at https://certlink.delaware.gov/ Many businesses have struggled as a result of the ongoing pandemic and finding ways […]

The U.S. Department of Justice has received reports that fraudsters are creating websites mimicking unemployment benefit websites, including state workforce agency (SWA) websites, and Facebook pages to unlawfully capture consumers’ personal information.   To lure consumers to these fake websites, fraudsters send spam text messages and emails purporting to be from an SWA and containing […]

WILMINGTON, DE – Delaware Department of Labor Secretary Karryl Hubbard appeared before the United States Congressional Future of Work Caucus this week to discuss how the State of Delaware is supporting residents seeking employment services. The 19-member Congressional Future of Work Caucus is co-chaired by the U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-DE) and U.S. Representative Bryan […]

    Wilmington, DE – The Delaware Department of Labor (DE DOL) is sponsoring several job fairs in September and October in an effort to help job seekers and employers fill the thousands of job opportunities that are available across the state. DE DOL is hosting the next multi-employer Job Fair on Thursday, Sept. 30 […]

WILMINGTON, Del —The Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy, a Division of the Delaware Department of Human Resources, in partnership with the Delaware Departments of Labor and Education, released a new report titled- Delaware Women in the Construction Trades: A Path to Economic Security. The report examines the current state of women working in the […]

In observance of Worker’s Memorial Day, the Delaware Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Safety and Health Consultation is proud to announce the launch of SafeDE (pronounced Safe-DEE-EEE). This groundbreaking initiative signifies our dedication to enhancing workplace safety throughout Delaware, honoring the memory of workers who have tragically lost their lives on the job. SafeDE […]

With the assistance of the Delaware Farmers’ Market Coalition, a group of market managers from across the state, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is issuing protocols to help farmers’ markets safely begin opening starting May 15.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) issued guidance today to help local U-Pick farms safely open to the public for the season. This guidance will help farm staff and visitors to U-Pick farm operations participate in a safe manner to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Delaware announces 24th consecutive round of easement selections for Aglands Program DOVER, Del.  — Delaware announced its 24th consecutive round of easement selections by the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation. With the preservation of another 5,500 acres, Delaware has permanently preserved more than 139,000 acres of farmland for future generations. In a recent report by […]

Through a virtual confirmation hearing, the Delaware Senate confirmed and appointed Mark Collins to lead the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation Board of Trustees.

The Delaware Forest Service’s Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program has awarded more than $18,000 to six volunteer fire departments to help boost their capability and readiness to respond to wildfires.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) received reports over the weekend from several Delawareans who received unsolicited packages of seeds in shipments from China. Based on information provided by constituents, the packages were sent by mail and may have Chinese writing on them. Anyone who has received such a package is asked to report the shipment to the Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance Program (SITC) by calling the Smuggling Hotline at 1-800-877-3835. Recipients are asked to leave everything inside the package to help investigators trace the origin. No one should ever plant seeds they did not order because they could be an invasive species.

Over the past week, Delawareans continued to receive unsolicited packages of mysterious seeds appearing to originate in China. Due to the increased volume of people reporting the receipt of illegally shipped seeds, USDA has requested the assistance of the state departments of agriculture in collecting seeds from residents. The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) has processed more than 40 packages of seeds to be tested by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

The Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation voted to extend district enrollment until December 31, 2020 to any agricultural landowners who want to preserve their farms. These landowners will have the opportunity to apply for Round 25 in 2021. Farms must be enrolled in a preservation district before the landowner can submit a bid to sell an easement.

The Delaware Forest Service is sending its wildfire crew to New Mexico as a steep increase in lightning-caused fires has pushed the National Preparedness Level to 5 on a 5-point scale, its highest level. Critical fire weather continues throughout the West. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the majority of the fire activity remains in Arizona and California, where over 1.5 million acres have burned. So far this year, more than 38,767 fires have burned 3.7 million acres. Delaware has trained more than 600 firefighters since 1996 and battled wildfires in numerous states, including: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. http://de.gov/wildfire

Delaware's wildfire crew is returning to the First State after successfully battling blazes on a 14-day assignment in Arizona and California. Delaware's 21-person team mobilized at Blackbird State Forest in Smyrna on August 28. On August 30 they were assigned to the Griffin Fire, a 61,821-acre blaze in Arizona's Tonto National Forest in the U.S. Forest Service's Southwest Region. They subsequently took on the Rockhouse Fire, a 19,506-acre blaze on land managed by the San Carlos Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, located 22 miles southeast of San Carlos, AZ. On September 9, they were transferred to the Southern California Geographic Area and assigned to the Valley Fire, which has consumed 17,665 acres in the Cleveland National Forest and located 19 miles northeast of Chula Vista, CA. The crew is expected to arrive back at Blackbird State Forest in Smyrna, Delaware by Friday afternoon, September 18.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is administering the program and will be accepting applications until December 1, 2020.

DOVER, Del. (October 29, 2020) – Effective October 30, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) will add Kent County in its entirety to the current spotted lanternfly quarantine of New Castle County. The expansion is due to established populations of spotted lanternfly found in Smyrna, Dover, and Harrington this past week. At this point in […]

Along with the Delaware Nutrient Management Program’s annual report mailing, Delaware farmers are being encouraged to complete an additional 16-question implementation questionnaire. The questionnaire aims to measure nutrient applications and environmental deeds, allowing Delaware to recognize farmers for their stewardship efforts in 2020.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is reminding hemp producers to register their growing sites using the annual Growing Site Registration form to register available online before February 1.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is offering extensions and COVID credit exemptions for individuals who have exhausted all options in earning their continuing education credits needed to maintain their nutrient management or pesticide certifications.

The Delaware Forest Service (DFS) is always looking for motivated recruits to join its wildland fire crew. There is no cost for training and no previous experience necessary. Candidates must be over 18 years, willing to learn, physically fit, and able to travel for at least two weeks at a time, usually in the summer months. In a typical year, the DFS would offer its in-person classes over several weekends in Dover. This year, all required courses for new firefighters will be offered online through the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) and Federal Emergency Management Agency websites. The complete list of courses and links to online training are at https://de.gov/firecrew

Delaware fruit and vegetable growers who receive a passing score on their third-party food safety audits and agricultural water tests are eligible to receive cost-share to help cover the expense through the Delaware Department of Agriculture.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is warning anyone who purchased turtles, specifically the red-eared slider turtle, between August 2020 and January 2021 to take extra precautions to prevent illness.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is the first state agency in the United States to make a pledge that supports the 1t.org global goal to conserve, restore, and grow one trillion trees by 2030.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for anticipated funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. DDA anticipates more than $344,000 to be allocated to increase the competitiveness of Delaware-grown specialty crops. Applications will be accepted through April 20, 2021.

Visitors to Delaware state forests can now use a mobile phone to locate trails, hunting stands, or parking areas using the Avenza Maps® mobile app (available for iPhone or Android devices from the App Store or Google Play.) All state forest maps are free to download. The app uses the phone's built-in GPS to locate it on the map, even when the device is out of range of a network or Internet connection. Users can select a particular map of interest, which can be downloaded and stored on their phone. A blue dot follows users wherever they go so they always know where they are on the map. More info at de.gov/forestmaps

The Delaware Forest Service and its new "Tree Stewards" program led more than 50 volunteers and town officials to plant 160 trees in Milton, Sussex County on Saturday, April 24. The trees will enhance the town's hiking and biking trail near West Shore Drive, part of DelDOT's  "Rails to Trails" project in Sussex County. Delaware’s urban and community forestry program funded the cost of the trees and provided technical assistance. 

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) received an additional round of funding to enhance the competitiveness of Delaware-grown specialty crops through USDA’s Pandemic Assistance Program. USDA awarded each state department of agriculture an allocation based upon their most recent available value of specialty crop cash receipts and acreage of specialty crop production in the state. As a result, Delaware received an additional $465,433 under H.R. 133 – the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 133 Stimulus Funding) to distribute through a competitive grant process.