AGP Executive Report

Transportation Funding: Delaware’s task force is weighing 37 proposals to shore up road, bridge and transit funding, including the state’s first fuel-tax increase in 30 years and higher developer fees. Public input is next as officials plan for billions in needs over two decades. Health Technology: UD opened a $21.5 million, federally funded institute to develop human-centered AI for rehabilitation, with five universities and 40 partners involved. Energy Costs: Gov. Matt Meyer joined a bipartisan governors’ coalition seeking more influence over PJM grid decisions and protections against rising electricity bills for families and businesses. Downtown Investment: Millsboro’s new state development-district designation makes it eligible for incentives to support local businesses, housing and redevelopment. Development Rules: A new Delaware law changes traffic-impact reviews and establishes county-based transportation fees, aiming to make project permitting more predictable.

Downtown Investment: Millsboro’s new Downtown Development District designation opens access to state and local incentives, with the town eyeing its 1930s Millstone Theater as a regional arts destination. Development Rules: Delaware’s ROAD-DE Act replaces the traffic-study trip threshold with a 500 peak-hour-trip standard and creates county-based transportation impact fees, aiming to make permitting more predictable; the law also exempts designated districts from traffic studies. AI and Health Care: The University of Delaware has launched a five-university AI institute backed by a $21.5 million federal award, linking robotics and computing research to rehabilitation tools and workforce training. Housing and Construction: Gov. Matt Meyer has signed housing-development reforms, while work advances on the $50 million Route 54 bridge project in Fenwick Island to improve travel for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Creative Industries: Delaware is seeking to attract out-of-state film investment and create in-state work through a new film tax credit.

Research & Health Tech: The University of Delaware will lead a five-year, $21.5 million federal initiative bringing human-centered AI into rehabilitation care, including treatment for stroke survivors and amputees. Construction & Housing: Gov. Matt Meyer has signed reforms intended to speed permitting, coordinate development with transportation needs and encourage more affordable housing—changes with direct stakes for builders and local communities. Business Regulation: Delaware has significantly expanded its consumer data privacy law, reshaping compliance obligations for businesses handling personal information. Energy Infrastructure: Eastern Shore Natural Gas is seeking federal approval for a $75 million Delmarva pipeline expansion. Agriculture & Health Care: More than $1 million in federal funding will help Delaware build a Food is Medicine network linking patients with nutritious meals and groceries, with local foods a priority. Workforce: A national shortage of skilled tradespeople is delaying construction projects, as data center demand and an aging workforce add pressure on employers. Creative Industries: Delaware is using a film tax credit to attract outside investment and bring production work into the state.

Housing and Construction: Gov. Matt Meyer ceremonially highlighted two laws designed to speed development and lower costs. They require local housing plans, allow qualifying projects to move through “by-right” review and coordinate new growth with transportation needs. Business Compliance: Delaware’s expanded consumer privacy law takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, widening its reach and adding requirements for businesses that handle personal data. Health and Agriculture: More than $1 million in federal funding will support a Delaware Food is Medicine system, with UD, Beebe Healthcare and Deloitte working to connect patients with nutritious food. AI and Health Care: UD is leading a five-year, $21.5 million university collaboration to develop human-centered AI, starting with tools to help clinicians tailor physical rehabilitation. Wilmington Business: Villa Italiana, the Molina family’s first Delaware restaurant, opened downtown as the family expands its regional restaurant business.

Energy & Policy: The Supreme Court is weighing whether cities and states can pursue climate lawsuits against oil companies; Delaware is among the states that have sued, making the case a potential turning point for energy-sector liability. Delaware Tech: Delaware City-based Bake3D launched an AI platform that turns images into animated 3D assets, while Wilmington’s Diamond Technologies was named a finalist in two national IT and cybersecurity awards. Construction: DelDOT closed Nassau Road in Lewes through mid-January for roundabout work, disrupting access for nearby businesses. Economic Development: Delaware’s new film tax credit aims to attract out-of-state production spending and keep work in-state. Manufacturing & Jobs: Delaware employers filed 196 H-1B petitions in manufacturing in 2025, about 14% of the state’s total.

Data & Infrastructure: A Wyoming county is grappling with a massive $66 billion data center plan near Lysite, after a smaller prototype facility already took shape—raising new questions about zoning control, water use, and power demand. Local Business & Community: Delaware-based Focus Multisports donated $10,000 to the Bethany Beach Independence Day celebration after its Firecracker 5K. Real Estate & Media: Monument Sotheby’s Coastal Division hired Rileigh Wilson as a social media content creator to spotlight coastal Delaware homes and communities. Tech & Jobs: Bake3D Inc. launched an AI-powered 3D generation, rigging, and motion engine aimed at turning images into production-ready assets for games and film. Healthcare Access: La Red Health Center in Georgetown won $10.1 million in federal support under Delaware’s Rural Health Transformation Program. Utilities & Water: Artesian Resources announced leadership changes, including a new CIO overseeing IT, cybersecurity, and systems supporting water and wastewater operations. Food & Retail: Wawa and Sheetz tied for second nationally in a convenience store customer satisfaction study. Legal & Finance: Delaware’s Liquidia faces investor scrutiny after a Delaware court ruling tied to its Yutrepia patent infringement. Energy & Environment: Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to expand New York City reservoir capacity as drought planning continues across the multi-state watershed.

Food & Retail Safety: A frozen-berry recall tied to potential E. coli has been expanded again, now including additional Great Value berry blends sold at Walmart and a Trader Joe’s mixed-berry product, with shoppers urged to check UPCs and “best if used by” dates. Environmental Funding: New federal Chesapeake Bay conservation grants total about $23.4M (with matching funds bringing impact to roughly $44.5M), including a Ducks Unlimited wetland project spanning Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Delaware Coastal Cleanup: DNREC reports more than 1,200 volunteers removed over 3,800 pounds of trash (about 21,000 items) from Delaware shorelines before a nor’easter. Construction & Workforce: Power Home Remodeling earned #2 on Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Construction list for the fourth straight year. Tech & Crypto/Finance: Auddia canceled a rescheduled Delaware-law merger vote to align with expanded AI infrastructure plans; Devolver Digital shareholders voted to take the Wilmington-registered indie publisher private. Local Business/Community: Delaware’s debate over taxes and spending sharpened after progressive primary wins, while Delaware’s Order of the First State honored 10 recipients.

Fuel-Efficiency Fight: A coalition of cities, counties and states challenged NHTSA’s new, weaker corporate average fuel economy standards in federal appeals court, arguing the rule is unlawful and ignores decades of science. Delaware Courts: Chancery allowed Boehringer Ingelheim to proceed with discovery in its trade secrets fight against United Therapeutics, but denied a rushed forensic schedule; a Delaware judge also reprimanded Eversheds in a separate case without monetary sanctions. Climate Liability Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court took up whether cities can sue energy companies over climate-change harms in state court, a decision that could reshape costs for the power and oil-and-gas sectors. Delaware Environment: DNREC’s Sept. coastal cleanup drew 1,200+ volunteers, removing 3,800+ pounds and about 21,000 items from Delaware shorelines and waterways ahead of a nor’easter. Food Safety: Frozen berry recalls tied to possible E. coli expanded again, adding Trader Joe’s and more Walmart lots, including Delaware. Energy & Industry: First Solar sued JA Solar and an American distributor in Delaware over TOPCon solar patent claims, while Delaware’s bankruptcy docket continues to track Pleasants Power’s restructuring. Local Economy: Delaware’s tax debate intensified as progressives gained influence in the Democratic primary, pushing higher-income brackets and renewed sales-tax talk. Business Moves: AstraZeneca opened a major Kendall Square R&D center, and IES Holdings closed its DBM Global acquisition to expand structural steel and industrial construction services.

M&A in Delaware industry: IES Holdings closed its ~$691M acquisition of DBM Global, adding a new Structural line with about 4,000 employees and a $1.5B revenue base—aimed at data center, industrial and infrastructure work. Insurtech + blockchain operations: MindWave signed a 2-year master service deal with Delaware-based BlockAssure to build and run AssureChain, an on-chain insurance and reinsurance network tied to Ethereum. Cannabis real estate financing: Vireo Growth secured a $60M loan for Delaware-linked entities tied to cultivation and production facilities in New York and Florida, including refinancing and funding for a Palatka asset. Startup funding: SignSplit emerged from stealth with a $400M strategic seed round at a $1B valuation to let people and institutions license “signed data” for AI and media use. Clean water funding: EPA will send $90M for Chesapeake Bay watershed clean-water and restoration projects, including $37M to localities and $53M in matching grants across dozens of sites. Delaware health trust settlement: Delaware secured a $950M settlement from the Nemours Foundation over du Pont trust spending disputes, steering major funding toward children’s health. Energy policy + permitting: A major U.S. permitting reform push (BAAJA) would reshape transmission siting and interconnection rules, with special cost-allocation provisions for data centers. Chesapeake Bay targets missed: New model results show uneven progress—sediment goals hit, but nutrient pollution targets fell short again. Solar patent fight: First Solar filed a new TOPCon patent infringement suit in Delaware against JA Solar and Corning’s AMPS, expanding the legal front in a key U.S. supply-chain battle. Food safety: FDA expanded an E. coli recall to additional frozen berry lots sold in Delaware and many other states, urging shoppers to check freezer labels. Workforce training: The RV Shop will host an all-women’s RV Technical Institute Level 1 certification course on site in New Castle, partnering with RV Women’s Alliance.

Food Safety & Retail: The FDA expanded a frozen-berry recall tied to E. coli, adding more lots of Walmart’s Great Value organic berries and Trader Joe’s Organic Mixed Berry Blend sold in Delaware and many other states. Poultry Industry: Zoetis says infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccine diversity matters, pointing to breeder vaccination and early-life protection as key to keeping chick flocks ahead of evolving variants. Immigration & Delaware Employers: Delaware employers filed 13 approved H-1B petitions in 2025 under Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services, with the state’s overall approval rate at 96.1%. Aviation & Local Business: Wilmington Airport (ILG) is moving forward with a new food, beverage and retail concession area after the DRBA approved a contract for Sky+Go. Public Health & Data Privacy: Hawaiʻi settled a Labcorp-related data breach case, underscoring that HIPAA-covered organizations can’t shift compliance duties to vendors. Energy Policy: Gov. Matt Meyer vetoed a bill that would have required third-party energy suppliers to report pricing and distribution data to Delaware’s Public Service Commission. Climate & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear Suncor v. Boulder, a major climate litigation fight over whether state tort law can be used against fossil-fuel companies. Community & Workforce Wellness: The Southern Delaware Wine, Food and Music Festival wrapped up its decade-long run, raising $12,000 for Celebrate Wellness to support mental health therapy for hospitality workers.

Public Health & Food Safety: The FDA expanded a frozen-berry recall tied to an E. coli outbreak, adding Great Value frozen organic blueberries and triple berry blend plus Trader Joe’s frozen organic mixed berry blend, sold across dozens of states including Delaware—check freezers for affected best-buy dates. Aviation & Local Business: Wilmington Airport (ILG) is breaking ground on a new food, beverage and retail concession area after the DRBA approved a $386,000 contract and a five-year lease for Sky+Go. Delaware Politics & Housing: In District 20, incumbent Rep. Alonna Berry faces Republican Gene Dvornick, with the Housing for Every Delawarean Act spotlighting growth and affordability ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Energy Policy: Gov. Matt Meyer vetoed a bill that would have required third-party energy suppliers to report pricing and distribution data to the Public Service Commission, arguing it could weaken consumer protections and competition. Climate Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Suncor v. Boulder on whether state tort law can be used to pursue climate-related claims against energy companies. Community & Environment: Delaware Botanic Gardens announced new leadership after longtime heads stepped away, while storm recovery and beach impacts continue to shape DNREC’s work.

Food Safety & Retail: A Chilean supplier expanded its recall of frozen organic berries tied to an E. coli outbreak that sickened 17 people and hospitalized six; the update adds more lots of Great Value and Trader Joe’s products sold nationwide, including in Delaware, urging shoppers to check freezers. Aviation & Local Business: Wilmington Airport (ILG) is breaking ground on a new food, beverage and retail concession area after the DRBA approved a contract with Sky+Go, a move aimed at boosting passenger amenities and creating economic opportunities. Energy & Infrastructure: Eastern Shore Natural Gas filed with the FERC for about a $75M Delmarva pipeline expansion to add transportation capacity across Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Environment & Public Health: Delaware River watershed testing found microplastics at every site sampled, raising fresh concerns for regional waterways. Community & Industry Talent: Delaware Botanic Gardens announced new leadership after long-time executives stepped away, while Georgetown’s Chamber hosted a Pathways to Aviation program connecting students with aviation professionals. Health Policy: A new ValuePenguin look at ACA marketplace results shows enrollment down and premiums up heading into 2026.

Coastal Resilience: A nor’easter battered Delaware beaches, stripping sand and forcing repairs to the Indian River Inlet sand bypass as officials assess how much replenishment is still available. Environmental Monitoring: New testing raised alarms about microplastics across the Delaware River watershed, with researchers finding plastic pollution at every sampled site. Energy & Infrastructure: Eastern Shore Natural Gas filed with FERC for a ~$75M Delmarva pipeline expansion to add capacity for growing residential, commercial, and industrial demand. Local Development: Delaware named new Downtown Development Districts in Claymont, Newport, and Millsboro, unlocking incentives for private investment in housing and business. Insurance Relief: State Farm announced a $5B national auto dividend; Delaware’s Department of Insurance says about 256,000 eligible vehicles will receive an average ~$142 (about $36M total). Food & Agriculture: FDA closed its investigation into the massive Cyclospora outbreak tied to Taylor Farms de Mexico, while the broader system that missed it remains under scrutiny. Business & Jobs: Helen’s Sausage House shared progress toward opening its new Lewes location by March.

Data Centers & Local Control: Delaware Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Sen. John Curtis unveiled bills to force more transparency from large data centers, aiming to give communities clearer info on power, water, and environmental impacts. Energy Policy: Gov. Matt Meyer vetoed HB 393, a consumer-protection bill targeting third-party energy suppliers, arguing it could chill competition and strengthen Delmarva Power’s monopoly. Amazon & Community Commitments: Amazon says it’s stopping the use of NDAs in data-center deals with local officials and will invest $1B over five years in community college, workforce training, and energy-efficiency upgrades. Skilled Trades Shortfall: A new industry coalition warns Delaware is among states where demand for skilled workers outpaces supply, with training producing far fewer workers than needed. Solar Supply Chain: A Delaware-linked materials firm, ACI Materials, says it wants to bring silver solar paste production back to the U.S., citing reshoring momentum and competition from China. Insurance & Delaware Business: State Farm announced Delaware rate cuts and a national $5B dividend, while Wawanesa completed an acquisition and rebranded Everest Canada as WSI, expanding specialty insurance offerings. Legal/Chancery Watch: Delaware Court of Chancery activity continues with take-private and patent disputes involving Delaware-incorporated companies.

Statewide Energy & Climate Fight: Delaware is among states joining lawsuits challenging the Trump EPA’s repeal of power-plant emissions limits for coal and gas, with plaintiffs arguing the rollback will worsen health and climate impacts. Offshore Wind Funding Clash: New York and other AGs, including Delaware, sued to block federal payments tied to canceling offshore wind projects and redirecting money to fossil fuel plants. Drug Pricing Accountability: Delaware’s neighbors are pushing major settlements—AGs seek court approval of a $400M Sandoz deal over alleged generic-drug price-fixing and reduced competition, with Delaware-linked enforcement in the broader coalition. Delaware Courts & Business: A former SewerAI shareholder asked Delaware Chancery for fair value in a $342M acquisition; Liquidia also faces a Delaware ruling finding patent infringement tied to its lung-treatment drug. Data Center Transparency: Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester teamed with Sen. John Curtis on bills to force more reporting and community access to data-center impacts. Workforce Pipeline: A national skilled-trades report flags a 1.7M annual opening gap, naming Delaware among states where demand outpaces supply. Local Industry & Policy: Gov. Matt Meyer signed Delaware’s harm-reduction licensing framework, and the state launched a film tax credit aimed at boosting productions and jobs. Insurance: State Farm announced Delaware dividend payments and rate cuts totaling billions nationally.

Delaware Film & Entertainment: Gov. Matt Meyer signed a new Delaware Entertainment and Production Tax Credit, offering a 30% transferable credit for eligible projects spending $100,000+ in the state, with applications now open and retroactive to July 1—aimed at boosting local jobs and production activity. Critical Minerals & Recycling: M2i Global expanded its partnership with Regenerate Technology Global to bring worldwide battery recycling and data intelligence to the critical minerals supply chain, targeting lower emissions and higher material recovery. Delaware River Water Planning: The Delaware River Basin Commission released a screening report on surface water availability across six tributary watersheds, flagging where deeper study may be needed to support drought readiness for public supply, power generation, and agriculture. Construction & Scheduling: A construction industry roundup highlights a split in project schedule management—more collaborative approaches are growing, but some teams are resisting shared schedule data due to claim risk. Consumer Protection & Health Costs: Michigan AG Dana Nessel urged consumers to file for compensation tied to multistate generic drug price-fixing settlements, while broader reporting focuses on how hospitals are trying to reduce medical debt through easier charity-care eligibility. Real Estate Fraud: EquityProtect’s latest scorecard says deed theft laws are spreading—12 states now have dedicated statutes—while many protections still kick in only after fraud hits.