Dear friend,

Welcome to this week’s Let Me Be Blunt! Keep scrolling to hear about what I’ve been up to.

Making Route 896 Safer

On Monday, I joined Delaware Department of Transportation’s Secretary Nicole Majeski, Governor John Carney, Senator Tom Carper, State Senator Dave Sokola, and others in Newark for a groundbreaking ceremony for the I-95 and Route 896 Interchange Construction project that is set to begin this weekend. It marks the beginning of making the Route 896 corridor safer for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians so they can continue to utilize it for life, work, and travel. And I’m proud that half of the funding for this project is coming from federal dollars. As President Biden has said before - we’re in an infrastructure decade!

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester participates in the groundbreaking.

Connecting with the Delaware Small Business Development Center

While in Newark, I met with the SBDC at the FinTech Innovation Hub on the University of Delaware’s STAR Campus. We discussed my JOBS Agenda that I announced last month, a comprehensive package of bills that are all connected to one word – jobs. We also talked about how the SBDC is continuing to support Delaware’s small business owners and entrepreneurs start, run, or grow their businesses and keep them safe through their top cybersecurity program that has been adopted by 20 states! The SBDC continues to be a great partner in growing both our local economy and Delaware’s workforce, and I thank them for their commitment to our small businesses.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester talks with Mike Bowman, the Small Business Development Center’s State Director, and representatives from the SBDC.

Celebrating Delaware Innovation

I also got to visit the new Grain restaurant that is set to open soon at the FinTech Innovation Hub which is paying homage to the innovation-themed campus it will soon serve by highlighting eight different Delaware innovations – from multi-touch technology that inspired the iPhone touchscreen (invented by a UD student/professor team) to ice cream (Aunt Sallie Shadd, called “America’s first Founding Mother of Ice Cream,” was a freed slave who lived in Wilmington).

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester looks at photos highlighting Delaware Innovations in Grain with SBDC State Director Mike Bowman.

ModernControls New Headquarters Ribbon-Cutting

I was able to join ModernControls for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new headquarters in New Castle this week. ModernControls is an HVAC Service and Building Automation company with over 100 employees and serves Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. I was proud to be at the ribbon-cutting to support the expansion of a business that is bringing more people into in-demand jobs in trades like HVAC - a priority of my JOBS Agenda.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester participates in the ribbon-cutting with Mike Peet, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, and ModernControls leadership.

Investing in Southbridge

This week, I had the opportunity to tour Southbridge Community Services, Inc.’s newly renovated facility. In addition to having community services, the space will also incorporate 10 brand new affordable housing units. Some of the partners on the tour included Del-One, New Castle County's Hope Center, and First State Community Action Agency.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester in front of one of the new units.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Southbridge Community Services, Inc. President Marva Hammond, and Vice President Charles Falletta with representatives and potential tenants from the New Castle County Hope Center.

Advancing Environmental Justice in Delaware

On Friday, I convened environmental justice leaders and advocates for a conversation to take a look at how we’re advancing environmental justice initiatives here in Delaware with equity in mind.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, State Representative Larry Lambert, Ms. Dora Williams of the Delaware Concerned Residents for Environmental Justice, Mrs. Sandra Smithers of the New Castle Prevention Coalition, and Michele Roberts and Stephanie Herron of the Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform.

I updated them on our legislative priorities and accomplishments including President Biden’s recent environmental justice executive order that included similar provisions to my bill, the Alerting Localities of Environmental Risks and Threats Act. We also talked about how to ensure that environmental justice communities that are most impacted know about and are able to get the funding and resources they need. I will continue to stay engaged in advancing these priorities in Congress and here in the First State – because environmental justice is tied to public health, our economy, and our state’s well-being.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester takes notes during the meeting.

UPCOMING JOB FAIRS

Are you or someone you know looking for a job? The Delaware Department of Labor wants to connect you to them! As a former Delaware Secretary of Labor, it’s been a top priority of mine for years to help connect Delawareans to jobs. The Department of Labor is hosting a series of community job fairs throughout May, and I wanted to make sure you were aware of these opportunities. See below or click here for more information:

Hodgson Vo-Tech Multi-Employer Job Fair – Tuesday, May 9 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 2575 Glasgow Ave., Newark
Cheer Center Multi-Employer Job Fair – Thursday, May 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Cheer Center, 20520 Sandhill Road, Georgetown
Dover High School Community Job Fair – Wednesday, May 17 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Dover High School, 1 Dover High Dr., Dover

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester takes a photo with Delaware Department of Labor employees at a Second Chance Clearance and Employment Job Fair in April.

GRANT RESOURCES FOR DELAWAREANS

As a member of the Regional Leadership Council, where I am helping lead the implementation and communication of the historic pieces of legislation passed last Congress, I want to make sure Delawareans are informed about grant opportunities for organizations, state and local governments, nonprofits, and others. Please see a few that are now available:

REMINDER:
- URBAN FORESTRY: U.S. Department of Agriculture's Urban and Community Forestry Program, expanded through the Inflation Reduction Act
- SAFER ROADS: U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All Program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
- COMBATTING POLLUTION: U.S. Department of Energy's Industrial Demonstrations Program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act
- EV CHARGING: U.S. Department of Transportation's new Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Happy last day of National Small Business Week! I started my week at the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce's 101st Annual Dinner - their largest event of the year - to honor longtime activist and advocate Bebe Coker with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Maria Matos of the Latin American Community Center with the Community Service Award, and Middletown Mayor Kenneth Branner with the Free Enterprise Award. It was great to be with so many folks and celebrate all the important work the Chamber provides to businesses in New Castle County.

For this week's Constituent Corner, I want to highlight Dr. Eunice Gwanmesia who was awarded with the Lisa Blunt Rochester Award by the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce! Dr. Gwanmesia, also called “Dr. G,” is the CEO of Eunity Solutions, a small business that creates and tailors Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs for organizations. Dr. G was chosen for this award because of her participation in the Chamber’s EnrichDelaware program, which helps small business owners gain the skills to grow their businesses. Congratulations Dr. G!

And I want to thank all the small business owners and employees in our state who contribute so much to our communities and our local economy!