Dear friend,

Hope you and your family had a restful and happy fourth of July! It’s been a great week here in the First State! Keep reading to see what I was up to this week.

Touring NIIMBL

The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is a staple of the University of Delaware’s STAR Campus. It plays a key role in the research, development, and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals and also invests in the creation of critical biopharmaceutical manufacturing jobs.

Bringing manufacturing jobs back to America has been a priority of both the Biden administration and my work in Congress. We passed the CHIPS and Science Act which is investing in the domestic manufacturing of semiconductor chips and other critical goods because as I’ve long said – if we can make it in America, let’s make it in America! It’s why I was proud to introduce my JOBS Agenda earlier this year which includes legislation to make our supply chains more resilient which is better for our businesses, our economy, and our national security. It was great to catch up with NIIMBL’s Director, Dr. Kelvin Lee, and other NIIMBL leaders to talk about how we can continue to collaborate to spur innovation here in Delaware, create more good-paying jobs, and invest in our economic development.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Dr. Kelvin Lee.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Dr. Kelvin Lee, Ryan Chatman, Albert Shields, and Alok Patel.

Connecting with the Mandela Washington Fellows

Each year, the University of Delaware participates in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

It was great to meet with this year’s cohort of young African leaders. I shared with them my story – how I got into public service and why it’s so important to me to deliver for Delaware. They also asked me some really engaging questions about life, leadership, and legislation.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester addresses this year’s fellows.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester takes a group selfie with the fellows.

Highlighting Federal Investments

Community Project Funding

This week, my team and I had the opportunity to highlight federal investments for Delaware organizations. I met with Tyler Shade, the Executive Director of Family Promise Northern New Castle County, to discuss the organization’s Community Project Funding request for FY2024. I look for projects that have two main things: real community need and strong community support, and Family Promise has both.

Family Promise is looking to expand both its shelters and wrap-around services for Delaware families experiencing homelessness with the potential federal dollars. I will continue to advocate for the project as it moves through the Community Project Funding process in the House.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester tours one of the units in Family Promise’s shelters.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Executive Director of Family Promise of Northern New Castle County, Tyler Shade.

Christina Cultural Arts Center

I also visited the Christina Cultural Arts Center (CCAC), which has provided arts and educational opportunities for young people for decades in our state, to hear about its plans to create a new 30,000-square-foot headquarters with the recently announced $4.5 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

With these federal dollars, CCAC will be able to expand its arts and educational services and bring back its visual arts program which they do not currently have space to run. And this expansion will double the number of kids who will be able to experience the CCAC’s programs, which will help families with childcare and getting to work.

From economic development to personal expression – the arts contribute so much to our society, and the Christina Cultural Arts Center will continue to drive arts education throughout our communities in the First State.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Christina Cultural Arts Center Executive Director James “Ray” Rhodes, and staff and interns from the Christina Cultural Arts Center.

Limen House

Limen House is a sober-living facility that has served more than 5,000 people in recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders since its opening in 1969. I toured its newest location in Wilmington which aims to have both in-patient and out-patient services when it fully opens. The project was partially funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, which I was proud to support in Congress.

Above: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Mike Webster, Director of Advancement for Limen House, look at plans for the new location.

Less than One Week Left to Apply for Internships!

Having started as an intern in then-Congressman Tom Carper’s office, I know first-hand the impact the experience can have on your life and career. That’s why I want to remind you that there is less than a week left to apply for an internship with my Washington, DC, and Delaware offices for the fall of 2023!

Complete applications are due by Wednesday, July 12 by COB. This is an excellent opportunity for young people to learn public service first-hand and gain experience working in a congressional office. For more information on how to apply, please visit my website here.

On Thursday, I joined Senator Coons and the Polytech School of Aviation to celebrate the donation of a turbo propeller engine from Piedmont Airlines to help train its aviation maintenance students. The engine is a critical piece of their education as they have to know how this engine works for their FAA authorizations down the line. And with the aviation industry experiencing workforce shortages, this donation is a critical piece to filling those gaps and strengthening our economic development.

For this week’s Constituent Corner, I want to highlight one of the students from Polytech that I met – Abigail Holloway! She is the first ever Aircraft Maintenance Registered Apprentice in Delaware. She is already working in the aviation industry and is being sponsored by Summit Aviation to attend Polytech’s aircraft maintenance technician program to enhance her skills. Keep soaring to greater and greater heights, Abigail!