Booker-Wilkins speaks to Rehoboth-Dewey chamber

Melody Booker-Wilkins has hit the ground running after being appointed as head of Sussex County Economic Development Office.

The energetic Booker-Wilkins said while Sussex County is often referred to as lower, slower Delaware, there has been nothing slow about finding ways to increase tourism and awareness of the area.

Speaking to members of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce Feb. 24 at the Boardwalk Plaza hotel, Booker-Wilkins said the county economic development office has been working with businesses to increase high-speed online connectivity and the county provided $250,000 in a grant for all 25 towns in the county for existing infrastructure projects, beautification projects, branding and signage.

Booker-Wilkins said the office is improving its web presence and has begun work on a county branding initiative. She said the beaches and agriculture are the county's main economic engines, but her office is also trying to continue to grow manufacturing jobs, pointing out the extensive improvements to the Georgetown airport and industrial park.

"Success in this position and any other position, in my humble opinion, hinges on honest, trusting relationships," she said. "Add this all up, and we have a lot of great things going on in Sussex County."