Delaware must protect vital resources
Up and down Delaware, people are questioning the economic impact of the DuPont-Dow merger and the recent layoff announcement affecting nearly 2,000 employees.
There was a time, it’s said, that DuPont operations employed one out of every six eligible workers in Delaware. With total employment in the 30,000 to 40,000 range, the company’s impact on the state’s economy was huge. In Sussex County alone, DuPont employed thousands at its nylon plant in Seaford, and many Sussex Countians continue to enjoy pensions and other benefits from their employment there. Regardless of what the future holds, the positive impact of the many DuPont enterprises and the philanthropic nature of the family members of one of the world’s industrial giants will continue to benefit Delaware for decades to come.
All that said, DuPont has been downsizing in Delaware steadily over the past two decades. Although all lost jobs are missed, Delaware still has enviable natural resources that offer solid underpinnings for a future with lots of opportunities. Not the least of those resources is our geographical location within just a few hours of one of the world’s great megalopolises. That strategic location along with our temperate climate is nothing but positive for our agriculture and tourism industries which offer so many spinoff jobs. One important aspect of those industries and our strategic location is that they cannot be relocated to another state.
Just as a sailing vessel has to constantly adjust its sails to ever-changing shifts of wind to keep moving forward, Delaware must remain agile and focused on its opportunities, and adjust accordingly in the face of eventualities like the DuPont transition.
In Sussex County, where development continues to be a major economic driver, we have to keep a close eye on balancing development with critical infrastructure. Adequate wastewater and transportation systems, supportive governmental policies that allow the agriculture sector to thrive, and preservation of open space must be pursued so we can maintain a good quality of life and remain attractive to visitors and those looking for a new place to live.
