Jack Markell in 2013 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Corporations:
Start It Up Delaware: nurture employers
Creating a Nurturing Environment for Employers: Readying a workforce for the world we now live in is a key part of making Delaware an attractive place to do business. So is providing a nurturing environment for new entrepreneurs.
Let's start at the beginning. Businesses that start here are more likely to stay here. The challenge is to get the people, the ideas, and the capital together as we build The Start-Up State.
Inspired by successful models across the country, local entrepreneurs have created Start It Up Delaware. This public-private partnership will serve as a hub for entrepreneurial activity with support from
Delaware's financial, accounting, legal, and real estate communities. It will build relationships with the University of Delaware, Delaware State and Delaware Tech, among other institutions of higher education.
Source: 2013 Del. State of the State speech
Jan 17, 2013
On Drugs:
Six new state troopers to focus on gangs & drug-trafficking
The Delaware State Police and their county colleagues are working to reduce violent crime in the City of Wilmington. Those efforts include intelligence gathering, targeted investigations, and an emphasis on ensuring that our most violent offenders are
off the street. Last year, I authorized six new state troopers from the Violent Crime Fund to focus on the violent gangs and drug-trafficking groups that commit the majority of homicides in Delaware. This year, I propose funding for six additional
troopers with the same focus.We know what after-school and summer programs do for kids: research has demonstrated that they improve academic performance, reduce drop-out rates, reduce depression, improve self-control and self-esteem, and prevent risky
behaviors such as drug and alcohol use and juvenile crime. I will propose that we provide more opportunities for after-school and summer activities that get kids off the streets and give them exposure to the arts, nature, and physical activity.
Source: 2013 Del. State of the State speech
Jan 17, 2013
On Education:
Common Core Standards including world language immersion
We made the difficult choice to raise our academic standards for the world our children will live in. Teachers across the state are transitioning to the Common Core Standards, a set of uniform, higher standards that will better prepare our students
for the global economy. As we move to these higher standards, fewer of our students will meet them initially. It is not an easy change, but it is one we must make, and our students will rise to the challenge.Thanks to another investment, 10,000
Delaware students will participate in a world language immersion program over the next decade. 340 students started the program this year. For example, at McIlvane Early Learning Center in Magnolia, 100 kindergartners spend half their school day
learning science, social studies and math in Chinese. One of the Chinese teachers there had a goal for her students to be able to count to 100 by the end of the school year; they accomplished that by November.
Source: 2013 Del. State of the State speech
Jan 17, 2013
On Energy & Oil:
Reliability and cost of energy is key
For manufacturers and other businesses, we know the reliability and cost of energy is key. We need to expand our energy portfolio, reduce costs and improve air quality. First, we import too much of our electricity from dirty and expensive sources.
Over the last four years, we have reduced emissions more than any other state, but we need more local generation. That is why we support numerous utility-scale clean and efficient natural gas plants and cost-effective clean energy projects--including
numerous solar, biogas and fuel cell projects.
Second, we need to expand natural gas infrastructure across our state. Too many in Delaware are paying too much for energy because they are too far from a pipeline to bring them affordable natural gas.
Third, the cheapest energy remains the energy we don't use. We have made progress on improving energy efficiency, but we can do more to help save money by making efficiency Delaware's "first fuel."
Source: 2013 Del. State of the State speech
Jan 17, 2013
On Environment:
Delaware has moved to the top ten of bike friendly states
Improving our Quality of Life: In the world we now live in, employers survive only when they hire the most talented workers. And talented employees want to work in places they are proud to call home.Delaware is blessed with beautiful beaches, parks,
& scenic farmland. Preserving and improving that quality of life is vital. In the years to come, Delawareans will be able to walk and bike to work because of the investments we are making today. Delaware is now in the top ten of bike friendly states,
up from 31st four years ago. Our First State Trails and Pathways Initiative is connecting neighborhoods, parks, and downtowns throughout our state. The Pomeroy Trail connects Newark to White Clay Creek State Park. We're linking Lewes, Rehoboth and
eventually Georgetown with a series of interconnected trails. We're enhancing and expanding recreational access to the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek. Projects like these improve our quality of life and make our state a magnet for talented workers.
Source: 2013 Del. State of the State speech
Jan 17, 2013
On Families & Children:
Youth suicide: the most tragic child mental health problem
Suicides among our youth are the most tragic child mental health problem in our state, and we have taken serious steps to address them. Last year, we worked together to fund new training for front line school personnel to recognize early signs of trauma
in children, and we worked together with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to offer the highest-quality training to all of our high schools in detection and prevention of depression in teenagers. Our Health Care Commission targeted funds to encourage
mental health professionals to practice in southern Delaware, where we have a shortage. And we closed gaps in our state's support network for child victims of trauma; now each child victim has a case manager who helps guide that child's family through
the different services that these most vulnerable children need. But there is still more to do, both to address youth suicides and the many other mental health issues that professionals are seeing in children. I ask you for your support.
Source: 2013 Del. State of the State speech
Jan 17, 2013
On Foreign Policy:
World now is more global; more productive; more competitive
This is the world we now live in. Around the country, companies are producing more than ever, but as a result of productivity gains, they sometimes do so with fewer people.
This is the world we now live in. There are 3 billion people in the world today looking for jobs, but only 1.2 billion jobs available.
This too is the world we now live in. More global. More productive. More competitive.
It is a new world of unprecedented opportunities--to create new partnerships, to sell to new customers, to innovate and collaborate in ways previously unimaginable.
But it is also a world with new and formidable challenges--to attract and retain employers that have more options than ever; to educate our children to higher standards of job readiness; to invest in the future as we care for an aging population.
Source: 2013 Del. State of the State speech
Jan 17, 2013