FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MEDIA CONTACT: Kenneth Briscoe Communications Coordinator Delaware Department of Labor   [Monday, October 12, 2020, Wilmington, DE] The Delaware Department of Labor has issued the Ninth Emergency Rule, which updates and revises the First and Seventh Emergency Rules, establishing deadlines to file appeals to the Lower Authority (Appeals Referees, the “Referees”) and […]

December 28, 2020 For Immediate Release Kenneth Briscoe Email: kenneth.Briscoe@Delaware.gov   Wilmington, DE (Dec. 28, 2020) – On December 27, 2020, the President signed the latest COVID-19 Relief bill, which extends certain federal unemployment benefits available under the CARES Act. The bill provides the extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency […]

Delaware Department of Labor receives $9,193,902 from the H1B One Workforce Grant to provide more economic growth opportunities in the IT Industry.   WILMINGTON, DE – The Delaware Department of Labor (DE DOL) works with partners in the Information Technology (IT) sector to build pathways through educational, training, and work-based learning opportunities for Delaware citizens […]

Wilmington, Delaware February 22, 2021 Delaware Department of Labor FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   WILMINGTON, DE – Delaware Department of Labor has added new functionality to the Delaware JobLink (joblink.delaware.gov), a website created to support employers looking for qualified candidates, and individuals seeking employment.   The current website offers individuals the ability to search for jobs, […]

THE NEW YEAR BRINGS LEADERSHIP CHANGES TO THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR   WILMINGTON, DE (February 23, 2021) – The Delaware Department of Labor has announced leadership changes for the organization. Karryl Hubbard will now serve as the new Delaware Secretary of Labor, Rachel Turney will serve as the incoming Deputy Cabinet Secretary, and Richard […]

Getting Tax Credit for Your Employees Just Got Easier: Introducing the New Delaware CertLink Delaware Businesses can receive up to $9,600 in tax credits per employee for hiring members of target groups by visiting the newly updated Delaware CertLink, located at https://certlink.delaware.gov/ Many businesses have struggled as a result of the ongoing pandemic and finding ways […]

The U.S. Department of Justice has received reports that fraudsters are creating websites mimicking unemployment benefit websites, including state workforce agency (SWA) websites, and Facebook pages to unlawfully capture consumers’ personal information.   To lure consumers to these fake websites, fraudsters send spam text messages and emails purporting to be from an SWA and containing […]

WILMINGTON, DE – Delaware Department of Labor Secretary Karryl Hubbard appeared before the United States Congressional Future of Work Caucus this week to discuss how the State of Delaware is supporting residents seeking employment services. The 19-member Congressional Future of Work Caucus is co-chaired by the U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-DE) and U.S. Representative Bryan […]

WILMINGTON, DE – The Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) will require Unemployment Benefit recipients to look for work and register in Delaware JobLink (https://joblink.delaware.gov) in order to qualify for benefits or to continue to receive UI benefits, effective June 12, 2021. Starting on that date, claimants must register with JobLink, which includes creating or uploading […]

    Wilmington, DE – The Delaware Department of Labor (DE DOL) is sponsoring several job fairs in September and October in an effort to help job seekers and employers fill the thousands of job opportunities that are available across the state. DE DOL is hosting the next multi-employer Job Fair on Thursday, Sept. 30 […]

The Division of Industrial Affairs (DIA) at the Department of Labor (DOL) is currently conducting its Annual Prevailing Wage Survey for state-funded construction projects – over 3,800 survey forms will be mailed out to contractors on December 27, 2021. The completed survey forms must be postmarked or returned to DIA for the data to be […]

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   WILMINGTON, DE – The Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) is announcing the new Employer Unemployment Insurance and new Construction employer tax rates for 2022, effective January 1, 2022. New Employer and new Construction employer rates are maintained at 2020 levels Establish 2022 merit rate at lower of 2020, 2021, or […]

WILMINGTON, DE – The Delaware Department of Labor is teaming up with statewide partners to present a series of One-Stop Resource Expos in May to highlight the Delaware Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA). Dozens of partner organizations will be on hand at booths to speak with people about employment, education and other support programs. […]

WILMINGTON, DE – Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Karryl Hubbard has announced that Elisha Jenkins will serve as the new Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), replacing former Director Andrea Guest, who retired earlier this year. DVR is a partner in helping job seekers develop skill sets to find employment. The division […]

The Division of Industrial Affairs (DIA) at the Department of Labor (DOL) is currently conducting its Annual Prevailing Wage Survey for state-funded construction projects. On January 4, 2023, the Department mailed over 4000 survey forms to contractors. The completed survey forms must be postmarked or returned to DIA for the data to be used in […]

WILMINGTON, DE – The Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) announced the revised Taxable Wage Base, Assessment Rate Tables, Cap Earned Rate for Calendar Year 2023, and the New Employer Rates for 2023, effective January 1, 2023. The taxable wage base will be $10,500 in 2023. With the unanimous support of the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council, […]

WILMINGTON, Del —The Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy, a Division of the Delaware Department of Human Resources, in partnership with the Delaware Departments of Labor and Education, released a new report titled- Delaware Women in the Construction Trades: A Path to Economic Security. The report examines the current state of women working in the […]

WILMINGTON, Delaware – The Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) has re-released Fraud Prevention guidelines for employers and claimants to protect against identity theft and fraud involving unemployment insurance benefits as incidence of new consumer scams increase across the country. In recent months, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has received multiple reports of scams where […]

The Department is currently conducting its Annual Prevailing Wage Survey for state-funded construction projects. On December 20, 2023, the Department mailed over 4500 survey forms to contractors and various interested parties. The completed survey forms must be postmarked or returned no later than February 8, 2024, to the Department of Labor for the data to […]

In observance of Worker’s Memorial Day, the Delaware Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Safety and Health Consultation is proud to announce the launch of SafeDE (pronounced Safe-DEE-EEE). This groundbreaking initiative signifies our dedication to enhancing workplace safety throughout Delaware, honoring the memory of workers who have tragically lost their lives on the job. SafeDE […]

With the assistance of the Delaware Farmers’ Market Coalition, a group of market managers from across the state, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is issuing protocols to help farmers’ markets safely begin opening starting May 15.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) issued guidance today to help local U-Pick farms safely open to the public for the season. This guidance will help farm staff and visitors to U-Pick farm operations participate in a safe manner to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Delaware announces 24th consecutive round of easement selections for Aglands Program DOVER, Del.  — Delaware announced its 24th consecutive round of easement selections by the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation. With the preservation of another 5,500 acres, Delaware has permanently preserved more than 139,000 acres of farmland for future generations. In a recent report by […]

Through a virtual confirmation hearing, the Delaware Senate confirmed and appointed Mark Collins to lead the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation Board of Trustees.

Effective July 1, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) will quarantine New Castle County in its entirety due to established populations of spotted lanternfly found in Odessa.

The Delaware Forest Service’s Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program has awarded more than $18,000 to six volunteer fire departments to help boost their capability and readiness to respond to wildfires.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) received reports over the weekend from several Delawareans who received unsolicited packages of seeds in shipments from China. Based on information provided by constituents, the packages were sent by mail and may have Chinese writing on them. Anyone who has received such a package is asked to report the shipment to the Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance Program (SITC) by calling the Smuggling Hotline at 1-800-877-3835. Recipients are asked to leave everything inside the package to help investigators trace the origin. No one should ever plant seeds they did not order because they could be an invasive species.

Over the past week, Delawareans continued to receive unsolicited packages of mysterious seeds appearing to originate in China. Due to the increased volume of people reporting the receipt of illegally shipped seeds, USDA has requested the assistance of the state departments of agriculture in collecting seeds from residents. The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) has processed more than 40 packages of seeds to be tested by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

The Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation voted to extend district enrollment until December 31, 2020 to any agricultural landowners who want to preserve their farms. These landowners will have the opportunity to apply for Round 25 in 2021. Farms must be enrolled in a preservation district before the landowner can submit a bid to sell an easement.

The Delaware Forest Service is sending its wildfire crew to New Mexico as a steep increase in lightning-caused fires has pushed the National Preparedness Level to 5 on a 5-point scale, its highest level. Critical fire weather continues throughout the West. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the majority of the fire activity remains in Arizona and California, where over 1.5 million acres have burned. So far this year, more than 38,767 fires have burned 3.7 million acres. Delaware has trained more than 600 firefighters since 1996 and battled wildfires in numerous states, including: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. http://de.gov/wildfire

Delaware's wildfire crew is returning to the First State after successfully battling blazes on a 14-day assignment in Arizona and California. Delaware's 21-person team mobilized at Blackbird State Forest in Smyrna on August 28. On August 30 they were assigned to the Griffin Fire, a 61,821-acre blaze in Arizona's Tonto National Forest in the U.S. Forest Service's Southwest Region. They subsequently took on the Rockhouse Fire, a 19,506-acre blaze on land managed by the San Carlos Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, located 22 miles southeast of San Carlos, AZ. On September 9, they were transferred to the Southern California Geographic Area and assigned to the Valley Fire, which has consumed 17,665 acres in the Cleveland National Forest and located 19 miles northeast of Chula Vista, CA. The crew is expected to arrive back at Blackbird State Forest in Smyrna, Delaware by Friday afternoon, September 18.

Smokey Bear visited St. Anne’s Episcopal School to highlight the importance of fire safety and prevention during National Fire Prevention Week. Smokey's timeless message -  “Only you can prevent wildfires!”  - has more resonance this year, as wildfires have wreaked destruction across many western states: the National Interagency Fire Center reports that more than 45,000 fires have burned over 7.9 million acres – including 4 million acres in California– a 43 percent increase over 2019.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is administering the program and will be accepting applications until December 1, 2020.

DOVER, Del. (October 29, 2020) – Effective October 30, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) will add Kent County in its entirety to the current spotted lanternfly quarantine of New Castle County. The expansion is due to established populations of spotted lanternfly found in Smyrna, Dover, and Harrington this past week. At this point in […]

Along with the Delaware Nutrient Management Program’s annual report mailing, Delaware farmers are being encouraged to complete an additional 16-question implementation questionnaire. The questionnaire aims to measure nutrient applications and environmental deeds, allowing Delaware to recognize farmers for their stewardship efforts in 2020.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is reminding hemp producers to register their growing sites using the annual Growing Site Registration form to register available online before February 1.

Delaware's Urban and Community Forestry Program is once again offering competitive matching grants up to $5,000 for tree planting or tree management projects on public land. The grants – open to municipalities, homeowner associations, and certified 501(c)(3) non-profits in the State of Delaware – require a 50-50 match in either cash (non-federal funds) or in-kind services, including volunteer or staff time, equipment rental, or supplies. Requests can range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000 in one of two project categories: tree planting or tree management (i.e., professional tree inventory, hazardous tree removal, or pruning). This year's deadline is Friday, March 5, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is offering extensions and COVID credit exemptions for individuals who have exhausted all options in earning their continuing education credits needed to maintain their nutrient management or pesticide certifications.

The Delaware Forest Service (DFS) is always looking for motivated recruits to join its wildland fire crew. There is no cost for training and no previous experience necessary. Candidates must be over 18 years, willing to learn, physically fit, and able to travel for at least two weeks at a time, usually in the summer months. In a typical year, the DFS would offer its in-person classes over several weekends in Dover. This year, all required courses for new firefighters will be offered online through the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) and Federal Emergency Management Agency websites. The complete list of courses and links to online training are at https://de.gov/firecrew

Delaware fruit and vegetable growers who receive a passing score on their third-party food safety audits and agricultural water tests are eligible to receive cost-share to help cover the expense through the Delaware Department of Agriculture.

Delaware’s state forest campsites are now open to the public under a new online system that allows for advance booking and preferred site selection. Primitive-style camping is available 365 days a year on a first-come, first-serve basis at both Blackbird State Forest, north of Smyrna, and Redden State Forest, north of Georgetown. The cost per night is $25 per site (plus a small administrative fee) with a three night maximum stay per reservation. Each state forest has added two new sites for a total of eight (8) at Blackbird and seven (7) at Redden. All camping requires a permit and is subject to state forest rules and regulations. Complete information, maps, camping rules, and links to make a reservation are available at de.gov/forestcamping.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is warning anyone who purchased turtles, specifically the red-eared slider turtle, between August 2020 and January 2021 to take extra precautions to prevent illness.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is the first state agency in the United States to make a pledge that supports the 1t.org global goal to conserve, restore, and grow one trillion trees by 2030.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for anticipated funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. DDA anticipates more than $344,000 to be allocated to increase the competitiveness of Delaware-grown specialty crops. Applications will be accepted through April 20, 2021.

Visitors to Delaware state forests can now use a mobile phone to locate trails, hunting stands, or parking areas using the Avenza Maps® mobile app (available for iPhone or Android devices from the App Store or Google Play.) All state forest maps are free to download. The app uses the phone's built-in GPS to locate it on the map, even when the device is out of range of a network or Internet connection. Users can select a particular map of interest, which can be downloaded and stored on their phone. A blue dot follows users wherever they go so they always know where they are on the map. More info at de.gov/forestmaps

The Delaware Forest Service plans to conduct a 48-acre controlled burn in the City of Lewes on Friday, April 23, beginning around mid-morning. Residents and visitors in the area might see smoke and should not be alarmed. The 48-acre site is primarily coastal marsh with phragmites and other vegetation. The purpose of the burn is to reduce hazardous fuel buildup and restore native marsh habitat. The area was last burned in 2008. The area has been treated several times over the past ten years to control phragmites, (Phragmites australis), which outcompetes native vegetation and lowers the local plant biodiversity.

The Delaware Forest Service and its new "Tree Stewards" program led more than 50 volunteers and town officials to plant 160 trees in Milton, Sussex County on Saturday, April 24. The trees will enhance the town's hiking and biking trail near West Shore Drive, part of DelDOT's  "Rails to Trails" project in Sussex County. Delaware’s urban and community forestry program funded the cost of the trees and provided technical assistance. 

Grade 5 student Alyssa DeLuca of Brandywine Springs Elementary is the state winner of the Delaware Forest Service's annual Arbor Day School Poster Contest. This year's contest attracted entries from 44 schools and 73 classrooms, with a total of 2,748 students participating. This year's theme was “Trees Are Terrific…in Many Wonderful Ways!” Posters were judged on originality, use of theme, neatness, and artistic expression. Each winner receives a gift card, a tree-themed book, and a tree planting at their school.  Twelve winners were selected from each county in four grade categories: kindergarten, grade 1 and 2, grade 3 and 4, and grade 5. The complete gallery of winners is at de.gov/arbordaypostercontest

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) received an additional round of funding to enhance the competitiveness of Delaware-grown specialty crops through USDA’s Pandemic Assistance Program. USDA awarded each state department of agriculture an allocation based upon their most recent available value of specialty crop cash receipts and acreage of specialty crop production in the state. As a result, Delaware received an additional $465,433 under H.R. 133 – the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 133 Stimulus Funding) to distribute through a competitive grant process.

The Delaware Forest Service's 2021 VFA Grant program is open to all Delaware volunteer fire departments and can provide up to $4,500 in matching grants to acquire pumps, hoses, and equipment to respond to and suppress wildfires. More than $350,000 has been given to enhance wildfire response in the First State since the program's inception. Applications must be received by the Delaware Forest Service office by regular mail no later than June 20, 2021. No email submissions will be accepted.  Awards will be made within 7 business days so that awarded projects can begin. Details at de.gov/wildfire.