Minimum Wage increases January 1st Wilmington, DE. December 18, 2018– Minimum wage will be increasing for most individuals in Delaware twice in 2019. On January 1, it will be $8.75 and then on October 1, it will be $9.25. But, for the first time in Delaware history, we will now have a multi-tiered minimum wage. […]

Wilmington, DE. December 26, 2018– There’s an important new law affecting Delaware workplaces – the new Delaware sexual harassment law effective January 1, 2019. Sexual harassment has been illegal in Delaware workplaces for over 20 years. However, the definition has never been clearly spelled out in the law until now. There are also new requirements […]

  Wilmington, DE. May 6, 2019–The Delaware Department of Labor Pencader Office will no longer offer “counter service” and process unemployment insurance applications at its location. Beginning May 20, 2019, individuals must apply for unemployment insurance online. To file an unemployment insurance claim, log on to ui.delawareworks.com and click the red/orange button “File An Unemployment […]

If you are an independent contractor or a self-employed worker in Delaware and want to receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) as detailed in the CARES Act, please review and follow the steps detailed below.   Step 1: Apply for traditional UI benefits. Get started by visiting the website ui.delawareworks.com   Step 2: Receive a denial […]

  For Immediate Release Thursday, May 28, 2020. Wilmington, DE The Delaware Department of Labor releases Fraud Prevention guidelines for employers and claimants to protect against identity theft and fraud involving unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.   Over the past few weeks, several states have reported incidents of identity theft and payment fraud regarding […]

For Immediate Release Friday, May 29, 2020: Wilmington, DE: The Delaware Department of Labor, in its effort to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, reached another milestone this week by paying the first Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims to eligible Delawareans. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program provides benefits for independent contractors and self-employed workers in the state […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Thursday, July 30, 2020, Wilmington, Delaware. The Delaware Department of Labor releases public notification to inform all Delawareans currently receiving Unemployment Insurance Benefits, that the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program ended on July 25, 2020.   Due to the rise in unemployment resulting from the COVID-19 global pandemic, Congress authorized a […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Opportunities Delaware Libraries is seeking applicants for TWENTY (20) AmeriCorps Summer Associate VISTAs, Positions start June 14, 2021 for 10 weeks Essential Needs Summer Associates Join our Social Innovation team this summer as an Essential Needs Summer Associate. Libraries are actively involved in helping people every day and are often stretched to meet the needs, […]

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 […]

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, 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 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.

Effective June 1, outdoor gatherings of more than 25 people will be permitted at Delaware’s state forests, subject to compliance with the Division of Public Health's "Guidance on Outdoor Gatherings." While the state's ban on short-term rentals will be lifted on June 1, camping at Blackbird State Forest and Redden State Forest, as well as the Redden Lodge, will be closed to the public until further notice. Plans are underway to implement a new online, fee-based reservation system expected to be operational later this summer. There is no fixed date on the launch of the new system, which will include the addition of two new camp sites each at both Blackbird and Redden. The new system will also handle advance bookings for the popular and historic Redden Lodge. Users can make camping and lodge reservations for future dates, receive electronic confirmations, and make payments and receive refunds via credit card.

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.

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 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

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

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. 

The Delaware Forest Service joined the Delaware Association for Environmental Education (DAEE) to observe “World Outdoor Classroom Day” by planting trees this week at Heritage Elementary in Red Clay School District and Allen Frear Elementary in Caesar Rodney School District. An outdoor learning place is “any place where meaningful experiences can be had in and with nature and the environment," according to DAEE.  “Outdoor learning places are especially beneficial to young students to develop the deep life-long appreciation for the natural world, our dependence on it, and its fragility. Outdoor learning places are often at schools but they can be at parks, churches, or even created in a backyard.” For information, go to http://daeeonline.org

Recently, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse took a road trip down to Sussex County to make a surprise presentation to a family farm in Laurel. Scuse recognized the Vincent Family for their commitment to Delaware through agricultural production and equipment sales, for providing gainful employment to community members, and for continuing to alleviate hunger through their participation in the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

Delaware announced its 25th consecutive round of easement selections by the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation. With the preservation of 3,695 acres, Delaware has permanently preserved more than 143,000 acres of farmland for future generations.

The Delaware Forest Service is awarding more than $40,000 in matching grants to 14 volunteer fire companies to provide tools and equipment to fight wildfires throughout the First State. The 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. Since its inception, more than $400,000 has been given to enhance wildfire response in the First State.

Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse urges producers across Delaware to participate in USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) upcoming Agricultural Labor Survey scheduled for release in mid-October. The survey will collect information about hired labor from nearly 90 Delaware farmers.

A steady downward trend over the past five years in the landowner discounts of permanent agricultural conservation easements selected for purchase in Delaware shows it’s a great time for landowners to preserve their farms.

Dozens of arborists and professionals from three Delaware tree care companies volunteered for the 7th Annual "Saluting Branches" event by devoting a day to trimming, shaping, and removing hazardous trees from the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro. The Delaware site was one of 40 sites throughout the United States that participated in the event, which attracted more than 3,000 volunteers. Workers from Tri-State Tree Care, Complete Tree Care, and Cypress Tree Care spent their entire day as a way to pay tribute to the veterans and their service.

Redden State Forest has closed its campsites and many trails still remain inaccessible following the heavy snowstorm on January 3 that dumped up to 14.5 inches in nearby Ellendale. With a potential for additional snowfall of 3 inches or more and wind gusts to 35 m.p.h., Delaware Forest Service staff are currently assessing impacts from the storm and working to mitigate hazardous trees in and around high-use areas and clear trails and access roads. The Redden Education Trail (photo) on the Headquarters Tract is littered with downed trees and covered with heavy snow. Visitors should be aware of the potential for falling tree limbs on all areas of the state forest. The historic Redden Lodge, also on the Headquarters Tract, remains accessible for now and is open for previously scheduled events and bookings.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a proposed rule change on December 6, 2021, to amend the agricultural water requirements of the Produce Safety Rule. In response to the proposed change, the Delaware Department of Agriculture and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension will host two outreach sessions on January 21, 2022, to engage farmers and other stakeholders.

The Delaware Forest Service is looking for motivated recruits to enroll in its wildfire training classes. There is no cost for training and no previous experience necessary. Candidates must be over 18 years of age, willing to learn, physically fit, and able to travel for at least two weeks at a time, usually in the summer months. Completion of all classes is required for prospective firefighters to achieve certification from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)

Federal laboratory testing has confirmed two cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI)—one in New Castle County, Delaware, and one in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. These avian influenza findings follow previously announced cases on farms in New Castle County, Delaware, and Cecil County, Maryland.

Federal laboratory testing has confirmed a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI) case in a commercial broiler farm in Kent County, Delaware. Following an investigation by the Delaware Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed poultry from this farm tested positive for highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI).

 Gov. John Carney joined Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, Department of Agriculture Secretary Michael T. Scuse and volunteers April 11 to plant trees on farmland recently acquired by DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation for Killens Pond State Park. Pictured, from left to right, STRIVE program student Richard […]

Five years after the first confirmed spotted lanternfly was found in New Castle County in 2017, the spotted lanternfly has made its way to Sussex County, creating a statewide quarantine for this invasive pest.

West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in Delaware the first time for 2022 in a sentinel chicken, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today.

During a stop at the Delaware Agriculture Education & Commodities Building at the Delaware State Fair, Governor John Carney announced an additional 3,827 acres on 54 farms are now permanently preserved for future generations.

The Delaware Forest Service mobilized a 19-person wildfire crew from Blackbird State Forest to northern California. The crew will travel cross-country to join other wildfire crews to battle blazes as the number of wildfires in the area continue to grow, sparked by hot, dry, and windy weather combined with an unstable atmosphere, creating lightning-caused fires.

TOWNSEND, Del. (September 7, 2022) – Volunteers are needed to plant 2,000 hardwood seedlings along the Cypress Branch at Blackbird State Forest on Saturday, September 17 to provide scenic beauty, enhance wildlife habitat, fight invasive species, and improve water quality in the critical Chesapeake Bay Watershed. State Forester Michael Valenti said, “Planting trees is a […]

TOWNSEND, Del. (September 20, 2022) – At a bill signing ceremony held at the Blackbird State Forest’s Meadow Tract, Governor Carney signed Senate Bill 328, renaming the Blackbird State Forest’s Meadows Tract the “Bruce C. Ennis Tract” in honor of Senator Bruce C. Ennis. The Ennis Tract covers 456 acres with open meadows, forested trails, […]

On September 17, over 100 volunteers planted 2,075 trees at the Blackbird State Forest for the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Tree Planting. This initiative will provide scenic beauty, enhance wildlife habitat, fight invasive species, and improve water quality in the critical Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This tree planting was part of a broader program to commemorate the 200th birthday year of Harriet Tubman in 1822 and part of International Underground Railroad Month.

DOVER, Del. (October 4, 2022) – The Delaware Forest Service has detected approximately 825 acres of defoliation around the Cypress Swamp, Gumboro, and the Nanticoke Wildlife Area due to gypsy moths, as compared to 2021 with only about 12 acres impacted by this invasive pest. Trees most threatened from defoliation by the gypsy moth, also […]

Delaware has been experiencing a significant increase in potbellied pigs running at large in residential and rural areas, including on state lands. Running at large, these pigs pose a nuisance to landowners, increase the threat of establishing feral pig populations, damage natural resources, and risk carrying endemic diseases that can spread to both people and animals.

The urban forestry grant program helps communities harness the numerous natural benefits of trees: cleaner air and water, energy savings, increased property values, civic pride, and reduced storm water runoff and flooding. Funding is provided by the U.S. Forest Service and state funds.