By Kim Hoey
Special to Delaware Business Times
Economic growth and environmental sustainability are not inconsistent with each other, according to Brian McGlinchey, president of Delawareans for Environmental and Economic Development (DEED). Moving that concept forward is the group’s reason for being.
DEED was formed in 2007 by McGlinchey, along with contemporaries, Brian Murphy, who worked with the mayor of Wilmington’s office; Raymond M. Pocino, of the Laborers’ International Union of North America; Jim Wolfe and A. Richard Heffron, president of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce; and John McMahon, then director of the Delaware Contractors Association. The group members saw economic growth declining and high-paying manufacturing jobs leaving the state and wanted to do something to reverse that flow. Organizing business and labor leaders to work together on public policy and projects seemed a good first step.
The state endured the closing of two automobile manufacturing plants and a steel plant, among others, said McGlinchey, a former lobbyist for labor unions, who now works with the Wilmington based government relations firm, McCarter Government Solutions, LLC.
“It’s a different state now,” he said. “Everyone is worried about jobs and that supersedes anyone’s little agenda.”
Today, DEED has about 70 members from throughout the state who represent business and labor leaders, attorneys, other development organizations, homebuilders, contractors, engineers and environmental groups.
“We believe we can be an influential group in advocating for job creation and projects that will help give Delaware a viable economic footprint that takes into consideration environmental concerns,” said Murphy, who was the commerce director for the city of Wilmington from 1989 to 1993. “DEED is important because we are the only group in the state that represents varied interests with one major goal above others “¦ jobs.”
Jobs, specifically better-paying jobs, weigh heavily on the minds of members of DEED. While unemployment numbers in Delaware are down, running about 4.4 percent, so are wages. Finding jobs with higher, livable wages would make a huge difference in Delaware, said Collin O’Mara, former Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control, and a member of the coalition.
In working for the goal of more and better jobs, the group has had ups and downs in the last eight years.
In terms of accomplishments, they count support of the U.S. 301 bypass, the restructuring of the Transportation Trust Fund and the dredging of the Delaware River, said Murphy. Not all their efforts were successful, though. DEED supported a proposed DATA center and power plant in Newark that was ultimately rejected by the University of Delaware where it would have been housed. “We believe [that business loss] was a serious blow to our state’s “˜can do’ development reputation.”
Still, members think there is plenty more they can do.
There’s no problem in the state of Delaware that some other state hasn’t already addressed, said O’Mara, who travels the country in his role as president and CEO of the National Wildlife Foundation. He tries to bring what he learns in other states to the group.
A DEED goal for the coming year includes encouraging the state to invest in more infrastructure – roads and Internet access for underserved populations, that could help spur growth from the private sector, they say.
Getting government processes that slow and stop economic development, out of the way, is another.
There are polluted former industrial sites in Delaware that the government will never have the money to clean up, but a company that would like to do business in Delaware could, said O’Mara. DEED would like to see Delaware government officials focusing on policies that would encourage clean up of those sites so they can be reused.
There are a lot of ideas that have a lot of buy in, but don’t have a lot of political will, said O’Mara. DEED is a group not afraid of starting a discussion on issues – like reassessing property values statewide, land-use reform in New Castle County and expanding the port in Wilmington.
“In that group there’s a lot of knowledge, a lot of history,” said Rep. Danny Short, House Minority Leader, who spoke to the group recently. “If everybody truly means what they say, let’s work together to get something we can all live with. I see the opportunity. I really do.”
DEED is about solutions, said O’Mara. Discussions are a thoughtful blend of optimism and frustration.
“It’s one of the places where you have pragmatic, authentic conversations,” he said of his colleagues, adding they are also very respectful of each other.
The value of the group is everyone working in partnership, said McGlinchey. He encourages more people to join the conversation.
“We’re always looking for new ideas so nothing becomes stale,” he said.
They hold meetings the second Friday of each month, featuring a speaker, a round-table discussion and a short business meeting.
With the exception of one meeting held each year in Kent County and one in Sussex, all meetings are held in the Chase Center on the Riverfront – a significant spot because it is an example of taking a brownfield, land once used for industrial purposes that may have hazardous substances or pollutants on it, and turning it into a viable economic venture.
It’s the kind of project and success story members of the group are hoping to be part of in the coming years.
“These are all folks who deeply care about the quality of life in Delaware,” said O’Mara about the membership. “They’re genuine.”.
