Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) is the nonprofit public/private organization that drives Delaware’s statewide efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses and support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent. DPP is also Delaware’s lead resource working to build a stronger statewide entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem.
Since its creation in 2017, DPP has collaborated with partners throughout the state that share DPP’s vision for an even more vibrant and inventive Delaware economy. With this cooperation, DPP furthers the consideration of site selectors, company executives and developers determining where to locate or grow a business to choose Delaware. DPP also helps sustain existing Delaware businesses by helping them discover and nurture talent and by connecting them with funding opportunities and other support that can help their operations thrive here.
Operating from offices in Wilmington and — new in 2024 — Dover, DPP finished last year marking its seventh anniversary and celebrating the accomplishment of significant all-time milestones. DPP has now supported more than 75 location and expansion projects that account for more than $2 billion in projected capital investment and more than 10,000 new and retained jobs.
Contributing to such results are initiatives like the foreign direct investment trips DPP made to nine European, Asian and North American countries in 2024 and our participation in major U.S.-based events that showcased Delaware to audiences from abroad, including hosting a tour featuring the Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub (MACH2). DPP also deployed staff to 14 industry gatherings across the United States and into Canada in 2024, seizing the opportunity to network with national site selectors, commercial and corporate real estate leaders, and veteran and emerging figures in fintech, clean energy, science, technology and entrepreneurship.
Because furthering innovation is a foundational element of Delaware’s and DPP’s operating plans, we continued in 2024 to initiate work to promote the state’s reputation as an innovation hub. In November, DPP built off a dialogue with former Governor John Carney’s team and the Delaware Business Roundtable’s Investment Agenda to launch a comprehensive assessment and benchmark analysis of Delaware’s statewide science and technology ecosystem. Once completed, the report will be available to other innovation-supporting groups and will inform a larger strategic effort for the state.
To emphasize Delaware’s status as a place to grow scalable science and technology companies, DPP completed its fourth annual Startup302 pitch competition and launched its fifth annual contest. Last year’s event provided more than $170,000 in nondilutive grants, along with connections and other resources to 15 startups with founders from underrepresented demographics. Since 2021, Startup302 has awarded a total of $813,000 in funding to 52 startups. This year’s competition will conclude in May and bring those cumulative figures to almost $1 million in grants and more than 60 startups funded.
Focusing on companies that use wet lab space, DPP has continued to market the Graduated Lab Space Grant program as a resource to help them grow in Delaware. We also have continued to promote opportunities provided by the Modernization Investment Support Initiative (MISI) Grant, which helps existing Delaware companies fund upgraded equipment and services to remain competitive within their industries.
MISI Grant recipient Natural Dairy was the subject of a video produced by DPP in 2024 to share the impact of such support. Also completed in 2024 were individual videos aimed at highlighting the attributes of New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties to companies interested in growing in Northern, Central or Southern Delaware.
DPP has showcased other key topics and players in Delaware business through its ongoing WDEL radio campaign. Along with Prosperity Power Minutes on the benefits of doing business in Delaware and 30-second spots on related subjects, DPP enlisted leaders and innovators from across the state for interviews on the “Del-Aware” morning show. Among those featured during 2024 were Kris Vaddi of Prelude Therapeutics, Bryan Winship of SPI Pharma and Andrew Cottone of First State Hydrogen.
As 2025 progresses, DPP will continue to work with its partners to ensure that businesses already in Delaware and those that are interested in coming to Delaware are aware of and are able to access the opportunities and resources available to them here.
“Delaware is an exceptional environment for partnership and innovation, with leaders of both business and government known for going out of their way to collaborate with companies, innovators and entrepreneurs to help them access the resources and support needed to grow and thrive.”
Kurt Foreman, President and CEO
