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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Fri Jul 6th, 2007 02:06 pm |
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Employee number 45 just resigned! The DEDO Director only has five employees to go to reach 100% turnover of the 50 effective positions in the agency and with just 18 months left, this dubious milestone seems likely to be reached.
Most of the remaining high performing veterans keep their mouths shut and are just hoping to outlast this crack management team.
What a shame, this used to be a place where people looked forward to coming to work, worked hard, accomplished goals as a team, felt their jobs were relevant, felt connected to management and the Governor in a positive way and were widely respected by the business community. Oh well - a year and a half to go.
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Mon Jul 2nd, 2007 03:57 pm |
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LCR - My life and the life of all Delawareans will improve when any of the Big Three replaces the retired-in-place current governor. One of the first things that any of them will due is fire the current DEDO management - if it is still there by that time!
If you don't believe me, listen to the economic development portion (usually up front) in John's and Jack's stump speeches and if your boy Levin gets into the race, I think I already understand his position on the current DEDO management.
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Fred
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Posted: Mon Jul 2nd, 2007 01:50 am |
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Hen....having been in a few "Mission statement" type of meetings, I can guess that these high level concepts were developed in a committee....and each and every word was argued and debated for hours.
There may be plenty to complain about, but it seems a bit nit-picking on this issue.
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LCR
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Posted: Sun Jul 1st, 2007 11:43 pm |
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| Hopefully your life will improve when Levin becomes Governor.
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Bigg_Dogg
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Posted: Sun Jul 1st, 2007 01:28 pm |
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Excellent point of view Hen. Form over substance? I'll agree with that. As I'm sure you know, the details were never part of the package with this crew.
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Sat Jun 30th, 2007 02:19 pm |
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What do you all think when you read a passage that is poorly written and is somewhat ambiguous?
What if what you were reading was the mission statement of an important organization (DEDO for example) and you were considering using the services of that organization? Say you were a site location consultant or a senior real estate officer of a large company ... it wouldn't make a very good first impression would it?
Well here is DEDO's mission statement, directly from its website:
"The mission of the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) is to be responsible for attracting new investors and businesses to the State, promoting the expansion of existing industry, assisting small and minority-owned businesses, promoting and developing tourism and creating new and improved employment opportunities for all citizens of the State."
For those of you who remember how to diagram sentences, you will immediately recognize improper grammer.
The statement should either read:
The mission of the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) includes being responsible...
or
The mission of the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) is to be responsible for attracting new investors and businesses to the State, promote the expansion of existing industry, assist small and minority-owned businesses, promote and develop tourism and create new and improved employment opportunities for all citizens of the State.
And by the way, what kind of "investors" are we recruiting?
Usually with this DEDO director form trumps substance. What happened?
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Tue Jun 12th, 2007 03:02 am |
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With respect to what the Bigg_Dogg wrote back in April, we now know that employees number 43 and 44 are leaving DEDO. This is out of 50 effective positions! The entire, high-performing office is being eliminated for no logical reasons.
DEDO is at its core a sales and marketing office. Currently there are four sales people of the 50 effective positions. There are four cluster leaders and now no cluters manager (even though there were originally six cluster leaders and a manager). The Hen has heard that the acting cluster leader lost his management position.
No wonder the two candidates for Governor will be using changes in economic development as a key part of their platforms and if I were Lt. Governor Carney I would be trying to distance myself from this mess as far as I could or risk being pinned to it.
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Bigg_Dogg
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Posted: Thu Jun 7th, 2007 11:20 am |
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Hen:
It seems rather strange that the CDF would approve funding a loan to a non-profit for something that is not within the intent and parameters of the Strategic Fund, but stranger things have happened. Such as a marina in Blades. I'm sure the presentation will be that without this assistance, the hosp. will have to layoff workers, and this loan will stop that from happening. Both you and I know that this almost never occurs. Like any other business, unless the hosp. stops their own internal financial bleeding, the loan is nothing more than a bandaid to close the wound for open heart surgery.
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Mon Jun 4th, 2007 12:58 am |
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Fred - First, if you want to read the agenda, the meeting is actually on 6/18 in the state's public meetings calendar.
Below is a quote from the meeting agenda ... I think it answers your question concerning how loan proceeds will be used - funding the $4 million loss from last year - not for any economic development project!
Applicant: St. Francis Hospital - The Applicant is requesting a loan in the amount of $4,000,000 from the Delaware Strategic Fund of the State of Delaware. The Applicant proposes to use the proceeds to strengthen the Hospital’s financial stability for its current facility located in Wilmington, Delaware.
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Fred
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Posted: Sun Jun 3rd, 2007 09:29 pm |
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Interesting question, Blue Hen....
All hospitals get their share of people who can't pay for the care they get...St. Francis, by it's location, presumably gets more than it's share of this "business".
Now...should development funds be used for this? If this is to be used for the shortfall instead of a true development project, the answer is no. If it is backdoor reinmbursement, they should have the guts to address the issue directly.
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Sun Jun 3rd, 2007 07:54 pm |
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There is an interesting application that is on the agenda for this month's Council on Development Finance Meeting (you can find the agenda for this meeting on the state's website - public meeting calendar - 6/25 I believe). This public body meets each month to recommend grants, loans and bond issues to the DEDO director.
St. Francis Hospital is applying for a $4 million loan from the Strategic Fund. Presumably these funds will be used to cover losses reported publicly a few weeks ago. Losses were blamed in part on low recoveries from the state for treating patients who did not have private insurance and could not pay.
Regardless of what term and rate have been negotiated (and the Hen believes this will be a multi-year loan with a 0 interest rate) don't be surprised if there is epilogue language in this year's or next year's bond bill forgiving part or all of this loan.
St. Francis is a non-profit hospital, as I believe all the hospitals in Delaware are. Does this mean that all of the non-profit hospitals in Delaware that lose money on medicaid reimbursement will be applying for loans from the DEDO director to cover their losses? I guess we will have to wait and see.
From a public policy perspective, the question that we should all ask of the DEDO director is - should the Strategic Fund, a fund created to provide economic incentives for retaining and recruiting businesses, be used as a back door to fund a non-profit because of low reimbursement rates from the state for medicaid payments?
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Sat May 26th, 2007 03:16 am |
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Getting back to the Delaware Economic Development Office.
There is language in last year's budget bill and the draft for this year that needs to be quoted. It is Section 81 of this year's draft ...
"The Delaware Economic Development Office shall limit its scope of international activities including international travel to business attraction objectives."
Last week the DEDO director attended a three day women's conference in Jordan. The purpose of this conference as explained in its website was to explore Islam, democracy and modernization, the future of the Arab world and the role of Arab Women.
Its hard to identify any business attraction objectives associated with this seminar. If there weren't any, shouldn't the Director have taken vacation time for this seminar and paid for it herself?
Good question for the Joint Finance Committee and the Controller General!
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Bluesman
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Posted: Fri May 18th, 2007 02:15 am |
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LCR
1) I asked you not to bring my parents up and you did again. I watched my mother die over a 6 year period from Alzheimers, and my step dad died of cancer. People can read the thread there is no need for you to use the fact that they were state employees for your arguement. That is how it comes across to me and if it were the other way around you would feel the same way.
2) The thread is about DEDO you said "I wasn't here when Roth was", I assumed that meant you worked for DEDO an honest mistake, that I apologized for.
3) What EXACTLY doesn't look right about the picture? Maybe if you explained yourself, instead of saying I'd like to see the negative.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what you were implying. I don't have a 9-5 job, my music is how I make my living. You implying something like that would be just like me accusing you of something to your employer.
If you had taken the time to go to my website you would see more photos from the show. There are many other pictures with well known musicians I have played with. many are Lifetime Acheivement award winners and several are in the Hall of Fame.
I'm not a hack gargage band wanna be. I have had several #1 songs on the charts as well as the # 3 instrumental blues album of the year. Currently I have over 700 radio stations world wide playing my music, which is pretty damn good for a self produced indie artist.
Everytime I record and produce one of my CDs, (about $3,000.00 I'm taking a huge risk. If it doesn't get airtime or sell, I'm screwed. So to have someone imply that I'm a fraud rattles my cage pretty hard. Please try and step back and put yourself in my shoes.
I really don't want to fight anymore.
Can we at least agree we have both said some things that should have never been said?
Can we at least agree to disagree at times without all the personal insults and innuendos?
I would love to share some stories with you about BB and his daughter Shirley whom I have played with as well. Some you would find quite amusing, he is a hell of a guy.
I actually do a cover of The Thrill is Gone a bit different from his version with more of a jazz twist to it. He sent me a note after he had listened to it complimenting me on what I had done instead of just playing it like everyone else does.
Last edited on Fri May 18th, 2007 02:23 am by Bluesman
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LCR
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Posted: Fri May 18th, 2007 01:21 am |
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I don't know why I try Bill. But I will again
- I am not sure what gave you any idea I am with DEDO, your response makes no sense.
- I am not slamming your parents, get over it. You attacked me for being a state employee and for no other reason. My parents have also died and I would be as upset if I thought someone was degrading either of them.
- Re-read what I asked about your post with your guitar. After you falsely accused me of being Vegas and attack with a vengeance every word I post, I told you that I was a huge fan of B.B. and I was concerned about the enlarged photo you posted, because if you look at it again objectively, it doesn't look right. I said in that post that if it was you & B.B. is was very happy for you and if you really had cut and pasted I was sad for you. When you posted the full shot it was obvious.
- NOW LEAVE ME ALONE.
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Bluesman
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Posted: Fri May 18th, 2007 12:41 am |
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LCR wrote: I wasn't here when he was on Roth's staff, but I have read some very positive things about him and his abilities. I think he offers the best challenge to Carney (Very Appropriately Named) and Markel (who is actually the brighter of the 2)
LCR wrote:
Thanks Hab, no defense taken. LOL. I have nothing to defend. I am not sure where Bluesman got the tought that I work for DEDO. I do not, never have and have no desire to ever. I am a merit employee in the Department of Finance and have been with State Government for alomost 3 years. I was hired for a particular position that could not be filled from any internal candidates. I am not a lifer and will be retired before I can bask in all of these benefits he accuses me of having. I earned my pensions in the private sector and the small pension I will receive from the state might be beer money.
If I were an exempt employee who served at the discretion of the Administration it would not be ethically correct for me to become actively involved in a campaign that could directly affect my position or income.
For some reason BM has a "hardon" for state employees and I do not understand why. His wife is a teacher in the state system and his parents were retired from the State of Massachusetts.
I gave up responding to his manic whirlings when he swore I was Vegas and was out to get him. Now he knows I am a state emplyee and he is on another manic whirl.
LCR,
The above post that you made is where I got the impression that you worked for DEDO.
Obviously I was wrong so I apologize. At least I know how to offer up an apology, whats you excuse?
Since both my parents are DEAD I asked you to leave them out of this. But no you have to make reference to them AGAIN! You have no goddamn class at all !!!
I don't have any hardon for state employees.
I have hardon for you, you vigorously protests anything to do with schools, and fellow state employees. You have treated me lower than dirt since I have been here, and using my parents as a reference again only proves my point once again.
You have a lot of nerve taliking about anything I say , you all but accused me of cutting and pasting the picture of BB King and me. YOU have had a hardon, and been out of control towards me since the day I joined the forum. You have accused me of about everything under the sun.
You are a victimizer, that likes to play the victim, when someone pushes back.
Last edited on Fri May 18th, 2007 12:56 am by Bluesman
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LCR
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Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 10:24 pm |
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Thanks Hab, no defense taken. LOL. I have nothing to defend. I am not sure where Bluesman got the tought that I work for DEDO. I do not, never have and have no desire to ever. I am a merit employee in the Department of Finance and have been with State Government for alomost 3 years. I was hired for a particular position that could not be filled from any internal candidates. I am not a lifer and will be retired before I can bask in all of these benefits he accuses me of having. I earned my pensions in the private sector and the small pension I will receive from the state might be beer money.
If I were an exempt employee who served at the discretion of the Administration it would not be ethically correct for me to become actively involved in a campaign that could directly affect my position or income.
For some reason BM has a "hardon" for state employees and I do not understand why. His wife is a teacher in the state system and his parents were retired from the State of Massachusetts.
I gave up responding to his manic whirlings when he swore I was Vegas and was out to get him. Now he knows I am a state emplyee and he is on another manic whirl.
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Habanero
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Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 05:33 pm |
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I must still continue to respectfully disagree with you Bill. Not because I am defending LCR personally (I'm not) but rather because I understand how the system in Delaware works. The average state employee in Delaware that helps out on any campaign is not going to benefit perosnally or monetarily from it. Those that do or might are also generally not in merit pay positions, but rather exempt positions and as such have much more to lose, than gain, if they back the wrong horse in the race.
DEDO employees are made up mostly of exempt positions, thus the ease of all the turnovers. And exempt position employees are very often political appointments of some shape or form.
I have never gotten the impression from LCR that he works in DEDO, nor have I ever gotten any impression than he is more than a rank and file merit employee with a decent amount of seniority. I could be wrong, as I have no clue where he works, nor do I care, I'm just giving you my personal opinion. As opinionated as he is, I do not believe he would have lasted this long under the Minner Administration if he held an exempt position.
Things at DEDO are messed up, and have been for quite a while. Minner should have put Nathan Hayward in the top position instead of putting him in a Sec. of DelDOT. Nathan was the first director of it when it was created under the DuPont Administration.
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Bluesman
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Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 05:11 pm |
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Habanero,
My comment was not directed at you BUT at LCR who is a State of Delaware employee and does have something to directly gain by actively supporting Mr. Levin. Should Mr. Levin win the office of the governorship and want to reward LCR, then he has indeed gained.
Now as far as DEDO this is their mission statement from their own website. ABOUT THE
DELAWARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
The mission of the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) is to be responsible for attracting new investors and businesses to the State, promoting the expansion of existing industry, assisting small and minority-owned businesses, promoting and developing tourism and creating new and improved employment opportunities for all citizens of the State.
For all intensive purposes I am a small business. I am a minority, and I am a citizen of this state. LCR has eluded to the fact that he employed by DEDO, so I am a bit confused as to how all his accusations and personal attacks on me in this forum fits into the mission statement of the Department he works for. I know I certainly haven't got any warm and fuzzy feeling from LCR, or even a warm welcome.
I did however receive a very warm welcome from the DDOA when I became an Artist member with them. They were more than helpful. I was asked if I would consider an appointment to the council for the department of the Arts. An appointment I might add made by the governor directly. I doubt they make offers like this to "scammers" as LCR has so eloquently implied I am repeatedly.
I have absolutely nothing to gain, as I receive no monetary compensation or benefits from this state or its administration.
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Habanero
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Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 02:44 pm |
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Bluesman wrote: Actually my "comfortable retirement" as you call it, is from the Military and from a machine shop that is still in business that I co-own in New Hampshire. I was not making any derogatory statements about either you or the potential governor. I wasmerly making a statement that if you are involved in his campaign you would be doing so for ulterior motives, and a possible gain for your help.
That IS the game of politics, I'm not stupid and I know how it works and how to play the game..... I just choose not to, because I don't want to owe anyone anything especially FAVORS. The only person I am in bed with is my wife.
Sorry Bill, I have to say that your comment about the reason for helping a campaign was out of line. I have nothing to gain, but did comment that I would be willing to help out on a Levin campaign. I have worked on various campaigns for more than 20 years and like myself, most people I have known do not do it for any direct personal benefit, but rather to benefit all with the best possible person in that position.
A Levin gubernatorial race, let alone a win, would have no bearing on me as a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, however I believe it would be far better for the residents of Delaware than John Carney and a continuation of the Carper/Minner culture of corruption. I was a Delaware resident very active in politics for long enough to understand just how detrimental the Minner Administration has been to the First State.
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Bluesman
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Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 12:40 pm |
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Actually my "comfortable retirement" as you call it, is from the Military and from a machine shop that is still in business that I co-own in New Hampshire. I was not making any derogatory statements about either you or the potential governor. I wasmerly making a statement that if you are involved in his campaign you would be doing so for ulterior motives, and a possible gain for your help.
That IS the game of politics, I'm not stupid and I know how it works and how to play the game..... I just choose not to, because I don't want to owe anyone anything especially FAVORS. The only person I am in bed with is my wife.
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LCR
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Posted: Thu May 17th, 2007 03:37 am |
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Just in case. You have no idea who Alan Levin is or what Sen. Roth did for this State and this Country. You might someday, since he wrote the legislation that created the Roth IRA so that you could save money for your comfortable retirement. Alan's family built the Happy Harry's chain of independent drug stores into an empire that maintained a friendly down home chain of pharmacies that was recently sold to Walgreens.
You might want to google him and read about him. He is a car lover and gave up a bright political future to come back and run the family business at his Mother's request when his father was dying from cancer and could no longer manage the day to day buiness.
But that would take some effort on your part before you blindly accuse me of looking to put a politician in my pocket for personal gain. This isn't Kennedyville.
Bluesman wrote:
And of course you will campaign vigorously for him LCR, in hopes of getting some reward as a state employee at our expense as taxpayers. Good Ole Boys at their finest....... .......what a farce
Last edited on Thu May 17th, 2007 03:48 am by
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Habanero
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Posted: Wed May 16th, 2007 07:46 pm |
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I wasn't around when he wason Roth's staff, either. but I do agree with you in regard to Carney and Markel. I actually like Markell and he would be far better in the position than Carney. Delaware does not need another 4 (or heaven forbid 8) years of the Carper/Minner mess.
Now I'm outta here! CU!
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LCR
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Posted: Wed May 16th, 2007 06:13 pm |
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I wasn't here when he was on Roth's staff, but I have read some very positive things about him and his abilities. I think he offers the best challenge to Carney (Very Appropriately Named) and Markel (who is actually the brighter of the 2)
Habanero wrote:
LCR - has Mr. Levin declared? If not, please make sure I don't miss when he does - I would be more than happy to help with such a campaign. And yes I would make the commute to do so.
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Bluesman
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Posted: Wed May 16th, 2007 12:16 pm |
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| And of course you will campaign vigorously for him LCR, in hopes of getting some reward as a state employee at our expense as taxpayers. Good Ole Boys at their finest..............what a farce
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LCR
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Posted: Wed May 16th, 2007 12:05 pm |
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| Not yet but without Happy Harry's to operate any longer the inside rumor mill and a couple of well placed magazine articles have him giving a real consideration to it.
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Habanero
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Posted: Wed May 16th, 2007 04:44 am |
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| LCR - has Mr. Levin declared? If not, please make sure I don't miss when he does - I would be more than happy to help with such a campaign. And yes I would make the commute to do so.
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LCR
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Posted: Wed May 16th, 2007 03:18 am |
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Probably the smart one who realizes that Ruth Ann and her Demo-losers are on the way out.
Alan Levin for Governor and good government
Last edited on Wed May 16th, 2007 03:23 am by
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Wed May 16th, 2007 02:14 am |
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| So Dogg ... Without naming names, can you describe who was the latest to leave DEDO?
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Bigg_Dogg
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Posted: Fri Apr 27th, 2007 05:48 pm |
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The Blue Hen wrote: The Hen heard that the count of employees coming and going during the tenure of this director is now up to 43. One of these two, a marketing professional, resigned after two days, was persuaded to give the job another chance and promptly resigned for good four business days later. 43 out of 50 effective positions! Great management, huh?
44 as of today. We're closing in on 100% turnover, a new DEDO milestone!!
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Wed Apr 18th, 2007 11:44 pm |
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Dogg - You're absolutely right. But one of the other large grants this director doled out was so large on a per job basis (like this one) that it too required a 10 year clawback.
For a very short time I thought that the state would not be subsidizing the new 800 person call center. But hold on -
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Bigg_Dogg
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Posted: Tue Apr 17th, 2007 10:21 pm |
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| 10 year clawback? You've got to be kidding! No one in this administration nor management in the company will be here in 10 years! This agreement will be filed away to be long forgotten after the administration is gone in the next 2 years and DEDO has a new Director and staff. I'm sure that the current management of this company is laughing all the way to the bank.
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Mon Apr 16th, 2007 11:56 pm |
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Well - the good news is that a quality employer is relocating 90 jobs to Delaware, with salaries expected to be in excess of $50,000.
The bad news is that this established company will receive a $1.3 million grant for this action. Where do you think the funds for such grants come from? Us!
The ongoing questions about this grant and others provided by this DEDO director include - Was any grant required at all for this relocation? If so, how much of a grant was needed or to put it another way, what was the least amount of state taxpayer money necessary to get this company to take the desired action and finally will the state protect itself in agreements with the grantee?
I am not sure what the answer is for the first question, but certainly its not the first team negotiating with the company. Just look at the unbelievable $13.6 million grant provided to a company to retain 350 jobs. This works out to be well over $30,000 per job vs. the $3,000 to $5,000 per job provided in the last administration.
The grant in question, not matter how you slice it, works out to be $14,444 per job or one of the higher amounts per job ever offered by DEDO in the last 16 years! The newspaper article about this grant mentions a 10 year "clawback". That means that the relocated jobs will have to stay in place at the same salary for 10 years so that the state will recoup its grant based on the estimated personal income tax generated each year by the jobs.
To put this in contect, most grants in the last administration were paid back in three to five years using a lower percentage estimate for personal income taxes!
The next important question is - will the company have to maintain its current employment level plus the relocated jobs for some period of time? If not, the company could draw the $1.3 million grant, relocate the 90 jobs and then lay off 400 other employees without any consequence.
My guess is that this director has not even contemplated such a possibility and therefore will not protect taxpayer money properly in this grant.
Oh! By the way director, where is that financial entity you anticipated announcing around Valentines Day? Nobody in the banking business in Delaware has a clue!
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Disgusted
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Posted: Mon Apr 9th, 2007 12:27 am |
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Bigg_Dogg wrote: Hen:
Please be kind. Ms. McKinney-Cherry has SMD, otherwise known as "selective memory disease". As a result of her diagnoses, she comes under ADA and qualifies for special protections.
HA! That's a good one!
And I used to think that her being a member of the Democrap Potty qualified her for special consideration. Silly me!
Last edited on Mon Apr 9th, 2007 12:28 am by Disgusted
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Sat Apr 7th, 2007 02:44 pm |
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A few more words about the AstraZeneca deal:
Director Cherry said: "We know the costs of that project, including transportation, were over $400 million."
Anyone who knows anything about that deals knows that the direct cost to the state for the project was $18 million, consisting of an $8 million grant and $10 million of land. The land, of course, was necessary for the company's expansion.
All of the other development in the area, the new roads, restoration of the Blue Ball Barn, the expansion of the golf course, the new parks and walking trails were for public use not for the private use of AstraZeneca! I assume director Cherry would know the difference between public and private use, although she has no formal business or political education.
She must think highly of the deal as she gave a very flattering speech about AstraZeneca and the public development just a few weeks ago. Did you forget that speech director?
The good news is that AstraZeneca actually has about 5,000 jobs or 1,000 jobs more than was required under the agreement. I am sure you are having someone find the agreement now, so that you can review it and possibly use the multi-factor recapture provision as a model for future deals - that is if you can understand it.
How many jobs does Invista have for that $13.6 million that you gave them - 350?
Also AstraZeneca built hundreds of thousands of square feet of new office and lab space for its expansion, providing substantial additional economic benefit to Delaware. The agreement called for this.
Just looking at the positive impact of the 5,000 AstraZeneca jobs, the state was paid back the full $18 million, just from state personal income tax, in a very short time.
Can you say the same from some of your deals director Cherry? I think not!
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Bigg_Dogg
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Posted: Fri Apr 6th, 2007 12:24 pm |
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Hen:
Please be kind. Ms. McKinney-Cherry has SMD, otherwise known as "selective memory disease". As a result of her diagnoses, she comes under ADA and qualifies for special protections.
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Thu Apr 5th, 2007 09:30 pm |
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Well the DEDO director put her foot in her mouth this time. Below is a quote from director Cherry in the recent edition of Out & About Magazine in response to a question about state funds spent to retain and recruit jobs for AstraZeneca, clearly the best economic development transaction yet done in the state:
Cherry is quoted as saying:
"Your observation is a really solid observation. We know the costs of that project, including transportation, were over $400 million. I can’t find any evidence we required them to keep a certain number of jobs in Delaware for a particular time period or that they be at a certain salary level. Today, not only do we have time frames, but we have very specific requirements—for number of jobs, at specified salaries, for specified periods of time, and if you don’t do it we have recapture provisions."
Lets review - A basic way to measure the effectiveness of taxpayer dollars being used for economic development grants or loans is to simply measure the amount used to create or retain a job.
For AstraZeneca the state provided $18 million of direct incentives for the retention of about 2,000 jobs and the relocation and growth of another 2,000. This works out to be $4,500 per job. Lets compare this to the director's signature deal - the retention of 350 Invista jobs. For this the state gave Invista $13.6 million or over $30,000 per job! Which one was more efficient director Cherry?
As to the AstraZeneca requirements to keep a certain number of jobs in the state, the director says that she has no evidence of any requirement. I guess she has been ignoring or not reading the annual jobs certification that has been sent by an officer of AstraZeneca every year to her directly. This certification is required under one of the most comprehensive agreements to protect the state that has ever been written into an incentive package.
It would be interesting for the director to discuss the protection in the Invista agreement. A little bird told the Hen that basic protections for the state were gutted by the company.
My guess is that the Governor will be getting a call from AstraZeneca over this insulting reference. Stay tuned!!!
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Habanero
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Posted: Sat Mar 24th, 2007 07:18 pm |
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Fred wrote: One can reinforce that with businesses, and provide a central resource for information, but in general, businesses will make the best decisions for them, not the state of Delaware.
That is an excellent point, the State has it's own interests (jobs which equal tax revenue) when working to entice new business to the state, and the businesses have their own interests (lower costs for doing business for one) when determining location. And it doesn't matter what size business it is, the bottom line for any business is and always will be the the deciding factor.
Just like you and LCR, I agree the average outsider doesn't give a hoot about the internal workings of DEDO, just if they are accomplishing their goals.
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Fred
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Posted: Sat Mar 24th, 2007 03:03 pm |
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I'm with CR on this one....I don't really care about the internal workings of the DEDO. I hope they are doing a good job, and I suspect that there are disagreements about the best way to attract new companies...but I also know that there is only so much any entity can do. Provide an attractive work enviornment, a well educated work force, infrastructure, and a good tax structure, and you will attract businesses. One can reinforce that with businesses, and provide a central resource for information, but in general, businesses will make the best decisions for them, not the state of Delaware.
I suspect that a lot of the hits are from within the group, hoping/seeing if there is anything new posted every day.
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Sat Mar 24th, 2007 02:25 pm |
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You are finally correct about one thing LCR - You are a whiner.
As to whether anyone cares, what accounts for the 16.7 thousand hits to this string.
As to the possibility of a republican administration, most political insiders on both sides agree that if the republicans can't take back the governor's office in 08, it will be another 16 years before they have a chance.
I guess we all will be waiting for a republican administration just like we are all waiting for those promised businesses and jobs from Cherry.
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LCR
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Posted: Sat Mar 24th, 2007 02:16 am |
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| Except for my whining...no one cares. Deal with it and find us some jobs instead of bitching about your boss. Who knows, you might wind up a hero in the new Republican administration in Delaware.
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Sat Mar 24th, 2007 01:45 am |
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Well - two more weeks have gone by and there is no announcement from the DEDO director about a new banking entity. She told the Joint Finance Committee on February 7th that she would be making this announcement the next week.
We're still waiting ...
Most of us gave up waiting for the the new jobs mentioned in a News Journal article dated 5/3/06. This is direct quote from that article:
"Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and her top business recruitment adviser say they're confident a recent two-week trade mission to Europe will bear fruit in coming weeks with deals with foreign-based firms bringing new jobs and development to Delaware.
"We are trying to finalize details on some things, but we hope to be making some announcements in the next few weeks," said Judy McKinney-Cherry, the director of the Delaware Economic Development Office."
A few of us are still waiting ...
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Tue Mar 13th, 2007 11:26 pm |
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In case you missed it the News Journal had a front page article today about how Bank of America has reduced employment in Delaware by 3,100 positions. There were several comments to this article. The quote below is taken from the article. Why couldn't the DEDO director be reached for comment? The next two paragraphs (in bold) are quotes from reader comments. Check it out at delawareonline.com
"Cherry, who could not be reached for comment, originally said her estimate did not include jobs lost through attrition, people who chose to leave the bank and were not replaced"
Can anyone tell me what this lady does besides site on the sidelines eating bon-bons and collecting 100K+ in taxpayer money as salary while the economic exodus accelerates ? She can't even return a phone call ? What, too busy playing Parchesi with Ruth Ann ?
As a side note, Judy McKinney-Cherry, director of the Delaware Economic Development Office, is absolute rubbish at her job, as was her predescessor. Ruthie should get on the ball and bring some competent peopleinto these positions.
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Sat Mar 10th, 2007 03:03 am |
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Well another week has gone by without a "new banking entity" coming to or opening in Delaware that the DEDO director was quoted in the News Journal as happening around Valentines Day. Of course, we all know that the only economic development announcement made on Valentines Day was the one made by senior Chrysler officials.
So DEDO director - where is the new "banking entity"?
I hope your not talking about a certain start up community bank that is still in the capital raising mode. If so, the only help DEDO provided to this start up was from the experienced banking person that you fired among the DEDO 10 on July 14, 2005.
Could it be the ribbon cutting for the new Barclays building? No that's economic development supported by DelDOT not DEDO.
We're all waiting ................
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Tue Mar 6th, 2007 01:41 am |
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| The Hen heard that the count of employees coming and going during the tenure of this director is now up to 43. One of these two, a marketing professional, resigned after two days, was persuaded to give the job another chance and promptly resigned for good four business days later. 43 out of 50 effective positions! Great management, huh?
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The Blue Hen
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Posted: Fri Mar 2nd, 2007 02:33 am |
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On February 7, in order to deflect questions about the Chrysler plant closing, the DEDO Director told the Joint Finance Committee that she would be announcing a new "banking entity" in Delaware the following week... This was reported the next day in the News Journal. We're still waiting Director.
Could these be the same jobs that your boss and you promised after the 2005 boondoggle to Scotland, England and France? RAM was quoted in the paper during that trip that the DEDO Director was working out the details. Sure seems like a long time to work out the details...
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Hartlyboy
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Posted: Tue Feb 20th, 2007 11:01 pm |
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| Darn, I hadn't heard about Kraft. When did they announce a restructuring?
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Bigg_Dogg
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Posted: Tue Feb 20th, 2007 07:42 pm |
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curiousindover wrote: Now that Kraft has announced a restructuring, wonder what that means for the City of Dover? Are we out another 650 jobs that Economic Development couldn't save or never saw headed down the tracks?
Good question! Kraft has been on life support for a lengthy bit of time. Dover really doesn't need an announcement of this type if it means fewer jobs.Last edited on Tue Feb 20th, 2007 07:43 pm by Bigg_Dogg
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curiousindover
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Posted: Tue Feb 20th, 2007 05:39 pm |
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| Now that Kraft has announced a restructuring, wonder what that means for the City of Dover? Are we out another 650 jobs that Economic Development couldn't save or never saw headed down the tracks?
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Fred
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Posted: Sun Feb 18th, 2007 03:44 pm |
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What do you expect her to do....slam Chrysler for their corporate restructuring?
There are rumors that GM might buy or invest in Chrysler.....a good thing, in that it could allow the GM plant upstate to move to to the larger site. One can hope, but this is a blow to the economy.
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Disgusted
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Posted: Sat Feb 17th, 2007 02:39 pm |
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Given that workers stand to lose their jobs because of "corporate restructuring," I think that lipstick has a generous helping of tabasco sauce mixed in.
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