The Governor’s Office issued the following statement from public officials in Delaware regarding the decision by Chemours to remain in Wilmington.
Jack Markell
“I know that Chemours leaders conducted a detailed search and looked at several locations, and I am pleased that they have chosen Wilmington as the best option to support the success of their company,” said Governor Jack Markell. “This decision reflects the value of our top quality workforce, the ability to access key global markets from our state, and the responsiveness of government at all levels – all of which helps make Delaware a great place for employers to achieve long term growth.”
Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams
As Chemours embarks on this exciting new journey as an independent company, the City will continue to strongly support their corporate objectives as they will bring hundreds of jobs to the city, increase corporate business spending, and raise Wilmington’s profile as an international leader in the chemical industry. With a stable economic climate in Wilmington, we are hopeful that Chemours’ business will grow and compete globally. I look forward to Chemours becoming an active and engaged member of Wilmington’s corporate community.
Thomas Carper
“Chemours has agreed with what our Governor, our congressional delegation, and many Delawareans have been saying all along: staying in the City of Wilmington is the best decision for the company,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper.“Delaware may be small, but we show our strength by mobilizing quickly to create a nurturing environment for businesses to come and stay here. The state passed landmark legislation to modernize our tax structure, and in Congress, we worked to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act, giving businesses like Chemours the predictability they need. Keeping Chemours in Delaware, along with two of the three DuPont headquarters operations, is a major accomplishment, but this is no time to rest on our laurels. We have good paying, traditional manufacturing jobs at Chemours and other companies like it, and we must continue our tradition of working together to preserve and grow them.”
Wilmington City Council and President Theo Gregory
Wilmington City Council commends Chemours for its decision to continue to locate its global headquarters in Wilmington. The company’s managers and employees recognize, as we and countless others do, that Wilmington is a wonderful City which embraces the benefits of a rich corporate culture by supporting continuing efforts to make our City a more attractive place to live, work and enjoy. City Council extends its thanks and appreciation to Chemours for continuing to believe in Wilmington and for making it even more possible by staying in Wilmington for both the company and the City to prosper well into the future. City Council will continue to support efforts to enhance a strong, well-trained employee base from which Chemours and other companies draw their workers.
City Council will also continue to support efforts to increase the number of jobs available in Wilmington overall, knowing that jobs can cure a whole host of needs for individuals and families.
Chis Coons
“I welcome Chemours’ announcement that the company is committed to remaining in Delaware,” said Senator Chris Coons. “Chemours and its hundreds of Delaware employees are a critical part of the innovation economy in our state, and today’s announcement demonstrates the strength of our workforce and our business climate as the company plans for the future. I look forward to Chemours’ continued growth in Delaware.”
John Carney
“This was the best decision for Chemours, for Wilmington, and for the hundreds of Delawareans who go to work there every day,” said Congressman John Carney.“Delaware’s world-class talent will continue to help Chemours innovate and grow their company for long-term success. Today’s announcement is welcome news as we keep working to grow job opportunities and Delaware’s economy.”
An announcement confirming the company’s commitment to remain in Wilmington cited the high performance of current employees and optimism for future ability to recruit in Delaware as key advantages that helped lead to this decision. Chemours leaders also noted that the Delaware Competes Act, which reformed the state’s corporate income tax, was an additional key factor.
Patricia Blevins
“When we passed the Competes Act, we reformed our corporate tax formula so that it matched our surrounding states, making Delaware able to compete with our region,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Patricia Blevins. “Today’s announcement from Chemours that they plan to stay in Wilmington largely due to this legislation shows that our decision paid off by preserving hundreds of jobs.”
Valerie Longhurst
“Chemours has roots that run deep in Delaware, and I’m pleased that they will continue to operate here in the state, keeping good-paying jobs and an important industry here,” said House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst. “We all were concerned about the news that Chemours could leave, but Delaware being a small state, we were able to respond quickly and take action to ensure that they remain here and that hundreds of residents’ jobs are not shipped outside the state. This will help keep Delaware’s unemployment rate well below the national average.”
Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark. (Excerpt from News Journal letter)
Enough Governor Markell and Mr. Vergnano, enough of the sleight of hand and hocus-pocus you’re feeding the taxpayers. You both know the “Delaware Competes” act had nothing provable to do with Chemours (a company barely alive on life-support) staying here. You draw speculative and unprovable conclusions about this economically irresponsible legislation to justify the fact that you have forfeited over $60 million revenue dollars on the altar of corporate welfare. This doesn’t even include the $7.9 million in DEDO authorized taxpayer pillaging that you tossed into this “money-pit” of a foundering, nearly lifeless corporate corpse.
