Newsbites

Delaware Prosperity Partnership and Port of Blyth Partner to Further Innovation

Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP), the lead statewide economic development organization for Delaware, and the Port of Blyth (PoB), a leading offshore energy base in the North East of England, have signed a cooperative agreement to leverage the strengths of both organizations to foster innovation, facilitate market expansion, and enhance workforce capabilities in both Delaware and Blyth.

The five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlines areas of action for a partnership that will enhance the visibility of both DPP and the Port of Blyth while also supporting economic growth for Delaware and the North East of England. The agreement aims to drive mutual benefits through potential economic development, knowledge sharing, promotion and consulting services.

“The Port of Blyth is one of the leading ports in the world that really know how to handle companies in the energy transition space, and DPP is eager to tap into its expertise,” said Kurt Foreman, president and CEO of DPP, who attended the signing virtually. “Formalizing our cross-Atlantic relationship will allow DPP to leverage the port’s considerable capabilities and experience and enhance our ability to assist companies from Delaware and abroad, build further connections and, where possible, aid in creating more jobs and more revenue both here and overseas.”

“We look forward to working together with DPP to share best practices and explore new markets,” said PoB CEO Martin Lawlor. “The signing of the MOU reflects a strong commitment to building a collaborative framework that prioritizes mutual benefits, innovation, and sustainable growth for both the Port of Blyth and DPP.”

Carvertise and StreetMetrics Form Global Partnership

In a pivotal move for the “moving outof-home” (OOH) advertising industry, StreetMetrics and Carvertise announced an expanded global partnership, allowing Carvertise to leverage Streetmetric’s impression tracking technology and methodology to provide near real-time impression tracking on all wrapped rideshare vehicles, across all active advertising campaigns. It now empowers OOH advertisers with an unparalleled level of precision and granularity they could only previously expect to find in digital advertising.

“By embedding StreetMetrics’ technology into our entire fleet, we’re not just adding a new tool to our toolkit; we’re challenging the notion of how real-time and reality-based impression tracking should be in the OOH industry,” said Mac Macleod, CEO of Carvertise. “This is about giving our clients near real-time, actionable insights that help them optimize their campaigns in ways that weren’t possible before. It’s no longer enough to simply execute.”

“Carvertise is redefining accountability in moving OOH advertising,” said Drew Jackson, CEO of StreetMetrics. “With our technology, they’re not just participating in the shift toward near real-time measurement—they’re leading it. Advertisers will have the ability to see live interactions with their campaigns, when, and where. This level of transparency is unprecedented in the OOH space, and we’re thrilled to be part of this industry-wide transformation.”

Energize Delaware Donates EVs to Food Bank

Energize Delaware and The Food Bank of Delaware unveiled a fleet of four electric vehicles and accompanying EVs.

The $300,000 investment from Energize Delaware enables the Food Bank to replace four aging, gas-dependent vehicles and reduce its carbon footprint.

“We are incredibly grateful to Energize Delaware for this meaningful investment in our mission,” said Food Bank of Delaware President and CEO Cathy Kanefsky. “These electric vehicles will help reduce travel costs as we increase our outreach in vulnerable communities who have been disproportionately impacted by both the pandemic and inflation. From a long-term perspective, these vehicles demonstrate our shared commitment to environmental sustainability.”

Charging stations, available at both the Food Bank’s Newark and Milford facilities, are available at no cost to community members who need to charge their electric vehicles.

Catholic Charities Receives Grant from Citizens Bank

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington received a generous $10,000 grant from Citizens Bank in support of the Basic Needs Program. This funding will enable Catholic Charities to continue its mission to assist low-income individuals and families in reducing poverty, preventing homelessness, and encouraging self-sufficiency through financial assistance, case management, and referrals to community resources.

With rising costs in the current economy, many individuals and families are at risk of eviction, foreclosure, or utility disconnections. Catholic Charities’ Basic Needs Program was created to provide a short-term safety net for families who are experiencing a financial crisis, which could be related to a medical emergency, mismanagement of debt, sudden underemployment or unemployment, or other causes. This program provides vital support and hope while also offering pathways toward financial stability and support for those most in need.

“Catholic Charities is grateful for Citizens Bank’s partnership and commitment to building a stronger, more resilient community for all,” stated Executive Director Ruth Anne White.

The Mary Campbell Center Breaks Ground on Expansion

The Mary Campbell Center (MCC) broke ground on a $7.35 million resident room renovation and EZee Street addition project. The project includes the first major renovation of resident rooms since The Center’s founding in 1976, and construction of a one-story, four-room residential pod and nurse’s station.

“This is truly transformational for The Center,” said Executive Director Kathy Ardekani. “While some resident rooms have been renovated, the majority (42) have not been fully overhauled since our building opened.” The room renovations will include new flooring, cabinetry, furnishings, lighting, HVAC, insulation, and medical equipment to improve resident comfort and safety; communication equipment and entertainment systems will also be upgraded. The new addition will house a thriving short-term respite care program, and with its independent HVAC system and fully equipped medical components, can be converted to an isolation wing in the event of a protracted infection outbreak.

Brandywine Valley SPCA Partners with DC Health

Brandywine Valley SPCA (BVSPCA) is thrilled to announce a new partnership with DC Health aimed at enhancing and modernizing animal services in the nation’s capital. BVSPCA will take over all animal control, care, field, medical, and stray services, as well as adoptions for Washington DC.

BVSPCA’s expertise in animal care and control will be instrumental in ensuring compassionate service for animals in DC.

“Brandywine Valley SPCA has been a great partner in shaping a vision for the future of animal services in DC,” said Dr. Ayanna Bennett, director of DC Health. “I’m excited to work with them to revitalize our animal services program and bring Mayor Bowser’s vision of a new, expanded DC Animal Shelter to life. Our mission is to ensure safe, high-quality care for all animals while establishing sustainable solutions for years to come.”

“We are proud to bring our expertise in animal care, progressive sheltering policies, and lifesaving programs to the nation’s capital,” said Adam Lamb, CEO of Brandywine Valley SPCA. “I want to personally thank Mayor Bowser, Dr. Bennett, and the entire DC Health team for supporting this quick transition as we work together to expand and modernize the overall level of care and services for animals and pet families in the District.”

Beebe Healthcare Acquires Cape Pharmacy

Beebe Healthcare has acquired Cape Pharmacy and officially took over operations on November 1, 2024.

“A beloved local business, Cape Pharmacy will remain part of the community, while Beebe strategically enhances pharmacy services for Sussex County,” said Bill Chasanov, DO, MBA, FACP, senior vice president, chief health systems design officer. “This new endeavor offers Beebe the opportunity to offer a full-service outpatient pharmacy that is seamless for our patients, team members, and community.”

Under Beebe, the continuum of care will improve for patients and customers with the services that can be offered by Cape Pharmacy. One example is how hospital inpatients will be able to receive their medications at discharge, creating a more convenient and smooth transition from hospital to home.

Current Cape Pharmacy team members are transitioning to Team Beebe and look forward to continuing the same focus on safety and quality that has been provided for more than a decade.

Cape Pharmacy was started in 2000 and was purchased in 2013 by Pat Caroll-Grant, RPh, and Joli Martini, PharmD. Under their leadership, Cape Pharmacy has served the community by providing prescription and nonprescription medications, comprehensive medication management, and specialty medication packaging. There is a compounding section for pediatric, adult, and veterinary patients, while providing a delivery service to the community as well.

Navient Receives Champion of Board Diversity Recognition

Navient has been recognized by The Forum of Executive Women as a Champion of Board Diversity. This award annually honors the top public companies in the Philadelphia region with boards comprised of at least 30% women.

The Forum of Executive Women’s annual Women in Leadership Report, a collaboration with PwC, provides an annual examination on diversity in the boardrooms and executive suites of the top 100 public companies in the Philadelphia region.

This year, a record number of Champions of Board Diversity were recognized – with 46 companies receiving the designation, up from 37 organizations in the year prior. The Champions of Board Diversity were celebrated at an event in November, featuring a keynote by Mary Purk, a visionary in the AI space.