Delaware lawmakers pass a $98.5 million Grants-in-Aid billfor fiscal year 2025, the largest allocation to nonprofits in the state’s history.

Joint Finance Committee (JFC) Vice Chair Kim Williams (D-Stanton) notes some of the largest investments are headed to first responders.

“The Joint Finance Committee committed $11.6 million to our fire companies in statewide fire and ambulance company support to ensure the maintenance and operations of trucks, ambulances [and] rescue boats – a 20% increase above last year,” she said on the House Floor.

The committee also allocated $6.4 million to provide one-time funding of $100,000 each to statewide fire companies and public service ambulances.

It also adds over $17 million for ongoing paramedic operations in all three counties and an additional one-time allocation of $1 million to each county to improve or enhance paramedic operations.

Senior center operations statewide receive $10.3 million, and $29 million heads towards various nonprofits throughout the state.

The bill heads to Gov. John Carney for approval.

The allocation supersedes his Grants-in-Aid recommendation by around $32 million after he proposed a 7.6% decrease in funding from last fiscal year.

Disclosure: Delaware Public Media will receive 250,000 from this Grant-in-Aid bill. DPM received $235,000 during the current fiscal year.

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – Alicia Chu of Newark, Del. was named the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2024.

Here is a release from the Distinguished Young Women’s organization.

Mobile, Ala. – On Saturday, June 29, Alicia Chu of Newark, Del. was named the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2024 and presented with a cash scholarship of $40,000 at the conclusion of the 67 th Distinguished Young Women National Finals. Chu earned preliminary awards in the Self Expression and Talent categories totaling $42,000 in cash scholarships across the three-night program.

Following a selection process that began in her home state of Newark, Del., Chu began preparing for the 67 th annual scholarship program. National Finals were held at the Mobile Civic Center in Mobile, Ala. Thursday, June 27 was the first night of the preliminary program followed by the second night on Friday, June 28.

In addition to serving as the national representative of Distinguished Young Women for the next year, Chu will attend Harvard University and plans to pursue a career as a lawyer. Chu is a graduate of Archmere Academy. She is the daughter of Amy Chu. Other participants receiving top awards in the 2024 Distinguished Young Women National Finals include First Runner- Up Nariah Mullins of Knoxville, Tenn., Second Runner-Up Haynes Lewis of Greenville, NC., and Third Runner-Up Ellen Fei of Kentucky. $125,500 in total cash scholarships was awarded during the three-night program.

About Distinguished Young Women

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is a free program that encourages participants to reach their full individual potential. Our mission is to empower young women by providing over $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, connecting with a nationwide network of women, developing their self-confidence, and participating in our Life Skills Workshops that prepare them for success after high school. National sponsors include Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation, Mobile County, City of Mobile, Alabama Power Foundation, Gant Travel Management, Regions Financial Corporation, John Cauley Jeweler, Jostens, and Alabama Media Group.

Copyright 2024 WALA. All rights reserved.

While two companies with headquarters in Delaware received recognition from U.S. News & World Report in the “Best Companies to Work For” rankings, only one made the overall 300 best list, released earlier this month.

Sallie Mae, based in Stanton, was honored among the top 300 with additional recognition as “best in financial services” and “best companies in the South.”

In the financial services business, Sallie Mae describes itself as “the nation’s saving, planning and paying for college company.” Founded in 1972, the business has about 1,740 employees in the U.S., with headquarters in Stanton and offices near New Castle and in Sterling, Virginia; Newton, Massachusetts; Indianapolis; and Salt Lake City.

Employees at the Stanton headquarters, the largest of Sallie Mae’s offices, work in credit, collections, risk, customer experience, product marketing, corporate marketing and human resources, according to the company’s website.

At the New Castle-area office, the company has its operations teams, including servicing, school assist, collections, underwriting, fraud, office of the customer advocate and customer communications.

See when company opened second office: New Sallie Mae office brings new jobs to Delaware

Here’s how Sallie Mae ranked in the six categories that U.S. News & World Report used to compile the rankings, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest:

• Sense of belonging, 5
• Quality of pay, 4
• Stability, 4
• Comfort, 4
• Professional development, 4
• Work life balance, 3

Chemours gets U.S. News & World Report nod

While not listed among the top 300, one other company with headquarters in Delaware received recognition in the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Companies to Work For” list.

In the listings by industry and region, Chemours, headquartered in Wilmington, was honored as “Best in Chemicals.”

Meanwhile, Evolent Health, which is registered in Delaware but has its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, was honored as “Best in Health Services” and “Best Companies in the South.”

More business news: Plans revived for a Newark Wawa. Where else is Wawa coming in Delaware?

How did U.S. News & World Report select Best Companies?

In compiling the rankings, U.S. News & World Report looked at businesses with publicly traded stock in the Russell 3000 index of largest companies as of June 2023. The businesses also needed to have a minimum of 75 U.S.-based Glassdoor reviews between 2020 and 2023. Companies were grouped into various categories using a combination of industry classification benchmark standards and U.S. News’ editorial judgment.

Here are the six metrics that determined the best companies to work for, according to U.S. News & World Report:

• Quality of pay and benefits, “whether employees feel adequately compensated for their work, as well as living wage data and a company’s compensation vs. its competitors.”
• Work/life balance and flexibility, based on flexible work policies and “employee perception of opportunities for work/life balance and flexibility.” 
• Job and company stability, using data on “corporate governance quality and the attrition rate of a company’s senior leadership….”
• Physical and psychological comfort, “defined as a safe work environment.” 
• Sense of belonging and esteem, “whether employees feel connected to the organization and appreciated for their contributions.” 
• Career opportunities and professional development, considering “factors like mobility rates within a company and opportunities for benefits like tuition assistance, as well as growth opportunities perceived by employees.”

Reporter Ben Mace covers business, development and real estate news. Reach him at rmace@gannett.com.