NEWARK — Senator Coons hosted a roundtable discussion with more than a dozen participants from local cutting-edge research companies on Thursday. The 90-minute discussion, which was held at the Delaware Technology Park in Newark, was the second of three roundtables Chris is hosting this month to engage Delawareans in a conversation about job creation in the First State.
“I sincerely hope that the information flow that took place today was fruitful for all involved,” Chris said. “I know I learned a great deal by listening to what local manufacturing industry leaders had to say about hiring and maintaining a skilled-workforce to help keep their companies solvent. If we’re going to jumpstart the economy, we have to continue to support the manufacturing community right here at home.”
Chris encouraged a dialogue that focused on what’s good about doing business in Delaware and what can be done to make the First State an even better place for companies to lay down their roots. Chris feels strongly that once businesses come to Delaware, it is up to all levels of government to support them and keep them here. Among topics discussed were targeted tax credits, improved access to capital, “wet” lab space for biotechnology research, patent reform, trade enforcement, and stronger investments in math and science education.
In April, Chris introduced his first bill, the Job Creation Through Innovation Act, to jumpstart domestic manufacturing and help innovative small business grow by:
- Expanding, simplifying and making permanent the Research & Development Tax Credit
- Creating a new Small Business Innovation Tax Credit
- Creating a new Domestic Manufacturing Tax Credit
- Extending the 1603 Treasury Grants Program
- Investing in the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit
Chris will host a third roundtable on August 31 to discuss community-based small businesses.