New Castle County, Delaware

Recovery Plan

State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds

2021 Report
New Castle County, Delaware 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

New Castle County, Delaware

2021 Recovery Plan

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 2

2. Uses of Funds..................................................................................................................... 2

3. Promoting Equitable Outcomes........................................................................................... 4

4. Community Engagement..................................................................................................... 4

5. Labor Practices................................................................................................................... 5

6. Use of Evidence.................................................................................................................. 5

7. Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category ...................................................................... 5

8. Project Inventory................................................................................................................. 5

Appendix 1: Map of Qualified Census Tracts in New Castle County, Delaware......................... 6

Appendix 2: Map of New Castle County ARPA Target Areas .................................................... 7
New Castle County, Delaware 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

1. Executive Summary

In New Castle County, Delaware, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the community in 

many ways—from temporary and permanent job losses, to impacts on parents and students 

who navigated remote learning, to increasing risks to vulnerable populations like those 

experiencing homelessness. The pandemic also revealed and exacerbated long-standing 

inequities in our community, from health inequities, to access to safe outdoor spaces, to 

educational outcomes.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

(SLFRF) provide us a unique opportunity to reimagine New Castle County. We have solicited 

ideas directly from residents via an online webform and through five ARPA Task Force

Committees, a public process that has yielded 23 committee meetings to date. We have 

carefully considered various ways to improve the quality of life for residents across our 

County—both in terms of immediate recovery and longer-term investments. We have also 

considered ways to address historical inequities.

Our proposal for use of the SLFRF award is reflected in this report. In consultation with New 

Castle County Council, we will refine these plans and anticipate beginning implementation in fall 

2021. We are also working with the municipalities in the County to identify areas for 

collaboration—and to mitigate conflict or overlap in our approaches, since many of the solutions 

we will propose will cross jurisdictional boundaries. We are also in consultation with the State of 

Delaware to coordinate investment opportunities and limit redundancy of efforts.

Finally, we are also identifying other sources of potential support, from HUD, EDA, FEMA, and 

other agencies whose funding can also support our goals.

2. Uses of Funds

New Castle County is considering a range of proposals, including those described below, 

organized by the Expenditure Categories (EC) defined by the Treasury. The proposed uses of 

funds described below are all subject to New Castle County Council authorization.

a. Public Health (EC 1)

We propose continuing to support vaccination education efforts, recognizing that having a 

greater percentage of vaccinated individuals in the County mitigates health and economic 

impacts.

We propose expanding access to Behavioral Health resources, including expanding the New 

Castle County Police Behavioral Health Unit.

1

b. Negative Economic Impacts (EC 2)

We propose investing in workforce development programs in the fields of computer 

programming, construction trades, and childcare—fields where talent is in high demand and 

underemployed or unemployed individuals can build skills and careers. We also propose 

investing in re-entry and anti-recidivism workforce development programs, as well as ensuring 

1 See Police Combine Two Units and Create Behavioral Health Unit (Oct. 22, 2019). Available at

https://nccpdnews.com/2019/10/22/police-combine-two-units-and-create-behavioral-health-unit/.
New Castle County, Delaware 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

that workforce development programs can provide case management to address other needs 

that participants may have.

We propose investing in eviction prevention strategies and are considering options like 

increased case management for tenants accessing rent support. New Castle County’s Housing 

Advisory Board is providing recommendations for this area and for increasing the supply of 

affordable housing.

We propose revitalizing neighborhoods, with a combination of efforts, including commercial 

corridor investments in underserved communities and potentially providing targeted support to 

small businesses and non-profits located in specific underserved areas of the County.

c. Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities (EC 3)

We propose investing in solutions to make our communities safer. New Castle County and its 

largest municipality, Wilmington, have experienced increased gun violence during the 

pandemic—and historically have experienced more violence relative to other similarly sized 

jurisdictions. We are considering potential programs in a range of areas, including interrupting

patterns of violence, addressing problems at the neighborhood level, and providing more 

support to parents of young children.

We propose investing in ways to increase the supply of affordable housing in the County, and in 

other ways to decrease housing insecurity.

We also propose addressing environmental injustices in our County through projects to increase 

equitable access to open space and addressing health inequities by continuing to invest in the 

new National Health Corps Delaware program we established this year with CARES Act 

funding. Other opportunities to address environmental and health inequities are also being 

evaluated.

d. Premium Pay (EC 4)

We propose providing Premium Pay to New Castle County Employees who were required to 

report to work in person during the pandemic.

e. Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure (EC 5)

We propose investing in wastewater and stormwater projects, to address ageing infrastructure 

and enhance stormwater management capabilities in the County. Specific projects are being

identified and prioritized currently.

We also propose investing in broadband infrastructure, to address existing gaps in service in 

specific locations in our County with inconsistent connectivity. We will partner with the State of 

Delaware in this broadband expansion work.

f. Revenue Replacement (EC 6)

No amount of revenue replacement funds has been allocated to government services at this 

time. Once a determination, which is subject to New Castle County Council authorization, is 

made, the amount of allocation and to which government services will be provided to the 

Treasury.
New Castle County, Delaware 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

Planned Uses of Other Federal Funds

We anticipate using additional HUD funding under the American Rescue Plan to support 

affordable housing in the County, a persistent need that has been exacerbated by the 

pandemic. In addition, we intend to pursue EDA grant opportunities for projects to enhance

tourism and outdoor recreation.

3. Promoting Equitable Outcomes

We are actively considering how our ARPA SLFRF-funded investments will promote greater 

equity in the County.

We have mapped the Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs) in the County.

2

In addition, because the Qualified Census Tracts do not fully reflect all areas of poverty in the 

County due to the sizes of QCTs, we also mapped areas where more than 50% of residents 

earn less than 60% of Area Median Income (AMI).3 We conducted this additional mapping to 

better identify the communities in the County most in need of SLFRF funds.

As we design specific SLFRF-funded projects, we will consider the historical inequities in the 

County and create projects that are appropriately focused to address those gaps.

4. Community Engagement

On June 1, 2021, we began the public engagement process by soliciting written input from the 

community on how to reimagine New Castle County with SLFRF funds.

4 Since then, we have 

received 146 written comments, with input on supporting non-profits, investing in infrastructure, 

supporting parents with daycare access, and many other topics.

We also chartered a task force comprised of five committees to gain insights from subject 

matter experts and members of the public on specific topics:

• Early Childhood Learning

• Economic and Community Development

• Workforce Development

• Intergovernmental Collaboration

• Audit & Compliance (a continuation of a committee started under our CARES Act 

process)

These five committees held a total of 23 meetings in June, July, and August, 2021, and three of 

the committees—Early Childhood Learning, Economic and Community Development, and 

Workforce Development—delivered their recommendations to the County Executive within the 

past two weeks.

2 See Appendix 1: Map of Qualified Census Tracts in New Castle County, Delaware. Available at 

QualifiedCensusTracts_06222021.jpg (7200×10800) (nccde.org).

3 See Appendix 2: Map of New Castle County ARPA Target Areas. Available at 

TargetAreas_07212021.jpg (7200×10800) (nccde.org).

4 News Flash, New Castle County, DE, Meyer proposes urgent individualized assistance to address 

COVID-19 learning loss, forms task force, June 1, 2021, https://nccde.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2019.
New Castle County, Delaware 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 5

In addition to these New Castle County Executive branch actions, New Castle County Council 

also held two public workshops—on June 23 and July 21, 2021—to discuss funding priorities 

and programs.

The County’s community engagement process—including the written suggestions from the 

public and the recommendations of the task force committees—worked not only to solicit ideas 

for SLFRF-funded projects, but also provided diverse perspectives on the challenges facing the 

County and in particular its underserved communities.

5. Labor Practices

While New Castle County has not yet defined specific infrastructure projects using SLFRF 

funds, for any such projects we will use the County’s robust bidding and monitoring practices. 

In evaluating bids for infrastructure projects, New Castle County encourages the use of 

Delaware labor. In addition, Minority and Women‐owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) will be 

afforded full opportunity to submit proposals and will not be subject to discrimination on the 

basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or sexual orientation in 

consideration of any award.

6. Use of Evidence

As we consider priorities and work to design specific SLFRF projects, we are actively studying

the evidence needed to focus project goals and to measure impact. Through discussions with 

subject matter experts and with our retained auditing firm, we anticipate designing and investing 

in multiple evidence-based interventions.

7. Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

The County’s SLFRF award funds have not yet been accepted or appropriated by New Castle 

County Council. No obligations have been incurred against the funds, and no expenditures 

made from the funds.

8. Project Inventory

While we continue to consider priorities for the SLFRF funding, New Castle County has not yet 

defined specific projects to be undertaken.
New Castle County, Delaware 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 6

Appendix 1: Map of Qualified Census Tracts in New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County, Delaware 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 7

Appendix 2: Map of New Castle County ARPA Target Areas

See enlarged Legend on next page.
New Castle County, Delaware 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 8