DSU’s UCEDIT Win $110,500 Contract for Wilmington Work

Delaware State University’s Center for Economic Development and International Trade (UCEDIT) has won a $110,500 contract from the Delaware Department of Labor and the City of Wilmington for work it will do in connection with the state’s TRAIN (Today’s Reinvestments Around Industry Needs) program.

Of the funds received, $20,000 was earmarked for the development of Wilmington’s Workforce Development Strategic Plan.  The balance of the funds, $90,500, will be utilized to implement workforce training based on the recommendations and strategies gleaned from the Strategic Planning process.  This program will train citizens of Wilmington in the areas of customer service and technical support.  

While the main goal is to provide customer service training and technical support to Wilmington residents, the skills developed through this program can also provide solid career advancement for individuals in the areas of office of administration, billing and collections, and sales and client relationship management.

The comprehensive customer service education provides training in essential professional skills, an understanding of their importance and their value to the company and the customer, and a career development plan that supports career advancement.

Employers will benefit from this program in a number of ways including, but not limited to, increased brand recognition as an employer of choice in the local region, a partnership with the training provider to ensure employee retention and engagement, productive and engaged employees, and an improved customer satisfaction, retention, and loyalty. To help achieve these goals the City of Wilmington and UCEDIT has partnered with New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, AA Consulting, Christiana Care Health System, Comcast Corporation, Capitol One, and Alpha Technologies.

Dr. Michael H. Casson Jr., UCEDIT director, notes that the prosperity of local and state economies and the health of their colleges and universities are highly correlated.  

“Thus, the leveraging of DSU's research, expertise and resources is essential to the economic development strategies of the State,” Dr. Casson said. “To this end, the UCEDIT is excited about the opportunity to actively support the workforce development strategies of the City of Wilmington and their corporate partners.”