A coalition spearheaded by Preservation Delaware and Delaware Greenways

Delaware's unprecedented economic growth over the last decade has not been without cost. Our incomes may have risen, but open spaces are disappearing, coastal bays are polluted, and towns and cities have been left behind.

Our challenge today is to sustain economic growth while still protecting and improving our physical environment and strengthening our communities for the future. This will require broad public and private sector support for a vision of Delaware's future that embraces both robust economic growth, and safeguards to ensure our physical environment and communities are enhanced. It will also require better coordination among state and local government agencies, increased public investments in existing infrastructure, new public policies, and more public-private partnerships.

Mission

The Friends of the First State alliance seeks to bring together diverse interests from throughout the state to develop and implement a range of programs and policies to enhance Delaware's quality of life, promote economic prosperity, improve environmental health, and protect and preserve Delaware's unique and irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.

In particular, the Friends of the First State will work to:

• Promote compact mixed-use development that makes maximum use of existing public investments and infrastructure, and which encourages efficient, coordinated public investments.

• Stimulate revitalization and redevelopment of existing communities and urban centers, brownfields and other areas that could create greater economic opportunities for all citizens while minimizing the development of open space.

• Safeguard Delaware's unique physical assets including our precious historic and natural resources.

Principles 

Members of FFS believe Delaware's long term prosperity is dependent upon fostering economic growth while protecting and enhancing the quality of our physical environment. Neither economic growth at the expense of our physical environment, nor curtailing economic growth to protect the environment, is sustainable.

• Economic growth is vital to ensure that people in all parts of the state have access to good employment opportunities.

• An appealing physical environment, including attractive urban environments and unspoiled rural areas, is vital to ensure the state remains a sought-after location for both businesses and employees.

• Our quality of life requires creating and preserving a healthy network of urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods, balancing social, economic, and environmental values.

• All organizations, agencies and individuals in the state that share the Friends' goals are welcome to participate in its work.

• The Friends will seek to ensure all parts of the state are well represented in its work.

• Public outreach, dialogue and broad community participation will be an important component of the Friends' work.

Objectives:

The Friends of the First State will strive to:

• Revitalize existing communities and business districts

• Reduce traffic congestion and air and water pollution.

• Encourage future development near existing infrastructure

• Encourage business growth

• Provide housing for people of all ages and income levels

• Protect historic, natural, agricultural and recreation areas

• Reduce land and resource consumption

• Conserve fiscal resources

Activities

The Friends of the First State will:

• articulate and cultivate a common vision for the state's economic growth and quality of life.

• advocate adoption of laws, policies and programs that will foster economic growth and enhance the physical environment, and repeal or revise those which work against smart growth principles.

• promote alternatives, in the form of incentives and regulations, including the best practices of other jurisdictions, to address the economic, environmental and social impacts of sprawling development patterns in Delaware.

• coordinate and encourage broad community participation.

• work with public and private sector decision-makers to develop programs and policies to support the long-term prosperity of the state.

• provide information to educate the public and others regarding the impacts of alternative economic development strategies.

• stimulate political leadership for change by forming coalitions and partnerships to influence public policy.

• Aim to strengthen local, county and state land use planning and consistency of implementation through legislation, education and incentives.