Delaware weekly roundup: $19M for clean hydrogen; DuPont backtracks on water branch; Gov. Meyer’s biz dev prioirties

Welcome to the roundup of the latest from Delaware's tech and entrepreneurship scene. Want this in your inbox? Subscribe for free.

This week in Delaware, we find out the top reasons why you’re probably seeing more drones fly over, nearby Philly gets a $12 million digital equity grant and more.

Read on for Technical.ly’s weekly roundup of top news in the region.

📰 News Incubator: What else to know today

• The Delaware Business Roundtable was caught off guard when Governor Matt Meyer laid out his plans to give fewer taxpayers grants to big businesses, shifting funds to small businesses and workforce development, rocking the status quo. [Spotlight Delaware]

• DuPont backtracked on spinning out its water solutions division. Now, instead of a three-way split, the company will split into two, with the electronics division still planned for 2026. [Delaware Business Times]

• Dover-based MACH2, the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub, received $18.8 million in federal funds in the last days of the Biden Administration. Funds will go toward hydrogen production facilities in the region, including a refinery in Delaware City. [Delaware Business Now]

• The newly launched Delaware K-12 Scholastic Esports Program, created by a partnership between the Delaware Department of Education, local universities and Futures First Gaming, will feature virtual esports seasons with in-person championships. [Delaware.gov]

• The City of Newark received $590,000 in funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program, to install level two public electrical vehicle chargers and e-bike charging stations. Newark is the only city in the state to receive funding through the program [Newark Post]

• UD researchers Tingyi Gu and Kevin Solomon received the highest US government honor for outstanding scientists and engineers early in their careers. Gu is a professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Solomon is an associate professor of chemical and biomolecules engineering. [UDaily]

• The Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation has announced the five finalists in this year’s Reinventing Delaware competition. The final ideas span health, education, community development and aviation. [Town Square Delaware]

• If you spend time in Rehoboth Beach and have a disability, the city of Rehoboth is seeking public input on its compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Leave comments on the Reach Out Rehoboth website [Delaware Public Media]

🗓️ On the Calendar

• Join Technical.ly CEO Chris Wink on Jan. 22 for the launch of our first podcast episode on ecosystem building and entrepreneur-led economic development. [Details]

• Thursday, Jan. 23 — Manifest Your Greatness workshop with The Stand’s Antinette Watson at WKC Grace Church [Details]

• Thursday, Jan. 30 — Delaware Equitable Hiring Initiative: Creating Opportunities, Strengthening Communities virtual info session [Details]

• Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Learning Zone Big Data and Hadoop Developer Certification Training in Dover [Details]