Legal, Government Affairs, and Incorporating Services
Preparing for What’s Next
Delaware’s next chapter demands national reach and local fluency BY LAUREN VELLA AND SEAN COIT
FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY, Delaware’s economy has been powered in large part by what are known here as the Four Cs: chemicals, chickens, corporations, and credit cards. Of course, the state’s economy has always been more diverse than that, with auto manufacturing, health care, tourism, and other industries playing significant roles. Still, this legacy is critical to understanding Delaware’s unique economic, political, and policy landscape as we enter another period of transition in the First State and across the globe. That’s partly because Delaware represents an important microcosm of the opportunities and challenges facing our national economy, and once again, this small but mighty state has a chance to be a real national and even global leader across key industries. For Delaware communities and businesses, navigating an increasingly complex landscape requires real reach and expertise at the federal level. But as always, authentic relationships up and down the state of Delaware and fluency in the unique ways the state operates are non-negotiable. That’s why last year, Cornerstone Government Affairs, a bipartisan public affairs and government relations firm that helps organizations navigate complex political, regulatory, and reputational environments, made a long-term commitment to expand its work in the state of Delaware. The firm added a new Delaware office to complement its Washington, D.C., headquarters and its other full-service offices in 14 states across the country, including several here in the Mid-Atlantic. Delaware is poised for an era of historic investment and economic innovation, from manufacturing, health care, and logistics to energy, digital infrastructure, and financial services. Seizing these opportunities won’t happen automatically, though. It will require experience, expertise, and relationships in Legislative Hall, across the state, in Washington, and around the world. 38
J110125_DB_MayJun26.indd 38
Political and regulatory dynamics aren’t the only challenges, either. To succeed today, Delaware communities, businesses, and industries need state and local media and public affairs strategies that are fully integrated with government relations efforts. These strategies won’t succeed in silos — they must go hand in hand. Cornerstone’s approach is to deliver that kind of integrated strategic counsel — combining insight into the political and media landscape with on-the-ground engagement — to help clients anticipate risk, shape policy outcomes, and build durable relationships with key decisionmakers. Our work is powered by an experienced, bipartisan group of federal government relations professionals in Washington, alongside a dynamic public affairs and strategic communications team, and decades of state and local government relations expertise nationwide, including in Dover, Annapolis, and throughout the region. Throughout its history, many of Delaware’s successes as a state have been a product of its enduring pragmatism and legacy of community investment from both the public and private sectors. That has made Delaware a natural fit for Cornerstone and allowed our team to immediately make an impact for our clients as we grow our presence up and down the state. n
Lauren Vella (left) is a principal in Cornerstone’s Delaware office. Sean Coit (right) is a principal on the Cornerstone public affairs and strategic communications team.
May/June 2026
| DELAWARE BUSINESS
4/28/26 2:34 PM