FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | May 8, 2026
Contact: Joe Edelen (302) 743-7013
WILMINGTON – On Friday, Senator Darius Brown hosted over 400 community leaders, business professionals, and entrepreneurs at The Queen for a morning of programming focused on Delaware’s unique positioning as a national leader in technology – specifically, artificial intelligence, fintech, and other emerging sectors.
“The late Ted Blunt would often remind me of the difference between sight and vision: sight only lets you perceive what’s directly in front of you, while vision allows you to see above and beyond — forecasting into the future and planning for all that can be possible. Today’s event proves that Delaware has the right combination of talent, location, and motivation to do business,” said Senator Brown, founder of Opportunity LIVES Here. “The Second Senatorial District — and the entire State of Delaware — is the premier place for businesses and leaders to thrive, because opportunity lives here.”
During the event, Sand Technologies Founder and CEO Fred Swaniker announced he will be reincorporating the Physical AI infrastructure company to Delaware, highlighting the immense economic development potential of the Three Rivers Corridor in Wilmington.
The Three Rivers Corridor, located in the Second State Senate District, is defined by the presence of the Brandywine, Christina, and Delaware Rivers, as well as the Route 9 corridor and Wilmington Riverfront. Leveraging physical and locational strengths, the Three Rivers Area has available land primed to be activated for high-demand global industries.
“Delaware has already won the hardest battle: earning the trust of the entire business world. That’s remarkable, and it reveals something even more exciting. You have a massive untapped opportunity to create a thriving state with connected and intelligent infrastructure for your citizens,” Mr. Swaniker said.
Several prominent Delaware business leaders joined Senator Brown for a fireside chat, including Delaware Business Roundtable Chairman Brian DiSabatino; Delaware State University President Dr. Tony Allen; Widener University Delaware Law School Dean Todd J. Clark; Enstructure Mid-Atlantic President Eryn Dinyovszky; Joel Coppadge, Executive Director of the Delaware River and Bay Authority; and Pablo Velazquez III, Senior Vice President and Business Banking Regional Manager of M&T Bank.
Much of the conversation focused on the need for Delaware to stay at the forefront of AI and blockchain technologies.
“AI is a tool, and for economic development purposes, think about it as an augmentation to what your state, what your city, is able to do,” said Louis Stewart, head of Ecosystem Development for NVIDIA. “If your whole community is trained up in AI, that’s actually a net benefit to any industry that’s looking at your state, because they’re coming into an educated population.”
Recently, Senator Brown led legislation to create the Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force, which will analyze how Delaware can attract and retain businesses engaged in digital assets and related technologies.
Senator Brown’s economic development achievements include the creation of the Delaware Grocery Initiative, which seeks to address food deserts by providing support to the food supply chain to increase production and distribution, and serving as chair of the Port of Wilmington Expansion Task Force, which oversees the $635 million Edgemoor Container Terminal expansion project.
“Opportunity LIVES Here is about a vision of Wilmington and Delaware where families and businesses thrive,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons during his closing remarks. “I’m grateful to Senator Brown for his dedication to making that vision real, and to the businesses and leaders who showed up today committed to being a part of Delaware’s future.”
###
