Two organizations working to better the city of Wilmington are joining forces in an effort to increase their impact.
The Wilmington Renaissance Corporation and the Wilmington Leaders Alliance are merging to form the Wilmington Alliance.
The new organization will continue the work of the two preceding it.
But its executive director Renata Kowalczyk says the merger boosts their economic development capability. She points out the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation worked to engage the community while the Wilmington Leaders Alliance focused on engaging CEOs.
“Imagine how power that mixture can be— folks who can actually make things happen and the community who can direct the work,” said Kowalczyk.
Wilmington Alliance Board chair There du Pont says merging the two will be like one plus one equalling three. “The additional ‘one’ is in economic development.”
Dr. Edmondo Robinson of Christiana Care is joining Wilmington Alliance’s board. He intends to bring knowledge of social determinants of health — and push for a data-driven approach to leveraging investments in the city.
“There’s going to be programs and projects. You’re like, wow. It’s going to make you feel good, and that’s wonderful, but did you measure the outcome?” he said. “Did you even know what you were trying to achieve, and did you measure it?”
Organization leaders tout contributions already made by the two groups— including workforce development programs and “placemaking” initiatives downtown.
Mayor Mike Purzycki praised the merger as an example of “working together” to help Wilmington thrive.
