CHAPTER 564
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 62
DIRECTING THE DIVISION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO STUDY AND INVESTIGATE THE MANNER IN WHICH FACTORY OUTLETS ARE CONCENTRATED IN READING AND SMALLER TOWNS IN PENNSYLVANIA AND MARYLAND, TO DETERMINE AND ASSESS THE MANNER IN WHICH SUCH FACTORY OUTLETS ARE ATTRACTED TO THESE LOCATIONS, AND TO PREPARE A FEASIBILITY REPORT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT ATTRACTING FACTORY OUTLETS TO THE WILMINGTON MERCHANDISE MART WOULD BE DESIRABLE.
WHEREAS, an informal survey indicates that each year more and more Delaware residents are traveling out-of-state to various locations, sometimes small towns with no other form of commerce, to spend a day or a weekend shopping at factory outlets; and
WHEREAS, "factory outlets" are of may differing types, but the phrase usually refers to stores where manufacturers place on sale those items which do not meet the high standards imposed for retail sale, or stores where the owner holds a franchise from several manufacturers or distributors to be the outlet for rejected or returned merchandise; and
WHEREAS, although there are a few outlet stores in Delaware, suggestions have been made from time to time that the Wilmington Merchandise Mart is ideally situated and has tremendous potential to be an exceptionally good factory outlet center, containing a wide variety of differing factory outlet shops.
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the 129th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, with the approval of the Governor, that the Division of Economic Development is hereby directed to study and investigate the manner in which factory outlets are concentrated in Reading and smaller towns in Pennsylvania and Maryland, to determine and assess the manner in which such factory outlets are attracted to these locations, and to prepare a feasibility report as to whether or not attracting factory outlets to the Wilmington Merchandise Mart would be desirable.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Division issue a progress report to the General Assembly on or before June 23, 1978, and that a Final Report be issued to the General Assembly no later than January 9, 1979.