Home Address:	418 W. Matson Run Pkwy Wilmington, DE 19802
Home Phone:	(302) 764-9474
Office Address:	800 N. French Street 8th Floor Wilmington, DE 19801
Office Phone:	(302) 395-8344
Office Fax:	(302) 395-8385
Email Address:	phollins@nccde.org
Party Affiliation:	Democrat
Council Service:	1990-present
Legislative Aide:	Nique Traylor (302) 395-8364 ntraylor@nccde.org

 

 

 

 

 

New Castle County Councilman, Penrose Hollins is a graduate of Delaware Technical & Community College, where he is inducted into the college's Hall of Fame. He served 5 years, 10 months and 26 days in the United States Army with two hardship tours in Southeast Asia.

 

He is a core church planter and founding member of Canaan Baptist Church in Wilmington, Delaware where he continues to serve as a goodwill ambassador for Canaan.

 

While serving on Wilmington City Council, he became the second elected official in the Continental United States of America to sponsor legislation requiring a political jurisdiction to divest from companies doing business in South Africa. His legislation helped to pioneer an economic boycott of South Africa as part of a National protest of South Africa's apartheid system of segregation. He also sponsored legislation creating job set-asides for Wilmington residents and minorities.

 

In 1997 Councilman Hollins became the first African American to serve as President Pro Tempore. As a member of New Castle County Council, he represents the Fourth District. On Council, he serves as Chair of the Community Services Committee and Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee. He is also a member of the Personnel Committee, as well as, the Administrative-Finance, Land Use, Special Services and Public Safety Committees. He served as Chair of the Personnel Committee from 2000 to January 2005.

 

He established the New Castle County Council Housing Committee. Mr. Hollins manages all legislation, which allocates Federal dollars to meet the County's housing needs and community service programs. He is the prime sponsor of the legislation, which created the County's Down Payment and Settlement Help Program for first time homebuyers. This program has allocated more than 8 million dollars in assistance to over 2,000 first time homebuyers. He also solicited, and received, private sector grants for first time homebuyers. As Co-Chair of the County's Community Services Committee, Councilman Hollins manages all legislation that allocate funding for home safety repairs and senior home repairs, rehabilitation of homes for single and multi-family housing, as well as, community housing complexes. He helped to establish a Section 8 home ownership program that moves Section 8 participants from the rental market to homeownership. The Community Services Department also provides special events and programs at Rockwood and Carousel Parks.

 

With the ongoing expansion of County Library service, Mr. Hollins continues to support the New Castle County library system and services, and sponsors all legislation that allocates funds to County libraries.

 

He supported keeping the Senior Meal Program for New Castle County funded at 14 Senior Centers. This program provides low-cost and/or free meals to seniors, and has served 96,000 meals this year. He also co-sponsored legislation providing tax cuts to seniors.

 

Councilman Hollins' commitment to our youth is evidenced by his sponsorship of legislation appropriating funding to the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) Centers, and the Kingswood Community Center. In 2005 he sponsored legislation releasing $5,000,000 in County funds to the City of Wilmington to be used in the City's efforts to reduce crime. Along with the community, Mr. Hollins led the fight to save the Absalom Jones Art and Senior Center from closure.

 

Because of the increasing need for day care services in New Castle County, Mr. Hollins sponsored legislation that eliminates Government "Red Tape" when establishing day care centers.

 

Striving to diversify the New Castle County Government workforce, he sponsored legislation to increase the job certification pool that would allow greater opportunities for women and minorities to obtain employment in County Government. He serves as New Castle County's advocate for diversity.

 

Widely known as a voice of reason, he is committed to the challenges ahead, from holding the line on tax increases, while improving county services and programs, to safeguarding the quality of life through stringent land use regulations in the County's Unified Development Code. Mr. Hollins continues his efforts to collaborate with industry, State agencies and the Federal government to bring additional services and programs to New Castle County. He remains obligated to the improvement of our environment by continuing the optional septic elimination program, rehabilitating the Brandywine Hundred/Claymont sewer systems, expanding the Southern New Castle County water treatment facilities, and working to eliminate point source and pollution run-off into our waterways.

 

COMMUNITY AND CIVIC AWARDS

 

Gladys Spikes, Councilman Penrose Hollins and County Executive Chris Coons at the signing of the proclamation for Fair Housing Month.


Councilman Penrose Hollins presenting a Council resolution to Eric Crowell for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout

 

Councilman Penrose Hollins was honored by the Wilmington Chapter of the NAACP for dedicating his career as an elected official and public servant to advancing the lives of the citizens of Wilmington, New Castle County and Delaware.