Trisha Newcomer, Director of Economic Development and Community Relations, City of Seaford

May 12, 2022 – 

Seaford, Delaware, has made the news lately, and with good reason: the Sussex County city is home to a new 100,000-square-foot delivery station able to process 20,000 packages a day. Trisha Newcomer, Seaford’s Director of Economic Development and Community Relations, couldn’t be happier.

“I grew up right here in the City of Seaford,” says the Seaford High School graduate. “It’s my driving force.”

Until relatively recently, Seaford had been best known as the “Nylon Capital World” because the DuPont Co. had run a plant there from 1939 to 2004. Today, the city’s slogan is “The Perfect Place to Start,” whether residents are starting families or people are beginning businesses. “It’s all-encompassing,” Newcomer says. 

In the last decade, she’s witnessed a lot of change. “It’s exciting!” she says.

What led you to your role, and what do you like most about it?

I worked my way up. I started as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and I ended up where I am today through several promotions. I like the community interaction and seeing what we can provide for the community — just really being an intermediary to help new and existing businesses navigate red tape. It’s an enjoyable job, and it isn’t the same routine every day.

Which of Delaware’s attractive qualities helps spur economic development?

Certainly, the lack of a sales tax. But one of our most significant advantages is our size. Because we’re small, we get more done. When a business wants to move to the area, we can get the stakeholders in the room without wasting any time. The company can put a face with a name.

What are some of the most compelling attributes of Seaford and Sussex County that site selectors should know?

Sussex County beaches are a draw, and we have agriculture. In Seaford, we’re moving the needle toward eco-tourism. The Nanticoke River runs right through our community. It’s a beautiful river, and we’ve created Oyster House Park with the Chesapeake Conservancy and a riverwalk with kayak launches. Getting out on the Nanticoke River is amazing. It’s so untouched, and there’s not a lot of development along the river.

We stay very connected with the state and county legislators to keep them apprised of everything going on in Seaford. We want to make sure that our business community is thriving, and we are a partner that’s always there to help, whether you’re interested in moving here or you’ve been here 25 years. We want to connect with one another and get things done.