Tag: located project

Incyte Project Lauded with Impact Award

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Economic development publication selects DPP-supported project for national honor

Significance of Incyte headquarters project in Wilmington cited by Business Facilities Deal of the Year Impact Award

January 9, 2025

A leading publication for corporate site selectors and economic development professionals has chosen a Delaware Prosperity Partnership-supported project as a winner in its 2024 Deal of the Year competition.

Business Facilities magazine is recognizing DPP and its partners for work on Incyte’s plan to retain and expand operations in Wilmington, Delaware, with a Deal of the Year Impact Award in the Corporate Headquarters Category. After a two-year search, the Delaware-founded global biopharmaceutical company announced in May that it would purchase two vacant buildings in downtown Wilmington and renovate them into a new corporate headquarters that will bring more than 300 relocated out-of-state jobs and up to 500 new, future jobs to the city’s business district.

DPP began working with the company – assisted by the Office of the Governor, the Delaware Division of Small Business, the Delaware Economic Development Authority, the City of Wilmington Office of the Mayor and other partners – in the summer of 2023. Together, they reached a collaborative solution that would meet Incyte’s two-year timeline and keep the company’s future growth in Delaware.

Incyte is investing more than $189 million in the acquisition and renovation of the Bracebridge I and Bracebridge III buildings, which comprise more than 500,000 square feet, along with renovations at its existing Alapocas campus just outside the Wilmington city limits. The project, which Business Facilities called a “transformative investment in Wilmington,” will allow Incyte to almost double both its workforce and its physical footprint in Delaware. Additional benefits include significantly reducing the city’s office vacancy rate, growing the city-based workforce and increasing weekday foot traffic for downtown businesses. More information about the project is available on the DPP website.

“The acquisition of the two buildings in Downtown Wilmington provided the perfect opportunity for us to expand our presence while reinforcing our commitment to Delaware,” said Hervé Hoppenot, Incyte president and chief executive officer. “We believe that this new expansion will provide capacity for growth in the future and contribute to both our success and that of the downtown Wilmington community.”

Founded in Delaware following the sale of DuPont Pharmaceuticals to Bristol Myers Squibb in 2002 and growing steadily over the last 22 years, Incyte is a local success story with a global footprint. The NASDAQ-traded company has a robust portfolio of treatments across hematology/oncology and inflammation and autoimmunity. In addition to its global headquarters in Delaware, the company maintains its European headquarters in Switzerland along with commercial operations and other offices across Europe and in Japan, China and Canada. Incyte currently employs more than 2,500 people across North America, Europe and Asia, with approximately 1,000 of them based in Delaware.

Business Facilities has highlighted economic development and site selection news from around the world for more than 50 years. The magazine added Impact Awards that highlight outstanding projects in specific industries to its Deal of the Year Awards program in 2021, and DPP received one of those inaugural honors in the Biosciences Category. DPP’s current accolade and the rest of the 2024 Deal of the Year Awards are featured in the January/February 2025 issue of Business Facilities.

“Delaware has been known for homegrown innovation since DuPont was founded here in 1802, through Incyte’s founding here in 2002 and continuing today, and Wilmington is well-known as the homebase for many global corporations,” said DPP President and CEO Kurt Foreman. “DPP is proud that Business Facilities recognizes the significance of Incyte’s decision to expand here and that we helped bring about plans that will benefit Delaware’s economy and business community, provide local job opportunities and enable Incyte to continue growing its work to find innovative solutions for patients with critical unmet medical needs.”

The original May 2024 announcement of the Incyte project is at: https://www.choosedelaware.com/press-releases/incyte-grows-in-downtown-wilmington-de/.

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PepsiCo Expands to New Claymont Facility

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PepsiCo chooses to expand in Delaware with $62M investment in upgraded Claymont site

Kurt Foreman of Delaware Prosperity Partnership, Brett Saddler of Claymont Renaissance Development Corp., Alison Benton of PepsiCo, Becky Harrington of Delaware Prosperity Partnership and C.J. Bell of the New Castle County Office of Economic Development following the December 9 meeting of the Council on Development Finance.

New facility at former steel mill location will enhance Northeast operations and create new jobs in Delaware

December 11, 2024

Delaware’s economic development efforts have secured a $62 million investment by Pepsi Beverages Sales, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo, to establish an upgraded facility in Claymont. The new site, located in the same county as the previous Wilmington facility, will retain 216 existing positions and create 77 additional jobs in the state, playing a key role in expanding the entity’s Northeast warehousing capabilities.

Located at 4145 Philadelphia Pike, the facility is part of the redeveloped Claymont Steel Mill property. PepsiCo will complete multi-million-dollar renovations to the leased 359,000-square-foot space and make significant investments in new equipment to enhance regional operations and support growing demand. In addition, the site will serve as a key hub for supporting manufacturing sites across the region.

“PepsiCo Beverage Sales’ decision to increase its operations in Delaware is great news for our state,” said Governor John Carney. “I would like to thank PepsiCo’s leadership for their commitment to grow in the First State.”

PepsiCo, one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, traces part of its history back to Delaware, where the Pepsi-Cola Company was first incorporated in 1919. A longtime member of the state’s business landscape, the company remains committed to supporting the local workforce. The enhanced facility will support various roles, including warehouse loaders, drivers, merchandisers, sales representatives and managers.

“This is exciting news for New Castle County and the State of Delaware,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “We’re pleased that PepsiCo Beverage Sales has chosen to concentrate its regional operations here and continue its role as a longtime Delaware employer.”

Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) collaborated with PepsiCo to secure the Claymont location and connect the company with state resources. On Monday, the state Council on Development Finance (CDF) approved up to $2,887,000 in grant funding from the Delaware Strategic Fund. These grants, contingent on PepsiCo meeting commitments for job retention, job creation and capital investment, underscore Delaware’s proactive support for businesses investing in the state.

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About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership is the nonprofit public/private organization leading Delaware’s statewide economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

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Encompass Elements to Grow in New Castle

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National marketing collateral, fulfillment firm chooses Delaware to consolidate and expand

Charles A. Madden and Kurt Foreman of Delaware Prosperity Partnership with Bill Scannapieco and Gene Pfeiffer of Encompass Elements following the Council on Development Finance meeting on December 9.

Encompass Elements plans to create 31 new jobs and upgrade current New Castle site into new headquarters

December 10, 2024

Pennsylvania-based direct mail and fulfillment services company Encompass Elements has chosen to consolidate and expand operations at a site in New Castle, Delaware, where it has operated for more than 20 years.

Encompass Elements is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise operating from its current headquarters in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, and its secondary location in Delaware. It manufactures marketing collateral and provides direct mail, product sampling, over-the-counter fulfillment and other services to pharmaceutical, retail, insurance and direct mail clients. For its consolidation and expansion, the company plans to invest $3.2 million in construction fit-out, including site upgrades and installation of new and relocated equipment, at its existing 152,000-square-foot facility at 1500 Johnson Way in New Castle.

“We are excited that Encompass Elements, a longtime Delaware and woman-owned company, will expand here in our state,” said Governor John Carney. “I look forward to seeing Encompass Elements continue to succeed and create good-paying jobs in Delaware.”

For Encompass Elements, which President and Chief Executive Officer Mary Fox Donnelly grew from a small screen-printing company, consolidation of operations is a strategic move supporting growth. The company currently manufactures in both locations and often transports products from one to the other. Consolidating into one site will enable it to reduce expenses, streamline processes, enhance capabilities and offer clients faster turnaround times and more competitive pricing.

Joining the company’s 21 full-time employees already in New Castle will be 22 full-time employees from Pennsylvania and, over the next few years, 31 new positions. Jobs new to Delaware will include lettershop and print machine operators and managers; customer service representatives; executive, management and administrative professionals; and marketing fulfillment and warehouse associates.

“Congratulations to Encompass Elements on its decision to grow in Delaware,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “The company has been a valued member of the New Castle County business community for more than 20 years, and we look forward to their expansion and the new job opportunities it will bring to our area.”

Delaware Prosperity Partnership collaborated with Encompass Elements for several years as the company explored its options. On Monday, DPP supported the company’s request to the state Council on Development Finance for a Jobs Performance Grant of up to $188,000 and a Capital Expenditure Grant of up to $64,100 from the Delaware Strategic Fund. Distribution of these grant monies is dependent on the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved Encompass Elements’ request for up to $252,100 in total funding.

“We’re excited about the opportunities that consolidating into Delaware brings to the company,” said Encompass Elements Chief Operations Officer Bill Scannapieco. “This move allows us to take advantage of Delaware’s business-friendly environment, helping to strengthen our operations and support our continued growth.”

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About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership is the nonprofit public/private organization leading Delaware’s statewide economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent.

About Encompass Elements

Encompass Elements is a full-service marketing solutions company providing fulfillment, digital print, direct mail, inventory and order management. Working across multiple channels and functions, Encompass Elements supports client projects from concept to execution across the categories of integrated direct marketing; fulfillment and distribution; digital technology; and strategy and planning. The company’s mission is to enable clients to manage their marketing campaigns, showcase their brands and increase their sales.

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Satys Chooses Delaware for 2nd US Site

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France-based global aircraft finishing company chooses Delaware for its second U.S. site

Kurt Foreman of Delaware Prosperity Partnership, Francisco Sanchez of Satys, Patty McIntyre of Satys, Matt Pearson of Satys, C.J. Bell of the New Castle County Office of Economic Development and Noah Olson of Delaware Prosperity Partnership following the December 9 meeting of the Council on Development Finance.

Satys will create 40 jobs and reactivate shuttered hangar at Wilmington Airport – ILG in New Castle

December 10, 2024

Global aircraft, aerospace and railway painting, sealing and interior manufacturing company Satys has chosen New Castle, Delaware, as the site for its second United States location.

Satys will invest nearly $1.3 million in facility improvements and equipment to establish an aircraft paint facility and training hub in a currently shuttered hangar at Wilmington Airport – ILG that had previously been occupied by Dassault and used in a similar capacity. The facility will serve the business jet market in the eastern United States and Canada.

“Delaware will see many benefits with the news that Satys will grow its aircraft finishing operations right here in our state,” said Governor John Carney. “This will create good-paying, skilled jobs for Delawareans and continued economic activity in the First State.”

Founded in 1986 under the name STTS, Satys is a French and international industrial group active in aircraft painting and sealing and in manufacturing interiors for the air, aerospace and rail sectors. The company employs 2,600 people at 52 sites in 13 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and North America, including a central U.S. site in Oregon, employing a team of managers and “traveling” painters currently assigned to a project in Arkansas and supporting the North America expansion.

Satys plans to create 40 new, full-time jobs in New Castle over the next three years and has expressed interest in potentially hiring former Dassault workers. The jobs will include junior and senior painter positions, managers and quality control personnel, with salaries ranging from $50,000 to more than $90,000.

“With all of the resources and talent needed to grow a global business in the United States, Delaware is a great place for Satys to establish its East Coast facility,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “New Castle County welcomes Satys, and we look forward to seeing the company and its local employees flourish here.”

Satys’s operations at ILG will bring more than $500,000 annually in lease revenue to the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), which operates the airport. This revenue will support ILG operations and capital improvements as is required by Federal Aviation Administration regulations. In addition, Satys’s location at ILG will expand the fuel service and maintenance work markets for local fixed-base operators in those fields.

“Satys is a global leader in aeronautics painting and surface treatment, and the DRBA is pleased to welcome them to Wilmington Airport,” said DRBA Executive Director Thomas J. Cook. “As the airport sponsor and manager for nearly 30 years, the Authority has worked hard to create an environment for businesses to take flight here. The sky’s the limit at Wilmington Airport, and we look forward to a successful, long-term relationship with Satys.”

Delaware Prosperity Partnership began working with Satys – which was considering locations all along the East Coast, from Florida to Canada – in late 2023 to review sites in Delaware. On Monday, DPP supported the company’s request to the state Council on Development Finance for a Jobs Performance Grant of up to $296,262 and a Capital Expenditure Grant of up to $38,316 from the Delaware Strategic Fund. Distribution of these grant monies is dependent on the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved Satys’s request for up to $334,578 in total funding.

“Satys is exited to expand our North American footprint in Delaware,” said Satys North America Director Francisco Sanchez. “We deeply appreciate the support from the State of Delaware and the DRBA as we approach the opening of our aircraft painting facility at ILG. We look forward to welcoming Delawareans to the Satys family, as we are actively recruiting for new positions and providing training to join the Satys Team.”

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About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership is the nonprofit public/private organization that leads Delaware’s statewide economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent.

About Satys

Satys is a French and international industrial group, present in 13 countries in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Satys is active in aircraft painting and sealing, engineering and manufacturing interiors for the aerospace and railway sectors. The group also has a surface treatment activity as well as a research & development division in its subsidiary Expiris. The group employs 2,600 people worldwide and has numerous certifications, as well as a unique training center for painters in Toulouse, France.

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Hanover Foods Investing in Clayton Site

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MISI Funding Will Help Hanover Foods Upgrade Delaware Site’s Infrastructure and Equipment

DPP’s Kurt Foreman and Charles A. Madden. Hanover’s David Shaqfeh and Will Choi, KEP’s Linda Parkowski, Hanover’s Justin Prystajko and DPP’s Megan Kopistecki are shown following the Council on Development Finance meeting.

State Grant Will Support 100-Year-Old Corporation’s Investment in Over $5M in Updates at Clayton Facility

September 23, 2024

A 100-year-old producer and distributor of canned and frozen vegetables and refrigerated and canned meal products has received a Delaware Modernization Investment Support Initiative (MISI) grant to help update its plant in Clayton.

Hanover Foods Corporation has been approved for up to $1 million in funding from the state pilot program that aims to help Delaware businesses evolve and remain competitive within their industries. The company will apply the grant toward a more than $5 million project to improve its Clayton site with modernized drying and freezing infrastructure and upgraded harvesting, washing and sorting equipment.

Hanover contracts with 41 farms in Delaware and 38 farms in Maryland to have them grow peas, corn, lima beans and edamame on behalf of the company. Hanover then harvests, processes, packages and distributes the products for sale at grocery retailers across the United States. Hanover’s Clayton plant employs 55 workers year-round and adds more than 100 additional seasonal workers between May and November.

“With this investment, Hanover will be able to modernize their technology to continue operations and potentially expand,” said Governor John Carney. “Without this investment, the 100-year-old company may have made the tough decision to close their sole Delaware facility, located in Clayton. Thanks to the Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) and the Kent Economic Partnership (KEP) for their effort to support existing employers that are critical to our community.”

Hanover Foods was founded as Hanover Canning Company in 1924 to assist Hanover, Pennsylvania-area farmers in packaging and distributing their produce and has grown into an industry leader in the growing, processing, packaging, marketing and distribution of a wide range of food products. The company currently has 10 domestic plants in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware and two international plants in Guatemala.

Hanover Foods is a key employer in Kent County and a vital player in Delaware’s agriculture sector. Largely because of its operations in the state, Delaware is the #1 producer of lima beans in the United States.

“Hanover Foods has a longstanding history as an integral part of the agriculture supply chain in Delaware and surrounding areas,” said KEP Executive Director Linda Parkowski. “The MISI grant will allow them to modernize and stay competitive and remain a part of Delaware agriculture for many years to come.”

The MISI pilot program was created in 2023 following a proposal by DPP and the state Division of Small Business. Up to $5 million from the Delaware Strategic Fund has been approved for distribution through the MISI pilot to help existing Delaware companies preemptively avert or reduce future potential risks to jobs and operations and encourage reinvestment toward long-term sustainability. DPP previously supported successful MISI applications from Wilmington’s High-Tech Machine Co. in 2023 and Newark’s Natural Dairy earlier this year.

KEP and DPP learned of Hanover Foods’ needs when they connected with the company through their Business Retention Engagement efforts. Both economic development organizations supported the company’s MISI funding request to the state Council on Development Finance.

“Hanover Foods has long valued our trusted partnerships with Delaware and Maryland farmers, and we are proud to be the employer of choice for our team members at our Clayton, Delaware, facility,” said David Shaqfeh, president of Hanover Foods Corporation. “We are grateful to the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, the administration of Governor John Carney and our other state and county partners for working with us to help keep Hanover Foods a strong and vibrant contributor to the local and state economy.”

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About DPP

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership (choosedelaware.com) is the nonprofit public/private organization that leads Delaware’s statewide economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent.

About Hanover Foods

Hanover Foods Corporation (hanoverfoods.com) is committed to a vision of growing, manufacturing and packaging nutritious, high-quality and affordable foods in categories across the food spectrum. The fully integrated, self-producing, American, family-owned manufacturer of frozen, canned, fresh, deli and snack foods has a passion for continuous improvement, sustainability, innovation and growth in each category.

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MISI Will Help Natural Dairy to Compete

Written on . Posted in In the News, Press Releases.

Woman-owned Organic Dairy Approved for MISI Funding to Upgrade Equipment

Charles A. Madden of DPP, Stephanie McVaugh of Natural Dairy and Megan Kopistecki and Becky Harrington, both of DPP, following the Council on Finance Development meeting.

$858K Modernization Grant Will Help Newark Business Compete in Its Industry

August 26, 2024

A 30-year-old organic dairy company in Newark, Delaware, has received a grant from a pilot program aimed at helping Delaware businesses evolve and remain competitive within their industries.

Natural Dairy Products Corporation has been approved for up to $858,400 in Modernization Investment Support Initiative (MISI) funding toward equipment upgrades totaling nearly $4.3 million. MISI monies will support the company’s Shelf-Life Extension Project, which includes replacing aging, inefficient filling machines – some dating from as far back as the 1960s – that cannot provide the longer shelf life the industry now requires.

“Agriculture is Delaware’s number one industry. Natural Dairy will use this grant to upgrade their equipment and stay competitive,” said Governor John Carney. “This is what the Modernization Investment Support Initiative is designed to do – help companies like Natural Dairy stay and grow in the First State.”

The MISI pilot program was created in 2023 following a proposal by Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) and the state Division of Small Business. Up to $5 million from the Delaware Strategic Fund has been approved for distribution through the MISI pilot to help existing Delaware companies preemptively avert or reduce future potential risks to jobs and operations.

Natural Dairy was begun by the MacArthur family in 1994 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and is now located on Markus Court in Newark, Delaware. The Delaware dairy company produces milk and dairy products, serves as a contract manufacturer and also has expanded into plant-based products and juices. Natural Dairy supports 22 organic dairy farms in the tri-state region and employs Delawareans of various skill levels in good-paying manufacturing jobs.

  • Current Machine

  • Ordered Machine

In recent years, limitations posed by aging equipment have led Natural Dairy to lose contracts and be unable to bid for new ones. As a result, the company had to reduce its production schedule from seven days per week to four and cut its full-time employee positions from 24 to 21. Replacing its quart and half-gallon filling machines over the next two years will allow Natural Dairy to better serve current customers, bid on new contracts and restore its staff totals and production schedule.

Current owner Stephanie McVaugh, a Goldey Beacom College graduate, had begun working at Natural Dairy in 1999. The company moved from Pennsylvania to Delaware due to the utilities available and Newark’s strategic location along Interstate 95.

“In the past few years,” McVaugh said, “our team became very aware that adding shelf life to our fluid products through modernizing our equipment would be the key to our future growth and success.”

DPP connected with Natural Dairy as part of the statewide economic development organization’s Business Retention Engagement program and supported the company’s MISI funding request to the state Council on Development Finance. Last year, DPP supported a successful MISI application from Wilmington’s High-Tech Machine Co.

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AirJoule Locating at 2 Sites in Delaware

Written on . Posted in In the News, Press Releases.

New Venture Concentrating on Advanced Dehumidification and Atmospheric Water Harvesting Chooses Delaware for Location

Bryan Mack (Delaware Prosperity Partnership), Jonathan Tracy (AirJoule), Matthew Grandbois (AirJoule), Noah Olson (Delaware Prosperity Partnership) and Yvonne Deadwyler (New Castle County Chamber of Commerce) following the Council on Finance Development meeting.

AirJoule, created by GE Vernova and Montana Technologies, opening sites in Newark and Wilmington

July 23, 2024

WILMINGTON, Del. – AirJoule LLC (“AirJoule” or the “Company”), a 50-50 joint venture between GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE: GEV) and Montana Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: AIRJ) that focuses on economical atmospheric water harvesting, has chosen to locate in Delaware.

AirJoule is leasing a 30,000 square-foot site on Shea Way in the Newark area’s Delaware Industrial Park for its main office and manufacturing facilities. It is also leasing 500 square feet at The Innovation Space in Wilmington’s DuPont Experimental Station for research and development activities.

The Company projects an investment of up to $15.3 million to prepare the Newark site for its operations. It also anticipates hiring up to 60 employees for professional, skilled and semi-skilled technical positions with salaries ranging from $60,000 to over $100,000 during the next few years.

“This is exciting news for Delaware. AirJoule’s decision to bring administrative, manufacturing and research operations to the First State creates a variety of job opportunities for Delawareans,” said Governor John Carney. “I want to thank the Delaware Prosperity Partnership for its continued work to make sure Delaware has a vibrant workforce and a strong economy.”

AirJoule uses an environmentally friendly, sorbent-based process with minimal emissions to produce efficient and sustainable air dehumidification and harvest pure distilled water from air. Designed to reduce energy consumption and generate material cost efficiencies, the AirJoule system eliminates the need for refrigerants, uses little energy and works in both humid and arid environments.

AirJoule is a 50-50 joint venture between GE Vernova and Montana Technologies. GE Vernova is a publicly traded global leader in electrification, decarbonization and energy solutions, with more than 80,000 employees across 100 countries, that generates approximately 30% of the world’s electricity and serves many of the world’s leading utilities and large industrial electricity users. Montana Technologies is a publicly traded corporation that developed the AirJoule system based on a concept developed by researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

AirJoule’s location in Delaware will further strengthen the state’s advanced chemical and materials science industries while contributing to global decarbonization initiatives.

“Congratulations to AirJoule on the location of their main office and manufacturing center in Newark, along with their cutting-edge R&D site in Wilmington,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “Their commitment to pioneering atmospheric water harvesting through innovation and collaboration is truly inspiring, and we wish them a future filled with sustainable solutions and impactful advancements.”

Following a referral from the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, DPP collaborated with the Company, the State of Delaware, and other partners to help AirJoule select its sites in Delaware. DPP supported AirJoule’s request to the Council on Development Finance for a Jobs Performance Grant of up to $540,000 and a Capital Expenditure Grant of up to $460,650 from the Delaware Strategic Fund. Distribution of these grant monies is dependent on the Company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved AirJoule’s request for up to $1,000,650 in total funding.

According to Company officials, AirJoule selected Delaware over another potential location primarily due to the state’s robust talent pool of chemical engineers and its business affordability.

“We are thrilled to be establishing our main office and manufacturing facility in the vibrant state of Delaware,” said AirJoule CEO Bryan Barton, who previously worked at other companies in Delaware. “Delaware’s dynamic business environment and talented workforce make it the ideal location to locate our operations.”

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About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership is the nonprofit public/private organization that leads Delaware’s statewide economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent.

About AirJoule LLC

Created as a 50-50 joint venture between GE Vernova and Montana Technologies in March 2024, AirJoule offers transformational technology that enables the atmosphere to become an around-the-clock renewable energy and water resource. It is the exclusive commercialization entity resulting from technologies developed both at GE Vernova and Montana Technologies. Furthermore, it is one of the first business transactions from GE Vernova’s Ventures and Incubation group, which brings leading energy transition innovations to customers by collaborating with startups.

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DCP ‘Opens the Box’ at Delaware Site

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Delmarva Corrugated Packaging ‘Opens Box’ on $90M-Plus Green-Friendly Super Plant, Celebrates 160 Jobs Brought to Delaware

Company also announces new solar panel project and Autism Delaware partnership

June 24, 2024

DOVER, Del. – Delmarva Corrugated Packaging (DCP) showcased its 465,000-square-foot, energy-efficient, rail-served, full-line corrugated manufacturing facility during a recent “OPEN THE BOX” event at the Delaware plant.

DCP’s Dover facility, which is located on a 37.4-acre site at 1601 POW/MIA Parkway, strengthens the critical logistical supply chain of the Mid-Atlantic region. It has been operational since December 2021 and currently has 160 full-time manufacturing positions that have significantly improved workers’ ability to move up the skilled labor ladder.

Filled with the latest technology for its industry and relying on advanced manufacturing practices, DCP’s plant was built to be 30% more efficient than required on energy and diverts millions of tons of post-consumer wastepaper from landfills each year. As announced during the event, further green initiatives for the company include installation of a 2-megawatt photovoltaic system that officials believe will be the largest rooftop solar panel installation in Delaware. The project will allow about one-third of the facility’s power to come from the sun, and it is estimated that the system will take power off the local grid that is equivalent to the electricity needed to power roughly 250 homes.

Also during the event, DCP announced a programming partnership with Autism Delaware and presented a $10,000 check to Executive Director Brian Hall. The partnership and donation will support participation in social opportunities for families presented with the unique challenges of autism.

Federal, state, local, business community and company officials praised DCP’s impact on the Delaware, Kent County and Dover-area economic landscape.

“Delaware is a small state, but we use that to our advantage to work together to create a nurturing environment for job growth and job preservation,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “This is a great example of the county, state and federal governments coming together to support good-paying jobs and a company that gives back to its community. That’s what I call a win-win!”

“Delmarva Corrugated Packaging’s commitment to green energy and strong supply chains ensures that they’ll be a key player in Delaware’s economy,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “It was great to join the rest of the state delegation to cut the ribbon on their Dover facility, and I look forward to seeing their continued growth that will create more good-paying jobs for Delawareans.”

“Today, we’re opening the box on a new chapter for Dover that was made possible by federal, state and local partners working together,” said U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “I’m glad to join Delmarva Corrugated Packaging to celebrate this achievement that is investing in our state’s capital community, creating jobs and strengthening our supply chains.”

“Delmarva Corrugated Packaging’s new manufacturing facility has created 160 new jobs for Delaware and strengthens our region’s supply chain,” said Governor John Carney. “We are grateful they chose Kent County for this major facility. I want to congratulate them on opening their doors and thank all the partners involved in this project, including the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, the Kent Economic Partnership, the City of Dover and members of the General Assembly.”

In 2020, Delaware Prosperity Partnership and Kent Economic Partnership assisted DCP in their site search and worked with the State of Delaware, Kent County, the City of Dover, Delmarva Central Railroad and other community partners to attract the company to Delaware. The DCP plant is in an Opportunity Zone and was supported by grants from the Delaware Strategic Funds and the Delaware Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund. The project highlights the importance that partnerships and coordination among federal, state and local programs in attracting industry.

“The reception we have received from the State of Delaware, from Kent County, the municipality, you could not have been more welcoming,” said DCP Chairman Dennis Mehiel. “We’re proud to be here, and we are extremely grateful to the community in both the business and the public sector.”

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Incyte Grows in Downtown Wilmington, DE

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Incyte Chooses to Grow in Delaware with Investment in New Downtown Wilmington Site

Global biopharmaceutical company will relocate more than 300 Pennsylvania jobs with space for more than 500 new, future positions

May 22, 2024

WILMINGTON, Del. – Incyte, a Delaware-founded global biopharmaceutical company with a robust portfolio of treatments across oncology and inflammation and autoimmunity, has chosen downtown Wilmington, Delaware, for an expansion.

Incyte today announced it has purchased the Bracebridge I and Bracebridge III buildings at King and French streets in downtown Wilmington. The structures were built in the mid-1990s for MBNA and used by the bank until its 2006 merger with Bank of America, which eventually left both sites empty. Incyte will renovate the buildings, whose 517,307 square feet will almost double the company’s Delaware footprint, starting with Bracebridge I. The new space will allow Incyte to continue building its Delaware employee base by bringing in more than 300 employees currently working in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and provide space to grow and add more than 500 new positions across the two buildings in the future.

“Incyte’s decision to move their headquarters to downtown Wilmington is not only a big deal for the city – it’s a big deal for our state,” said Governor John Carney. “Incyte is a Delaware success story. Incyte grew out of its space at the DuPont Experimental Station and moved hundreds of employees into a renovated headquarters at Augustine Cut Off. Not only does this announcement mean more great jobs in our state – but it means that there is more opportunity for Incyte to keep doing good in our community and across the world. Incyte’s research makes a huge difference in peoples’ lives. We couldn’t be prouder to call them a Delaware-grown company and we’re excited about their next chapter. I want to thank Incyte’s leadership for their commitment to Delaware.”

Incyte was founded in Delaware in 2002 and has grown steadily over the last 22 years. The company has its European headquarters in Switzerland and maintains commercial operations and offices in other European locales as well as in Asia and Canada. Since 2014, Incyte’s global headquarters has been a former Wanamaker’s department store site just outside the Wilmington city limits in Alapocas. That location, which has been expanded to include three buildings, currently houses the company’s corporate and research and development teams.

Expanding its offices to downtown Wilmington will create numerous benefits for Incyte – vacated office space at the Alapocas campus will be converted into much-needed lab space and will accommodate the company’s projected future growth. The City of Wilmington will also benefit from the resulting reduction in office vacancy and the new-to-Wilmington jobs, which will be skilled, technical and managerial positions with annual salaries ranging from over $90,000 to over $200,000.

Following the May 20 Council for Development Finance meeting, DPP’s Noah Olson, Becky Harrington and Kurt Foreman were joined by Andrew Harton and Regina Mitchell of the Delaware Division of Small Business; Sean Park and James Williams of the City of Wilmington Office of Economic Development; and Catalina Loveman, Kevin Davis and Tom Tray of Incyte.

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Incyte to Wilmington, a city historically known as the home of corporate innovation, creativity and development,” said Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki. “Incyte is a company with motivated leadership that is addressing complex health needs throughout the world. And now, that important work will be conducted from an expanded company location in our city, and we couldn’t be more excited. In addition to enhancing the Wilmington business community, Incyte will provide a wonderful boost to our local economy. I offer thanks and appreciation from our entire city to Chief Executive Officer Hervé Hoppenot and the Incyte team and Governor John Carney and the state team for working with the city to make this happen.”

“Delaware has been our home for more than 20 years, and we are looking forward to expanding our operations in Wilmington and continuing to grow our company here,” said Incyte Chief Executive Officer Hervé Hoppenot. “We are grateful to the continued support of the state, the city and others, including DPP, who have supported our company and fostered innovation and growth in our region.”

DPP worked with Incyte – collaborating with the State of Delaware, the City of Wilmington and other partners – to explore Delaware sites for expansion. DPP also supported the company’s request to the Council on Development Finance for a Jobs Performance Grant of up to $9,177,075 and a Capital Expenditure Grant of up to $5,670,000 from the Delaware Strategic Fund. Distribution of these grants is dependent upon the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved Incyte’s request for up to $14,787,075 million in total funding.

“Incyte has been an innovative pillar of the Delaware business community since it was founded here in 2002, and Delaware Prosperity Partnership is pleased to support the company’s expansion into downtown Wilmington,” said Rod Ward, co-chair of DPP’s Board of Directors. “New jobs and capital investment of this project’s magnitude will provide a tremendous boost for the city and create opportunities that will benefit many Delaware families along with the community at large.”

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DPP contact: Susan Coulby, Senior Manager, Communications, 302-983-5710 (cell), scoulby@choosedelaware.com

State of Delaware contact: Emily Hershman, Director of Communications, Office of Governor Carney, 302-943-0097 (cell), Emily.Hershman@delaware.gov

City of Wilmington contact: John Rago, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office, 302-420-7928, jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov

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PSI Will Expand in Newark, Delaware

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Phase Sensitive Innovations Chooses Delaware for State-of-the-Art Lab, Manufacturing and R&D Expansion

DPP’s Erica Crell, Dr. Dennis Prather of PSI, DPP’s Noah Olson and Dr. Ahmed Sharkway of PSI following the April 22 CDF meeting.

Growth of veteran-owned, Newark-based company supports production of semiconductor components and other advanced technologies for DOD contracts and private-sector clients

April 24, 2024

WILMINGTON, Del. – Phase Sensitive Innovations – a veteran-owned, University of Delaware spinoff that specializes in radio-frequency components, devices and systems – has chosen to expand operations in its hometown of Newark, Delaware, to support its continued growth within the domestic defense and global semiconductor industries.

PSI will occupy an approximately 12,000-square-foot site along with its current 20,000-square-feet facility, both of which are located in Sandy Brae Industrial Park in Newark. Along with the physical expansion, PSI plans to expand staff from its current roster of 80 – all but three of whom are engineers – to more than 100 by the end of 2024 and add 30 to 40 more jobs in subsequent years

All of the new jobs will be highly skilled technical positions that provide a high degree of on-the-job training. PSI plans to continue recruiting locally from the University of Delaware and Delaware Technical Community College to fill these roles.

“It’s rewarding to see a Delaware-born company expand in its hometown, adding highly skilled jobs to our workforce and increasing manufacturing and lab space in Newark,” said Governor John Carney. “I’m pleased by Phase Sensitive Innovations’ work to recruit employees from our institutions of higher education. Those relationships and support from the Delaware Prosperity Partnership create a vibrant workforce and strengthen our economy in the First State.”

“I am thrilled Dr. Prather is going to continue expanding in Delaware,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “Phase Sensitive Innovations is a remarkable innovative company that manufactures the next generation of technology which translates radio signals into optical signals in no small part because of their patent portfolio and great employees. Dr. Prather and his team of innovators have taken an incredible idea and turned it into a technology that is now contributing to the vibrancy of the Newark economy, the security of the United States and our global competitiveness. From my first meeting with Dennis in the basement of Evans Hall at UD, to my recent visit where I saw his facility in Newark bursting at the seams, PSI is one of the better examples of how strong IP, a great team of people and initial help from SBIRs and STTRs can help research move from the early development to rapidly scaling.”

PSI’s new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will include more than 8,000 square feet of lab space and will focus on thin-film lithium niobate wafers and devices. This technology enables next-generation communications and radio frequency systems, and PSI is believed to be the only domestic supplier positioned to manufacture these items domestically. The expansion also will free up space in the original building that will be used to expand research and development operations.

PSI has received $110 million in ongoing Department of Defense contracts – extending across Army, Navy, Air Force and Office of the Undersecretary of Defense programs as well as related work with the National Air and Space Administration and the Department of Energy – and other transactional agreements since its founding in 2007. The company expects to book more than $20 million in additional contracts over the next year.

PSI also works directly with prime contractors and other commercial partners to manufacture state-of-the-industry photonic components. The company recently signed a transition agreement to manufacture and supply original equipment manufacturer components to a global leader in photonic components and aims to grow further in the commercial sector with advanced technologies for wireless communications, broadband, smart devices and other applications.

“Congratulations to Dennis Prather and the entire PSI team on the expansion of their facility in Newark,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “It’s critical to Delaware’s job market to retain successful homegrown businesses and to ensure success by creating more high-paying jobs right here in our community.”

DPP has consulted with PSI for several years and worked with the company since mid-2023 to explore growth opportunities. DPP supported PSI’s request to the Council on Development Finance for a Jobs Performance Grant of up to $139,800 and a Graduated Lab Space Grant of up to $566,090 from the Delaware Strategic Fund. Distribution of these grants is dependent upon the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved PSI’s request for up to $705,890 in total funding.

“Delaware is so well-placed – with a prime location in the Mid-Atlantic region – and it’s an untapped resource when it comes to technical talent,” said PSI President Dennis Prather, who is also a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Delaware and a veteran of the U.S. Naval Reserve and who founded PSI with fellow faculty member Christopher Schuetz. “We are very grateful to the State of Delaware for supporting the expansion of our manufacturing facility, which will enable PSI to become a major provider of a key technology to the defense and commercial sectors for years to come.”

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About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership (choosedelaware.com) is the nonprofit public/private organization that leads Delaware’s statewide economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent. To learn more about manufacturing and research and development in Delaware click here.

About Phase Sensitive Innovations

Phase Sensitive Innovations (PSI) is a small, high-technology company specializing in radio-frequency (RF) photonic devices, components and systems, with a particular focus on the millimeter wave (mmW) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. PSI produces high-quality and high-performance RF photonic devices, components and systems with applications that include mmW imaging and wireless communications systems such as 5G/B5G cellular, communications, radar and vision enhancement markets.

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FFI Ionix Chooses to Expand in Delaware

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Fortescue Subsidiary Chooses Delaware for Expansion that will Bring New Hydrogen Economy Jobs to Kent County

New FFI Ionix site in Dover is first Central Delaware location benefiting from state Graduated Lab Space Grant funding

February 26, 2024

WILMINGTON, Del. – FFI Ionix Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortescue, a global green technology, energy and metals company, has chosen Dover, Delaware, to base its operations to support global decarbonization and establishment of the hydrogen economy.

FFI Ionix, which focuses on hydrogen technologies, will relocate from its approximately 15,000-square-foot site in Harrington to 60 Starlifter Avenue within the city limits of Dover. More than 22,000 square feet of the new facility’s almost 57,000 square feet will be lab space.

The physical expansion at the new location also builds capacity for future job expansion, with the potential for new professional and semi-skilled positions, including engineers, lab technicians, chemists, quality control personnel and production and warehouse associates.

“FFI Ionix’s decision to stay and grow in our state is great news for Delaware and our leadership in the hydrogen economy,” said Governor John Carney. “We recently announced investments in downtown Dover, and this expansion will bring even more activity to our state’s capital. This is what the Graduated Lab Space Grants and Strategic Fund are for: keeping and growing innovative companies here in the First State.”

FFI Ionix is part of Fortescue, a company that ranks 414th on the Forbes Global 2000 list, but its origins were founded in Delaware as Xergy. Xergy won more than $10 million in research and development funding and patented more than 100 of its membrane and device innovations before being acquired by Fortescue and transformed into FFI Ionix in 2021.

FFI Ionix is a leader in next-generation electrolysis technology, such as anion exchange membrane (AEM), and is a commercial supplier of membranes for water electrolysis, electrochemical compression, water transmission and fuel cells. The company’s advanced ion-exchange membranes enable more efficient and cost-effective electrolysis, a crucial process for producing green hydrogen from water, and represents continued leadership in membrane research, development and production that benefits customers around the world.

Its focus on innovation in the hydrogen economy aligns with green hydrogen production goals set by the recently designated and federally funded Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub (MACH2), in which Delaware companies will play key roles.

Over the last two years, Delaware Prosperity Partnership – assisted by Kent Economic Partnership and the City of Dover – helped FFI Ionix explore potential Delaware sites while the company also considered out-of-state options. DPP supported FFI Ionix’s request to the Council on Development Finance for a Graduated Lab Space Grant of up to $1,604,960; a Jobs Performance Grant of up to $70,400; and a Jobs Retention Grant of up to $42,500 from the Delaware Strategic Fund.

Distribution of these grants is dependent upon the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved FFI Ionix’s request for up to $1,717,860 in total funding. This marks the first time that a Graduated Lab Space Grant has been awarded for a site in Kent County (Central Delaware) since the program was piloted in 2021.

“This is very exciting for Dover and the greater Dover community,” said Dover Mayor Robin R. Christiansen. “Developing here reassures more jobs and more opportunities for our younger generations, in an industry with the potential to grow, all while decreasing our carbon footprint.”

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About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership (choosedelaware.com) is the nonprofit public/private organization that leads Delaware’s statewide economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent.

About FFI Ionix

FFI Ionix Inc. is a technology development company focused on global technology leadership and commercialization of hydrogen technologies, including ion-exchange membranes for water electrolysis, electrochemical compression, water transmission and fuel cells. The United States-based company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortescue, a global green technology, energy and metals company recognized for its culture, innovation and industry-leading development of infrastructure, mining assets and green energy initiatives.

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Compact Membrane Systems Chooses Del.

Written on . Posted in Press Releases.

Compact Membrane Systems* Chooses New Castle, Delaware, for $3.1M Expansion to Help Meet Market Demands

Expanding with 15,080 square feet of lab, other space will allow company to add 38 new full-time jobs, tripling current staff by 2026

WILMINGTON, Del.  – Compact Membrane Systems Inc. (CMS), a 30-year-old Delaware company whose advanced membrane systems address the challenge of decarbonizing heavy industry, has chosen New Castle, Delaware, for a $3.1 million facility and workforce expansion that will help address massive market demand.

CMS formerly operated completely out of a location on Water Street in Newport. The company recently moved much of its operations to a temporary site on Reads Way in New Castle near where construction on its new facility is ongoing. The expansion includes building 10,864 square feet of research and development and manufacturing-focused lab spaces along with more than 4,216 square feet of additional new space. The company also plans to add at least 38 new full-time employees to its current staff of 19 over the next three years.

“We’re grateful that Compact Membrane Systems will build on its 30-year history in our state,” said Governor John Carney. “CMS has an important mission to decarbonize heavy industry. Their decision to grow in Delaware will help make our environment more sustainable and add jobs to our state.”

Founded in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1993 by former DuPont scientist Stuart Nemser and now led by his daughter, CMS delivers technology solutions that capture and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, avert global warming and transform the industry into a long-term sustainable enterprise. With a massive shortage of membrane fiber needed to meet industry demands, CMS is expanding to help fill the growing needs of the carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) market, which has tremendous growth potential in the fight against climate change.

CMS has been shifting from a small, research-based company utilizing federal grants for R&D projects to further its business objectives to a rapidly growing commercial entity with a double bottom line – marrying commercial success with social responsibility – by delivering innovative new products while also capturing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As the company has evolved, including raising $16.5 million in a Series A venture capital round in 2023, CMS has investigated where best to continue its growth.

The company considered moving to locations closer to investors and potential customers, including Houston, Texas, and areas further West. However, CMS’s First State roots, history of hiring local talent and commitment to community involvement and sector leadership here helped drive its decision to continue to expand its engineering, manufacturing and sales footprint in Delaware.

“It’s vitally important we keep legacy companies like CMS in our communities growing and thriving,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “We have the talent right here in our state, and this expansion presents opportunities for our workforce to stay right here at home.”

Delaware Prosperity Partnership supported CMS’s request to the Council on Development Finance for a Graduated Lab Space Grant of up to $760,480 and a Jobs Performance Grant of up to $115,000 from the Delaware Strategic Fund. Distribution of these grants is dependent upon the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved CMS’s request.

“CMS has grown up as a Delaware company and, through this state support, is excited to cement our future in Delaware,” said Erica Nemser, CMS’s CEO, who also chairs the Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance Board. “We love the resources and opportunity Delaware has to offer, from excellent scientific and technical talent to the commitment to manufacturing advanced technology to address climate emissions.”

* Since the publication of this release, Compact Membrane Systems has rebranded as Ardent to reflect the company’s next chapter as an innovative, high-growth company ardently committed to accelerating decarbonization and transforming the global industrial and energy landscape.

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