Tag: New Castle County

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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MISI Will Help Natural Dairy to Compete

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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

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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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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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State Joins in on $635M Port Delaware

Written on . Posted in In the News.

State Teams with Enstructure in Public-Private Enterprise to Build New Delaware Port Terminal

Expanded facility estimated to create 6,000 Delaware jobs

May 10, 2024

WILMINGTON, Del. – The State of Delaware will join the private operator of the Port of Wilmington, Enstructure, to build a new port terminal at a site in Edgemoor, Delaware. The Edgemoor industrial site was purchased in 2017 by the taxpayer-owned Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) which subsequently secured the necessary permits to construct a new port terminal.

This historic $635 million infrastructure project will be largest shipping terminal in Delaware since the current Port of Wilmington opened in 1923. The new state-of-the-art “green port” will ensure the long-term success of Delaware’s maritime industry, vastly improving the State’s competitiveness by quadrupling the port’s capacity for container cargo and enabling new and larger ships to be serviced. Construction of the Edgemoor port will take about three years.

The new Edgemoor terminal is estimated to create nearly 6,000 new jobs, including more than 3,100 direct jobs. Total state and local taxes generated from Edgemoor are estimated at $39.4 million annually. In addition, building the new facility will create more than 3,900 construction jobs and generate $42.3 million in tax revenues.

Once completed and fully operational, “Port Delaware,” including both the existing and new terminals, will generate a total of about 11,480 jobs and $76.2 million in tax revenues for the state, making it one of Delaware’s largest employment centers.

The existing Port of Wilmington is a significant source of high-paying jobs to support Delaware families. Many of its longshoremen earn annual incomes of more than $100,000, with a recent national report estimating the average annual salary of a maritime worker at $98,000.

Construction of the new port facility will be conducted in three phases, with the first to be completed over an estimated 32-month period. Much of the early work in the first phase will be focused on waterside construction – building a seawall, high deck and associated dredging. Landside construction of the actual terminal will come later with proactive public participation and community engagement. Phases two and three of the project will be built by Enstructure when business justifies the additional capacity.

The State will take on responsibility for approximately 31 percent of the cost of building the facility, or $195 million. Enstructure will pay most of the construction and equipment costs, beginning with $170 million to support Phase 1 of the project and an additional $165 million to complete phases 2 and 3, which equals 53 percent of the entire project. Remaining costs will come from federal sources and the DSPC. State funds will come from excess abandoned property revenues made available in previous state bond bills for specific one-time uses, including maritime terminal development.

A detailed explanation of the project, its benefits and the economic impact can be viewed here.

State leaders and Enstructure joined in their support of the new port:

“For decades, jobs at the Port of Wilmington have been a gateway into the middle class for thousands of workers and their families— the kind of jobs our state and country were built on,” said Governor John Carney. “This investment to expand the Port will position Delaware to compete for container cargo and larger ships. It will bring new, good-paying union jobs to Wilmington. I am pleased to see strong bipartisan support for this important and necessary next step in making the planned Edgemoor expansion a reality.”

House Speaker Valerie Longhurst said, “Investing in this new port is investing in Delaware’s future. One of the most important jobs we have as legislators is growing Delaware’s economy and keeping it strong. We need to build this new port to keep our maritime economy competitive in the years ahead. The benefits of this new port will be felt for generations by thousands of Delaware families who will be able to buy a house, send kids to college and improve their quality of life.”

“This announcement is a major step forward in our efforts to make the City of Wilmington a major engine of Delaware’s economy and a source of strong union jobs once again,” Joint Capital Improvement (Bond) Committee co-chair Senator Jack Walsh said on behalf of the Senate Democratic Caucus. “I want to thank Governor John Carney for his unwavering commitment to expand the Port of Wilmington. This investment in our future fulfills that promise and will help thousands of Delaware workers support their families with good-paying union jobs. My colleagues and I on the Bond Committee are committed to working with Enstructure and our next governor to see this project through to completion for future generations of Delaware workers.”

Senate Republican Leader Gerald Hocker added, “Investing in modern public infrastructure is a great way to ensure a strong economy for the future. The existing port has created jobs and small business opportunities for over 100 years. This new port will be a critical piece of strengthening Delaware’s economy for the next hundred years.”

“Our Port generates thousands of great paying jobs statewide from Delaware River & Bay Pilots in Sussex to longshoremen in Wilmington,” said House Republican Leader Mike Ramone. “Investing in Delaware’s infrastructure is a top priority. This state-of-the-art ‘green port’ terminal will not only result in the productive re-use of a highly visible but vacant industrial site, it also assures future Delawareans have access to maritime careers of the future.”

“I am excited for the opportunities this new port site will bring to Delaware. Thousands of Delawareans including many of my constituents will benefit from this construction whether directly through jobs or indirectly from the increased economic activity in their communities,” stated Bond Bill Chair Representative Deb Heffernan. “As I have said since this project was first theorized, a project of this size and scale only works with constant and consistent communication with the community. DSPC and Enstructure have made guarantees to hold community meetings, establish a community advisory board made up of local community members, and develop and continually update a website with information on the construction process. I will be watching to ensure these promises are kept and our community is kept up to date on this project that has the potential to benefit us all.”

“We are excited to partner with the State of Delaware, the Diamond State Port Corporation, the Delaware Building Trades and the International Longshoremen’s Association to significantly expand Delaware’s port infrastructure,” said Enstructure Co-CEOs Matthew Satnick and Philippe De Montigny. “The Port Delaware Container Terminal will broaden Enstructure’s terminal network and logistics services, while enhancing our ability to serve our customers.”

This article was originally posted on the State of Delaware website at https://news.delaware.gov/2024/05/08/delaware-to-join-public-private-partnership-to-build-new-port/.

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PSI Will Expand in Newark, Delaware

Written on . Posted in Press Releases.

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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Compact Membrane Systems Chooses Del.

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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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Novo Fintech Firm Chooses to Grow in DE

Written on . Posted in Press Releases.

Forbes Fintech 50 Firm Novo Chooses Delaware as Expansion Site

Florida-based fintech platform for small businesses plans to grow as part of the Wilmington financial services hub

WILMINGTON, Del. – Novo, the powerfully simple financial solutions platform for small businesses that is a two-time member of the Forbes Fintech 50, has chosen to expand in Wilmington, Delaware.

Novo has built a platform for small businesses that combines a checking account with an ecosystem of financial applications — helping small businesses access their revenue faster, save time on business-critical tasks and manage their money anytime on any device. Since launching in 2018, Novo has surpassed $20 billion in small business transactions and was named to the Forbes Fintech 50 list, which highlights “the top private companies that are transforming finance through technology” in both 2022 and 2023.

Novo logo

Novo is headquartered in Miami and recently opened a U.S. location in Wilmington. In Delaware, the company is operating from the Stat International space on Orange Street. Novo has hired a dozen employees since May and will continue to grow the office in the coming years.

“Novo’s decision to expand to Wilmington is great news for the First State,” said Governor John Carney. “We want to be the place companies consider when starting and growing their businesses. Novo’s move to Wilmington shows that our efforts to make Delaware inviting to corporations are working and that the Delaware Prosperity Partnership is making a difference.”

One of Novo’s recently developed offerings is Novo Funding, a fast and flexible way for small businesses to access working capital. Since its launch, Novo Funding has issued more than $70 million in working capital.

Novo’s decision to choose Delaware for its expansion further confirms the state’s status as a hub for financial services and fintech companies. Wilmington and its environs continue to be the site of significant growth for existing businesses in the financial services and fintech sector while also attracting new firms to the area. Companies with recent Delaware expansions include Ally Financial, City National Bank, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase.

“Small businesses make up more than half of Delaware’s workforce — an incredible testament to the work Delaware has done to make small business creation and growth as accessible as possible,” said Grant Sahag, VP of Operations at Novo. “The Novo team is honored to be a part of Delaware’s thriving small business community.”

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Person using Novo app on phone

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 Novo

Novo Platform, Inc. (“Novo”) is the powerfully simple financial platform for small businesses. To learn more, visit www.novo.co.

Disclosure

Novo is a fintech, and not a bank. Novo acts as a service provider to Middlesex Federal Savings, F.A., and the deposit and banking products obtained through the Novo platform are provided by Middlesex Federal Savings, F.A. Middlesex Federal Savings, F.A. is a federal savings bank and an FDIC-insured depository institution (FDIC Certificate 28368). Deposits made at Middlesex Federal Savings, F.A. through the Novo platform receive FDIC insurance protection on a pass-through basis up to the applicable legal limit. When determining the amount of your deposits covered by FDIC insurance, please note all deposits you make through the Novo platform will be aggregated with all deposit accounts of the same ownership and/or vesting held at Middlesex Federal Savings, F.A. and Middlesex Federal Savings, F.A. brands. Additional information regarding FDIC insurance coverage is available at www.fdic.gov. Merchant Cash Advance products and services are offered by Novo Funding LLC (“Novo Funding”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Novo. Merchant Cash Advances require a Novo checking account.

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High-Tech Machine Given First MISI Grant

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Delaware’s First-Ever Modernization Investment Support Initiative Grant Will Help High-Tech Machine Company Remain Competitive

Wilmington-based precision machine business approved for up to $219,525 in MISI funding toward nearly $1.1M in equipment upgrades

WILMINGTON, Del. – A 32-year-old precision machine company in Wilmington has received the first grant from a pilot program aimed at helping Delaware businesses evolve and remain competitive within their industries.

High-Tech Machine Company Inc. was approved for up to $219,525 in funding from the Modernization Investment Support Initiative (MISI), which was created earlier this year. The MISI grant will help High-Tech Machine make almost $1.1 million in equipment upgrades that are necessary for the CNC machining and Wire EDM company to retain current contracts, compete for new contracts and maintain its 17 full-time employees.

High-Tech Machine Company, Inc. logo

“This is a homegrown Delaware startup that will use this grant to upgrade equipment,” said Governor John Carney. “This is what the Modernization Investment Support Initiative is designed to do – help companies like High-Tech Machine stay competitive and grow in the First State.”

Demand for CNC and EDM products has grown steadily in recent years, much of it from the aerospace and defense; medical imaging; instrumentation; and oil and gas sectors. Small shops like High-Tech Machine play a key role in the U.S. and global supply chain for these increasingly complex components – for which even miniscule variations in size or shape carry significant consequences – while also providing well-paying industry jobs.

High-Tech Machine offers customers a single source for complete turnkey products and processes for all aspects of projects, including machining, furnace brazing, plating, painting, heat treating, anodizing, silk screening and assembly. The bulk of the company’s revenue is from outside Delaware, with current clients in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Maine, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Arizona and California.

“This is exciting news for New Castle County and the State of Delaware,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “High-Tech Machine is a proud Delaware company from a Delcastle High graduate, and we’re proud of their continued success.”

High-Tech Machine owner and President Neal Crosley completed studies at Delcastle High School and Delaware Technical Community College before working as a machinist for 10 years and then founding his company in 1991. Since then, High-Tech Machine has grown into a 10,000-square-foot facility with 20 machining centers, most of which are now 15 to 20 years old. High-Tech Machine’s MISI funding will help support the purchase of 5-axis machining centers, 4-axis horizontal machining centers and quality-control equipment that make them more efficient and are already used by the company’s competitors.

“We knew we had to increase capabilities and modernize our facility to remain competitive,” Crosley said.

Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) connected with High-Tech Machine earlier this year as part of DPP’s existing business engagement program. DPP supported High-Tech Machine’s MISI funding request to the state Council on Development Finance, which voted to recommend support for High-Tech Machine during its December 11 meeting.

DPP had partnered with the state Division of Small Business earlier this year to propose MISI to help existing Delaware companies preemptively avert or reduce future potential risks to jobs and operations. In August, CDF members approved use of up to $5 million from the Delaware Strategic Fund for the MISI pilot program.

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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.

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RiKarbon Chooses to Grow in Delaware

Written on . Posted in Press Releases.

Homegrown environmental solutions firm RiKarbon chooses to continue growing in Newark, Delaware

Expansion of early-stage business focusing on carbon capture and utilization includes quadrupling lab space and creating 12 new full-time Delaware jobs

WILMINGTON, Del. (October 23, 2023) – RiKarbon Inc., an early-stage company specializing in developing innovative technologies for carbon capture and utilization, has chosen to continue growing in its hometown of Newark, Delaware, with an expansion from its Delaware Technology Park incubator space to nearby Delaware Industrial Park.

RiKarbon was founded in 2018 with support from a federal Small Business Innovation Research Grant from the Department of Energy and a mission to develop and commercialize sustainable proprietary technologies that capture and repurpose carbon emissions. The company has grown steadily since then, winning a 2019 Tech Connect Innovation Award, receiving several Delaware Technology Innovation Program Grants and outgrowing its 600 square feet of laboratory space in the startup incubator of Delaware Technology Park.

To maintain the momentum of its growth so far, RiKarbon will renovate and fit out 2,540 square feet of new chemical research and development lab space in a former electronic device manufacturing facility on Dawson Drive in Delaware Industrial Park. The company also will add 12 full-time positions to its current roster of six full-time employees and two part-time employees.

“We’re pleased that RiKarbon Inc. – a recognized leader in carbon capture – has chosen to expand in Delaware,” said Governor John Carney. “The company that started in a Delaware Technology Park incubator space will quadruple its square footage and add full-time jobs to continue to make Delaware a leader in the environmental space.”

The larger facility and staff will allow RiKarbon to continue its commercial scaleup of 100% bio-based oils for emollients to formulate personal care products, bio-poly-alpha-olefin base oils for performance lubricants, products for upcycled plastics manufacturing and other cost-competitive offerings for domestic and international markets. A recently announced partnership with BASF – the world’s largest chemical producer – includes bringing one of its emollient products to market by 2024. The company also has received letters of intent from global customers to deliver products and is now raising investment funding to do so.

“Congratulations to Delaware’s own RiKarbon, born right here in the First State, on their continued growth in the field of carbon capture,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “It’s with great pride that we can say this company was incubated right here in Newark and has chosen to continue to expand where the talent lies, right here in Delaware.”

Delaware Prosperity Partnership supported RiKarbon’s request to the Council on Development Finance for a Graduated Lab Space Grant of up to $34,000 and a Jobs Performance Grant of up to $26,000 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 RiKarbon’s request.

“We are recreating similar ingredients that we use every day in our shampoo, conditioner, facial products or automotive engines, but making them in a socially responsible way from organic wastes that are causing environmental challenges globally,” said Basudeb Saha, president and CEO, RiKarbon. “It is very satisfying that we are able to deliver green and upcycled products to our customers to promote health and environmental efficacy while tackling climate challenges.”

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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 RiKarbon

RiKarbon (rikarbon.com) develops technologies for cost-competitive renewable products that use non-conventional and typically unused carbon feedstocks to serve the domestic and international specialty and performance chemicals market.

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