January 28, 2021 – 

The Delaware Prosperity Partnership team launched 2021 by presenting two Wilmington projects — which will bring 135 new jobs to Delaware — during January’s Council on Development Finance (CDF) meeting.

Eastern Highway Specialists, a 17-year-old highway and bridge construction company that generates approximately $14 million in annual revenue, is investing close to $4 million in a new 4-acre headquarters on Downing Drive in Northeast Wilmington. The CDF approved a Performance Grant of up to $181,000 and a Capital Expenditure Grant of up to $60,000. Eastern Highway Specialists will create up to 17 new positions at the new site.

“This project will help EHS move into our next step of growth as a company,” said EHS owners Bob and Clair Field. “As native Wilmingtonians, we are also excited to stay in Wilmington and contribute to the economic well-being of the City of Wilmington.”

Advantage Building Supply Corp., a construction materials supplier, and Zulu Fire Doors LLC are expanding their operations to Delaware from New Jersey, investing more than $8 million in a site in Wilmington. The CDF approved a Performance Grant of up to $200,920 and a Capital Expenditure Grant of up to $138,000. Advantage Building Supply plans 118 new jobs

“The City of Wilmington is grateful to Eastern Highway Specialists, a long-time City-based business operated by a proud City family, for its expansion plans, and we welcome Advantage Building Supply to our City from its home base in New Jersey,” said Mayor Mike Purzycki. “Both of these projects will provide additional blue-collar employment opportunities, for which we are most appreciative, and signify continued investment in our City, which is critical as we gear up for the post-pandemic period to get all of our businesses thriving at full throttle again. This is welcome news, and we thank DPP for once again helping to enhance our city and provide needed job options for our residents.”

Stay Up To Date With Delaware

October 26, 2020 – 

NEW CASTLE, Del. — U.S. Corrugated of Delaware has chosen Dover, Delaware, as the “location of preference” for its new 457,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. U.S. Corrugated Chief Operating Officer Jeff Coleman was joined by consultant Andreas Akaras to present the company’s plan today at the Council on Development Finance for approval of more than $3 million in performance-based grants from the Delaware Strategic Fund – including a Job Performance Grant of $450,000 and a Capital Expenditure Grant of up to $2.73 million. The project is expected to add 159 jobs to Central Delaware. 

U.S. Corrugated of Delaware is considering Central Delaware as the site for a new $80 million box-manufacturing “super plant” that would feature the latest technology for its industry. The project anticipates breaking ground in November and includes a new facility on a 37.4-acre site at 1601 POW-MIA Parkway.

“Manufacturing has long been part of a strong middle class, and this is another win for Delaware and for Kent County,” said Governor John Carney. “This brings back to the area more of what I call the ‘new old’ jobs that for years have helped Delaware families put food on the table, pay the mortgage and send their kids to college.” 

U.S. Corrugated of Delaware previously had been approved for a $600,000 grant from the Delaware Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund. This grant would support signalization, entrance enhancements and other improvements.

Coleman, a 41-year veteran of the manufacturing industry, mostly in the Mid-Atlantic states, highlighted the opportunities a Dover location would provide U.S. Corrugated. He also noted that both he and the company’s principal, Dennis Mehiel, whose father was a military veteran, recognize the potential provided by nearby location of a military base.

“The proximity to our existing customer base as well as the opportunity to grow customer base, along with proximity to a trained workforce and key equipment manufacturer suppliers, make Central Delaware the ideal place for our facility, particularly given market segments that are primed for new technology and changes,” Coleman said. “Because we’re also interested in becoming a part of the community, the proximity of Dover Air Force Base would give us a compelling opportunity to engage with those who serve our community and our country.” 

Throughout its consideration and decision-making processes, U.S. Corrugated of Delaware has been working closely with the City of Dover, the State of Delaware, Kent Economic Partnership, Delaware Prosperity Partnership, Delmarva Central Railroad and many other community partners.

 “Manufacturing jobs are the backbone of a sound local economy,” noted Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen. “I am very pleased as not only would this bring highly skilled and well-paying jobs to our community, it would help balance our economy as well as utilize existing road and rail facilities.”

U.S. Corrugated would be the latest chapter in Central Delaware’s developing story as a Mid-Atlantic hub of manufacturing. Another recent location is the joint venture of Shoreline Vinyl and Duratec, which purchased the former PPG paint plant and its surrounding 51 acres in Cheswold earlier this year for $4.25 million. Maryland-based Shoreline is a PVC fencing fabricator, and Utah-based Duratec focuses on PVC extrusion. In addition, Avalon Industries Incorporated and International Container Corporation, which purchased the Dover Post building on eight acres in Dover for $1.4 million in order to relocate from Baltimore. Avalon Industries makes bags, totes and cases for the Department of Defense, first responders, schools, cities, towns and youth leagues. International Container Corp. makes disposable containers.

“Central Delaware is the perfect location for an advanced manufacturing facility such as U.S. Corrugated,” said Linda Parkowski, executive director of Kent Economic Partnership. “With our strong manufacturing base and skilled workforce, we are looking forward to more manufacturers locating to the area.”

 ###

About U.S. Corrugated

U.S. Corrugated is a leading independent corrugated packaging producer with a well-earned reputation as one of the most dynamic and progressive companies in the industry. U.S. Corrugated strives to be their customers’ vendor of choice by providing a superior quality product at a fair price and by demonstrating innovation, exceptional customer service and a value-added approach in everything they do.

About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Delaware Prosperity Partnership leads Delaware’s economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; to build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and to support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent. The DPP team works with site selectors, executives and developers focused on where to locate or grow a business and helps with reviewing potential sites, cost-of-living analyses and funding opportunities, including available tax credits and incentives. DPP advances a culture of innovation in Delaware, working with innovators and startups to spotlight and celebrate successes and connect them with the resources they need to succeed. DPP and its partnerships throughout Delaware support and advance the missions of companies of all sizes and sectors. For more information, visit choosedelaware.com.

Stay Up To Date With Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del. (June 29, 2020) — In collaboration with Delaware Prosperity Partnership, Barclays US Consumer Bank today announced plans to create more than 300 new customer service jobs at its Wilmington headquarters during a meeting of the Council on Development Finance (CDF).

Barclays representatives presented the company’s expansion plan which, in addition to the new roles, included $6.9 million capital improvements to redesign space within its existing headquarters building in Wilmington to house the new employees. The CDF approved Barclays for Delaware Strategic Fund monies totaling nearly $2.5 million, including a Performance Grant of almost $1.3 million; a $1 million Training Grant; and a Capital Expenditures Grant of $207,000. The grants are performance-based and will be paid out over a period of three years after the company meets milestones prescribed by the CDF.

“The addition of more than 300 new jobs from Barclays is welcome news as we work to bolster our economy from the impact of COVID-19,” said Governor John Carney. “Today’s announcement reaffirms that Delaware remains a great place for any company to put down roots, grow and create jobs. Delaware has a talented and dedicated workforce, an ideal location and quality of life that’s second to none. We stand ready to support businesses looking to grow and to provide good-paying jobs for Delawareans.”

Wilmington has served as the strategic headquarters for Barclays’ U.S. consumer business since 2004. Following a review of site options, the company selected Wilmington as the best place to expand its operations. Hiring is currently under way for the new positions which include a range of customer support and operations management roles.

“We’ve been proud to call Wilmington home for nearly two decades as our U.S.-based consumer business has grown to become a leading credit card issuer and payments company for some of the biggest brands in the country,” said Denny Nealon, president, Barclays US Consumer Bank. “Coupled with the support we’re providing to nonprofit organizations in Delaware through our global $125 million COVID-19 Community Aid Package, our ongoing hiring efforts reflect Barclays’ long-standing commitment to the Wilmington community. We’d like to thank to State of Delaware and City of Wilmington for their continued support and partnership.”

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki joined the governor in celebrating the Barclays expansion.

“We are very appreciative to Barclays for its continued commitment to Wilmington and to Delaware,” said Purzycki. “This news comes at an ideal time when we all need reasons to celebrate after months of consequences from the pandemic. When reviewing its options for expansion, Barclays chose Wilmington because of access to a strong financial services workforce, proximity to major cities and an attractive riverfront setting. Many thanks to the governor and the Delaware Prosperity Partnership for making this wonderful announcement possible.”

“The addition of 300 jobs at Barclays is great news for Wilmington and Delaware, and once again speaks to why New Castle County is a great place to live, work and play,” New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer noted. “We appreciate Barclays’ continued commitment to job creation and civic participation in New Castle County. New Castle County is committed to supporting Barclays and the growing local FinTech ecosystem.”

###

About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) leads the state of Delaware’s economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; to build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and to support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent in the state of Delaware. The DPP team works with site selectors, executives and developers focused on where to locate or grow a business. The team helps with reviewing potential sites, cost-of-living analysis and funding opportunities, including available tax credits and incentives. For more information, visit choosedelaware.com.

About Barclays US Consumer Bank

Barclays US Consumer Bank is one of the fastest-growing top 10 credit card issuers in the United States. The bank creates customized, co-branded credit card programs for some of the country’s most successful travel, entertainment, retail and affinity institutions, and offers online savings accounts and CDs. For more information, please visit www.BarclaysUS.com.

Barclays is a British universal bank. We are diversified by business, by different types of customer and client, and geography. Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by our service company which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group. For further information about Barclays, please visit www.barclays.com.

Contact:

Susan Coulby
Marketing Communications Manager
Delaware Prosperity Partnership
302-983-5710 (cell)
scoulby@choosedelaware.com

Stay Up To Date With Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del. (Jan. 29, 2020)— Farmers of Salem, a regional mutual insurance company founded in Salem County, N.J., in 1851, is relocating to Wilmington in 2021 and bringing 52 jobs to the city. An additional five jobs will be added by the company, which prides itself on providing superior service with personal attention, over the following three years.

Farmers of Salem plans to invest close to $5.6 million in the purchase and renovation of an existing office building in Wilmington. The company already has identified and is in negotiations for a property and has been approved for $399,252 in relocation support grants from the Delaware Strategic Fund.

“Farmers of Salem’s investment shows Delaware’s strength as a premier location for the financial services industry,” said Governor John Carney. “This investment will support good-paying jobs for Delawareans and their families, and the continued growth of our state’s economy. Businesses looking to grow and thrive choose Delaware because we have a lot to offer – from a strong and talented workforce, to a central location and excellent quality of life.”

Farmers of Salem holds a rating of A- EXCELLENT from A.M. Best Co., an independent service that rates overall financial condition and operating performance of firms within the insurance industry. According to James R. Doherty, president and chief operating officer, the company was attracted to Delaware because of the state’s labor market and favorable cost of doing business.

“Farmers of Salem has evolved from its origins as Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Salem County across three centuries,” said Doherty. “Our move to Wilmington will add a 21st-century sensibility to our nearly 17 decades of service to our policyholders and our ongoing commitment to remaining innovative, competitive and stable within the insurance marketplace.”

Working with the Delaware Prosperity Partnership team, Doherty and William A. Dine, senior vice president, corporate operations, presented Farmers’ relocation plan to the Council on Development Finance (CDF) on Jan. 27. The CDF approved Farmers for a $287,252 Performance Grant and a $112,000 Capital Expenditure Grant, both from the Delaware Strategic Fund.

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki joined the governor in celebrating the news of Farmers’ relocation.

“It is my pleasure to welcome Farmers of Salem to their new home in Wilmington,” Purzycki said. “We look forward to a long and productive relationship as the company settles into a welcoming city that appreciates its corporate neighbors. Wilmington’s regional location, access to a varied transportation system and a workforce that can help grow a business are just some of the reasons why businesses choose Wilmington. In addition, our city has other outstanding amenities, including a rich arts and cultural community, some of the finest music, stage and entertainment venues in the region and an ever-expanding array of great places to enjoy excellent food, drink and great company. “You are going to like it here, Farmers, and we are thrilled that you are now part of Wilmington’s bright future.”

About Farmers of Salem

Providing real insurance solutions for real people for more than 160 years, Farmers of Salem provides insurance for home and business owners. Farmers is owned by its policyholders, not stockholders, which allows the company to focus on servicing customer needs while reinvesting profits back into the business. Insurance products are distributed through independent agents that serve as local experts and trusted advisors to their insureds. For more information, visit farmersofsalem.com.

About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) is a nonprofit that leads the state of Delaware’s economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; to build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and to support private employers in identifying, recruiting and developing talent in the state of Delaware. For more information, visit choosedelaware.com.

Stay Up To Date With Delaware

Option: 1

(Wilmington, Del.) Carvertise, an innovative advertising company, is growing and has announced plans to hire 50 people in Delaware. The company, founded by Mac Nagaswami Macleod and Greg Star – both graduates of Horn Entrepreneurship at the University Delaware – has experienced 150% growth over the past three years. Macleod presented Carvertise’s growth strategy to the Council for Development Finance (CDF) today and was approved for a $290,000.00 performance-based grant from the Delaware Strategic Fund.

Carvertise is a progressive marketing firm that “wraps” cars with eye-catching advertising content. The all-in-one agency creates the campaign, wraps the cars and maps strategic routes to build brand visibility for its clients. Carvertise uses GPS to determine when and where their cars are on the road, providing comprehensive impression reports to the client.

The company has secured national partnerships, with companies such as EA Sports, 7-Eleven, Empire Today and Norwegian Air. They have drivers across the country and now have sales outposts in Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. In addition, Carvertise has relationships with Uber and Lyft, so many rideshare drivers also participate.

Through this national growth, all operations and administrative activity has remained headquartered in Wilmington, Del. They currently have 15 staff in Delaware, and the 50 new jobs will be located in Delaware as well.

Carvertise will use the performance-based grant from the Delaware Strategic Fund to advance their operations and marketing to sustain the company’s growth.

“We are proud to have Delaware roots and it is very gratifying to me to continue to grow here in Delaware; it’s a great place to live, work and play. We are grateful for the strategic fund support; it helps Carvertise continue its growth,” explained Macleod.

“Delaware is proud to help support growing businesses like Carvertise – an innovative company with Delaware roots that is creating good jobs right here in our state,” said Governor John Carney. “We are trying hard to offer support for homegrown companies, to keep them growing and innovating in Delaware. This announcement only reaffirms that Delaware remains a great place for businesses of all sizes to put down roots, grow and create good-paying jobs in Delaware.”

About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Created in 2017, Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) is a nonprofit, public private partnership that leads the state of Delaware’s economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses. DPP works with site selectors, commercial developers and business executives focused on where to locate or grow a business. The DPP team’s services include working with prospects to review potential sites, cost-of-living, and funding opportunities, including available tax credits and incentives. For more information, visit www.choosedelaware.com.

Stay Up To Date With Delaware

(Wilmington, Del.) Prelude Therapeutics, a privately-held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, is expanding in Delaware – planning to add up to 49 biotech positions by 2022 and invest $5 million in expanded lab and office space in the Wilmington area.

Prelude conducts research focused on key drivers of cancer cell growth, survival, and resistance. They currently have two clinical trials in progress, with more pre-clinical development candidates in the pipeline.

The company is outgrowing its current locations, split between the Delaware Innovation Space (located on the site of the former DuPont Experimental Station) in Wilmington, Del. and nearby overflow office space.

To support the local growth of this innovative, Delaware-based biotech company, the Council on Development Finance (CDF) recently approved Prelude for a Performance Grant of $684,090 and a Capital Expenditure grant of $150,000 for a total of up to $834,090. Both would come from the Delaware Strategic Fund and both are contingent on Prelude meeting its hiring goals.

With the additional job growth, Prelude’s team will expand to a projected total of 81 employees by 2022. The new positions include professional scientists and skilled associates and will add approximately $5.5 million to its annual payroll.

Prelude began operations in 2016 with a handful of employees and has now grown to 32 people, drawing international attention for their innovative discoveries and attracting top pharmaceutical and biotech talent to Delaware.

“We’re really pleased to support the expansion of Prelude – one of Delaware’s most exciting and innovative start-ups,” said Governor John Carney. “Prelude’s decision to expand in Delaware reaffirms that our state is a great place for business of all sizes to put down roots, grow and create good-paying jobs.”

“As a company, we sincerely appreciate the continued support from the state of Delaware,” said Prelude Therapeutics CEO, Kris Vaddi, Ph.D. “The Wilmington area provides an attractive location for hiring experienced and talented scientific, clinical and operational teams needed to build a successful biopharmaceutical company. We look forward to executing our drug discovery and development strategy to drive growth within the company over the coming years.”

About Prelude Therapeutics

Prelude Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Wilmington, DE. Prelude is focused on the discovery and development of small molecule agents targeting novel molecular mechanisms that drive cancer cell growth, survival, and resistance to current treatments. For more information, please visit www.preludetx.com.

About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

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

Stay Up To Date With Delaware

A world-leading life sciences company with Delaware roots

In 1991, Adesis, Inc. was founded as CB Research and Development in Newport, Delaware: one of the first boutique chemistry Contract Research Organizations (CROs) in North America.

Fast forward nearly three decades, Adesis is now one of the fastest-growing life science companies in America. As a leading custom organic synthesis CRO, Adesis specializes in organic and organometallic synthesis to support the pharmaceuticals, biomaterials and catalyst industries. Today, its clients include seven of the top 10 Big Pharma companies as well as more than 100 companies in biotech, material science, agriculture, ophthalmology and virtual reality.

Delaware Expansions and National Acquisition

Back in 1991, Adesis occupied a mere 2,000 square feet of space. In 2000, the company relocated to New Castle to grow its business. With 25,000 square feet―twelve times the size of its original space―Adesis began to build its business from the ground up, from laboratories in a warehouse environment, to broadening its commercial horizons into diverse industries.

By mid-2016, the Adesis success story attained an even greater level of recognition when it was acquired by Universal Display Corporation (Nasdaq: OLED), a global leader in the OLED ecosystem. Nearly a year later, with plans of increasing critical mass and expanding its CRO offerings, Adesis purchased another New Castle building, essentially doubling its square footage to almost 50,000 square feet.

In October 2018, Adesis celebrated the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art chemistry laboratories, where Adesis scientists perform leading-edge discovery, development, and commercialization services. Along with state and local Delaware officials, the Delaware Prosperity Partnership supported the expansion, awarding Adesis a $445,224 grant to help facilitate its growth, resulting in the creation of more high-tech jobs in Delaware.

Bringing International Talent to Delaware

Adesis’ leadership team believes in hiring talented chemists with exceptional work ethics, integrity, versatility and a commitment to deliver the best results. Today, the company has 103 employees, approximately 80 percent of which are PhD chemists from around the world.

That talent mindset has paid off. Currently, 73 percent of the company’s employees are located in New Castle, while the other 27 percent operate out of Adesis’ Wilmington office. Its workers have an average of five years of industry experience and the company enjoys a rare 93 percent employee retention rate. Adesis is also a sponsor of Delaware Innovation Space and has lab space at the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington.

“Benefitting Generations to Come”

When asked about the company’s latest expansion in Delaware, Senator Tom Carper summed up Adesis’ success story and its future impact on society perfectly: “We are thrilled that Adesis chose to make Delaware its home, and we are rooting for the company’s continued success and growth. This expansion not only means job growth here and now in Delaware, but a level of innovation that can benefit generations to come.”

Website

Quick Links

Becky Harrington

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Stay Up To Date With Delaware