Tag: Sussex County

CP Cases Moving to Delaware to Expand

Global Protective Case Manufacturer CP Cases Chooses Delaware for Relocation, Growth of U.S. Operations

WILMINGTON, Del.  – CP Cases Inc., which designs and manufactures high-performance protective cases and racks used to support industries ranging from broadcasting to defense, has chosen Frankford, Delaware, as the new site for its U.S. operations.

CP Cases USA, which was opened in 2013 by the owner of a similar company in the United Kingdom, will move from an 8,000-square-foot site in Bishopville, Maryland, to a 25,000-square-foot site in Frankford Business Park, which is located along Route 113. The company will bring nine current employees to the Sussex County location and plans to create 16 new jobs there over the next three years.

Delaware Ideal for High-Performance Protective Cases and Racks Manufacturer

“Delaware provides a great environment for small businesses, and we are glad that CP Cases chose to relocate their manufacturing facility to Frankford,” said Governor John Carney. “This investment shows that Delaware remains a leader in innovative manufacturing techniques. We are excited for CP Cases’ expansion, bringing new jobs to Sussex County.”

CP Cases had been searching for additional industrial space to serve its growing customer base, which is found in business sectors such as broadcasting and media; entertainment and live events; energy and marine; medical; and security and defense. Within the entertainment industry, the company’s customers have included musical acts such as the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Queen, and Pink Floyd. Products include rack-mount transit cases, air-conditioned transit cases, Lightweight AirShip containers, camera rain covers, and rugged textile and flexible material products along with customizable industry solutions.

The new Delaware location will allow better utilization of the roto-molding process CP Cases uses to form its molded case and rack products. Natural gas is the most efficient fuel for this process, and Martin Property Development’s decision to bring natural gas to Frankford Business Park and its tenants was key to CP Cases’ decision to locate there. The new gas line – which was supported by a portion of the $1 million Site Readiness Fund grant that Martin Property Development received from the State of Delaware earlier this year – also benefits the Town of Frankford and local residents, as does the central water service Frankford Business Park is supplying them.

Such developments were made possible by cooperation among the developer, local utility companies, and Sussex County. Delaware Prosperity Partnership began assisting CP Cases with its site search after being connected with the company by Sussex County Economic Development Director William Pfaff.

“We think of economic development in terms of building a championship sports team: we’re always scouting for that next great player,” Pfaff said. “That’s what CP Cases is for Sussex County, another great player that we’ve been fortunate enough to pick up by drawing them to Delaware. Welcome to the team!”

CP Cases officials presented to Delaware’s Council on Development Finance an application for a Jobs Performance Grant of $161,610 and a Capital Expenditure Grant of $28,500 from the Delaware Strategic Fund to support the company’s investment. Distribution of grants from the Delaware Strategic Fund are dependent on the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved CP Cases’s request for up to $190,110 in total grant funding.

“CP Cases is so excited to become a part of the community of Sussex County, Delaware, and appreciate the support we’ve received from Delaware and Sussex County to expand our operations,” said Peter Gill, CP Cases Inc. general manager. “We look forward to offering high-quality manufacturing jobs in the community and continue building stable long-term operations in Delaware.”

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About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Delaware Prosperity Partnership (choosedelaware.com) leads Delaware’s economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; to build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and to support employers in place marketing Delaware to potential employees via livelovedelaware.com. 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.

About CP Cases

CP Cases designs and manufactures high-performance, protective cases and racks used for transport, operation and storage of essential equipment in commercial and military applications. Many of their products are accredited to MIL-STD-810, rated IP65 and carry NATO stock numbers. Among the first to market in 1970s with flight cases for the live music industry, CP Cases now offers the broadest range of protective, operational transit cases for defense and security, broadcast and media, medical and scientific, offshore and many other sectors. CP Cases has over 50 years of expertise in producing cases, 19-inch rack solutions and bags, as well as an unparalleled range of in-house skill and expertise with rotomolded plastic, aluminum, laminated plywood, HPP, textiles and CNC foam machining. An extensive selection of options includes climate control (compressor and thermoelectric air conditioning units), EMC shielding, fire resistance and anti-static capabilities. CP Cases’ products are available in a wide range of standard sizes, and the company’s design team can create a custom solution to meet (almost) any application a product requires.

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Royale Group Expanding to 2nd Delaware Site

Royale Group Expanding to Second Delaware Location

Company adding Royale Pigments & Chemicals site in Seaford to AWSM Solutions Delaware site in Bear, doubling its Delaware presence in just two years.


(WILMINGTON, Del.) – Royale Pigments & Chemicals, part of The Royale Group collection of specialty chemical companies, has chosen Seaford, Delaware, as the site for a $2.35 million expansion that will double The Royale Group’s Delaware presence since it relocated from New Jersey two years ago.

Royale’s investment in Sussex County includes purchase of the former BASF Polymer Plant at 100 Industrial Park Boulevard that is now owned by Delmarva Central Railroad. DCR operates a transloading facility at the on-site rail spur located there, but the building itself is underutilized with no active operations at present.

“The chemical industry has long been part of Delaware’s economy. Over the next three years, The Royale Group plans to purchase an underutilized site in Seaford, bringing new jobs and economic growth to Sussex County,” said Governor John Carney. “This will be Royale’s second facility in the state, showing their commitment to growing their business here. This campus is only possible because of Delaware’s world-class innovative workforce. Thank you to The Royale Group, the town of Seaford, the Delaware Prosperity Partnership and everyone else who made this acquisition possible.”

In 2020, Delaware Prosperity Partnership began working with The Royale Group as it made its first investment in Delaware by acquiring IMS Chemblend and the IMS facility at 400 Carson Drive in Bear, changing the operation’s name to AWSM Solutions Delaware and relocating Royale’s corporate headquarters from New Jersey to the New Castle County property. The company’s $1 million investment included adding 17 new jobs, and AWSM already has surpassed its job-growth projections with 30 active employees.

While continuing to invest and grow its Northern Delaware operations, Royale’s expansion to a second Delaware location with on-site rail access will allow it to better serve a growing roster of customers and secure new contracts with leading companies throughout the region. Royale’s Southern Delaware investment includes creating 29 new jobs – including chemical operator, maintenance/warehouse and manager/supervisor positions – over the next three years. 

Royale officials presented an application to Delaware’s Council on Development Finance for a Jobs Performance Grant of $177,930 and a Capital Expenditure Grant of $70,500 from the Delaware Strategic Fund to support the company’s investment of more than $2.35 million. Distribution of grants from the Delaware Strategic Fund are dependent on the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved Royale’s request for up to $248,430 in total grant funding.

 “We are very excited to welcome Royale Pigments & Chemicals to Seaford, Delaware,” said Seaford Mayor David Genshaw. “Our city has seen an incredible wave of revitalization with the help of Delaware Prosperity Partnership, and we are grateful for their support and for Royale Pigments & Chemicals for choosing Seaford.” 

The Royale Group was drawn to establish operations in Delaware by the state’s educated workforce, lower cost of living and business-friendly government. Royale has quickly become an important part of Delaware’s chemical manufacturing and distribution sector, and its decision to invest in a second Delaware facility demonstrates its continued commitment to growing here.

“Delaware has been a great place to do business! There are many valuable resources to help start or move a business to the state,” said Royale Group CEO John Logue. “These resources range from the Delaware Prosperity Partnership to a dedicated and assigned omnibus person from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, providing assistance with Delaware’s regulatory agency. We are excited with the expansion of our manufacturing operation in Delaware.”

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 About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Delaware Prosperity Partnership (choosedelaware.com) leads Delaware’s economic development efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; to build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and to support  employers in place marketing Delaware to potential employees via livelovedelaware.com. 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.

 About The Royale Group

The Royale Group, recipient of the 2019 National Association of Chemical Distributors’ prestigious Distributor of the Year award, is a collection of specialty chemical companies that manufactures, formulates and distributes chemicals. Specifically, Royale Pigments & Chemicals distributes specialty colorants into the paint, coatings and fire retardants markets. Shorechem distributes and manufactures specialty chemicals into the pharma, metals, aerospace and automotive markets. AWSM Industries distributes and manufactures specialty chemicals into the chip fabrication, automotive and gas markets. Most recently acquired in 2020, AWSM Solutions toll manufactures, blends, formulates, breaks bulk packages and provides labels for products in the following markets: organic agrochem, pharma, electronics, cleaners, aerospace, marine and construction.

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Delaware Gets Major Push Through American Airlines In-Flight Magazine

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Delaware gets major push through American Airlines in-flight magazine

30 SEPTEMBER, 2019 | DELAWARE BUSINESS TIMES

Delaware is about to lose its status as one of the country’s best-kept secrets.

The October issue of American Airlines’ in-flight magazine, American Way, hits seatbacks on Oct. 1, with a 16-page, 4,000-word special section on six topics with a range of local leaders extolling the virtues of the First State.

The magazine chooses the subjects of its section using five criteria, said Carsten Morgan, vice president of special projects for Ink Global, which publishes 25 magazines with clients including United Airlines and Amtrak:

  • Is the community misunderstood and does it have a great story to tell?
  • Is the community ignored? Morgan said this will be one of the largest articles on Delaware to be printed by a major publisher.
  • Is it about to go through an economic renaissance? Morgan says the article will be “forward-looking.”
  • Is the timing right? “The question is whether we have the opportunity to tell the story before others do,” he said.
  • Does American Airlines have a major presence in the subject of the article?

On that last question, Morgan said American handled 69.3% of the passengers boarding flights originating in Philadelphia in 2018. That represents nearly 10.6 million of the 15.2 million enplanements the airport had last year.

But the visibility is potentially much larger.  American flies about 17 million passengers per month, with about 70% of those domestic passengers.  Morgan said American Way has an audited readership of 5.4 million domestic flyers and an additional 30% for international passengers for a total of 7.1 million anticipated readers. All seats throughout the system globally have American Way in the seatback pocket.

“It’s the first time we’ve covered the state of Delaware in any kind of detail since the American Airlines-US Airways merger” in 2013, Morgan said, adding that the section includes stories on such topics as:

  • Welcome to Delaware, featuring a Q&A with Gov. John Carney and timelines and factoids about the state.
  • The Trailblazers, with a focus on innovation and interviews with Delaware State University Provost (and future President) Tony Allen; CSC CEO Rod Ward; and FMC CTO Kathleen Shelton.
  • Changing the World, a story about health care in Delaware, featuring interviews with Christiana Care CEO Janice Nevin and Nemours CEO R. Lawrence Moss.
  • Global Impact, a 1,500-word story about key industry clusters that includes Delaware Prosperity Partnership President and CEO Kurt Foreman; Incyte CEO Herve Hoppenot; Adesis President Andrew Cottone; Delaware Tourism Office Director Liz Keller; GT USA Port of Wilmington CEO Eric Casey; and presidents Dennis Assanis and LaVerne Harmon from the University of Delaware and Wilmington University, respectively.
  • Guide to Delaware, which provides information on Sussex, Kent and New Castle counties.
  • State Tour, a lifestyle section that highlights arts and culture; the beaches, outdoor recreation; and the DuPont mansions.

“Part of DPP’s strategy is to build greater awareness and understanding of Delaware’s value proposition locally, regionally, nationally and internationally,” Foreman said.  “Having our governor and major business leaders share their vision in a major publication is a powerful way to let others know why Delaware is an ideal place for business location and growth.”

Delaware is a great place to do business, and we are competing every day with states across the country for good-paying jobs.” “This was a chance to showcase Delaware to folks who may not be aware of what our state has to offer. We continue to look at opportunities to highlight Delaware’s strong economy and quality of life to attract businesses and visitors to the First State.”   – Gov. John Carney

DSU’s Allen is excited about the additional visibility that his university will get over the next month.

“I fly a lot, and when I get the chance to visit the cockpit I look to see if there’s a pilot of color sitting in one of the seats. When I find one, I ask them where they trained. Five times out of six in the last year, the answer is ‘Delaware State University.’ As the No. 1 provider of professional pilots of color in the United States, getting covered by American Airlines is a beautiful fit,” he said. “Delaware State University is the most diverse, contemporary historically black college/university in America. Our challenge is telling our story to as many people as possible, and American Airlines is the perfect vehicle to spread the word as far as possible to a huge readership.”

Ink Global’s Morgan said, “Delaware: Why the First State Wants to Be First to Mind for Businesses, Workers, and Visitors” is an editorial-first publication and not sponsored content, meaning you did not have to advertise in the issue to be featured in it.  But Delaware State has a two-page ad in the publication (plus a free smaller ad that Allen negotiated); full-page ads for Nemours, the Delaware Prosperity Partnership and Christiana Care; and half-page ads for CSC and FMC.

This article was originally posted on the Delaware Business Times at: https://www.delawarebusinesstimes.com/american-way-delaware-focus/

Kurt Foreman

PRESIDENT & CEO

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Del Tech Breaks Ground on Automotive Center of Excellence

Del Tech breaks ground on Automotive Center of Excellence

12 SEPTEMBER, 2019 | DELAWARE STATE NEWS

GEORGETOWN — Delaware Technical Community College broke ground Thursday on a 13,500-square-foot Automotive Center of Excellence on the college’s Owens Campus in Georgetown.

This facility, along with the college’s new training center in Middletown, will house the first diesel mechanic training program in the region.

The ACOE will double the number of automotive technicians trained at Delaware Tech in Georgetown each year from 20 to 40 and will allow the College to train up to 15 diesel mechanics per year.

“The construction of this facility is in direct response to a dire workforce need for more diesel mechanics and auto technicians in our state and our region,” said Delaware Tech President Mark T. Brainard. “We are thankful for the generous support of our government and community partners, who are the reason we are able to break ground on this project today.”

The expected completion date for the ACOE is November 2020.
Delaware Tech received a $1.97 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to support construction of the facility, along with $1.8 million from the state’s Higher Education Fund, and $120,000 from Sussex County Council.

This funding is in addition to generous support from many organizations and individuals in the state.

“For years we’ve heard that there are just not enough auto technicians in Delaware, which is why I’ve long supported the Economic Development Administration grant to help this Automotive Center for Excellence program get up and running, and I’ve waited a long time for this groundbreaking,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “This center will give students on Delmarva a great-paying trade to learn, allow them to stay and raise a family in the area instead of moving away for work, and give our area dealerships and diesel operators the workforce they so desperately need. This is a win-win for Delaware’s economy now and in the future.”

The total cost to build the ACOE is $5.4 million. In addition to the government support noted, more than a dozen organizations and individuals have pledged donations that enabled Del Tech to secure the 35 percent match required by the EDA including the USDA Rural Development program and the Delaware Automobile and Truck Dealers’ Association.

Labor market data indicate more than 3,000 automotive technicians and more than 800 diesel mechanics are employed across Delmarva with average annual earnings of $39,874 and $44,595, respectively.

Over the next 10 years, the region is projected to have 3,278 openings for automotive technicians due to retirements, job turnover and a 7 percent growth rate.

An estimated 948 job openings are expected for diesel mechanics in the same period due to retirements, job turnover and a 17 percent growth rate.

This article was originally posted on the Delaware State News at: https://delawarestatenews.net/news/del-tech-breaks-ground-on-automotive-center-of-excellence/

Kurt Foreman

PRESIDENT & CEO

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Sussex County is Launching the Economic Gardening Initiative for Growth Companies

Sussex County is launching the Economic Gardening Initiative for growth companies

20 AUGUST, 2019 | TECHNICAL.LY DELAWARE

Sussex County has a new economic development program for growing businesses: the Economic Gardening Initiative, a program offering resources and capital to “second-stage companies.”

It’s not about growing vegetation, but local businesses. Economic gardening was developed by the National Center for Economic Gardening in 2001; this will be its first launch in Delaware.

Companies targeted in the county’s Economic Gardening Initiative will be those that have grown out of the “startup” level (also known as scaling or emerging growth companies) but are not yet mature companies. Generally these companies employ about 10 to 99 workers, with annual sales revenues of $1 million to $50 million.

Sussex County Council has authorized up to $25,000 for the initiative, with a maximum of $5,000 per second-stage business in the first year. Selected businesses will also be assigned a national strategic research team focusing on the areas of core strategies, market dynamics, innovation and qualified sales leads.

The program is “not a program established for companies that are in trouble or companies that need specific assistance, such as an inventory type of process,” Sussex County Economic Development Director Bill Pfaff said in a news release. “Rather, this is really for companies that are beyond the start-up phase and have the desire to grow to the next level.”

With the high-speed wireless broadband being built into Sussex County’s infrastructure, downstate businesses, from agriculture to IT, have a lot of growth potential over the next few years. A goal of the initiative is to bring money and jobs into the county. If your company is on track to do that, it may be worth applying.

There’s no online application — instead, you’ll have to call the Sussex County Economic Development Office at 302-855-7770. The application deadline is Aug. 26.

Kurt Foreman

PRESIDENT & CEO

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25 Opportunity Zones Ready for Development

25 Opportunity Zones ready for development

9 JULY, 2019

Whether you are looking for mixed-use, multi-family, affordable/attainable housing, commercial rental, owner-occupied, energy, transportation, infrastructure, social impact or traditional projects, Delaware has options for you within our 25 qualified Opportunity Zones.

Click here for more information.

Opportunity Zones are an economic development tool designed as revitalization programs in economically-distressed communities in Delaware and in other communities by providing tax benefits to investors.

Governor John Carney selected 25 census tracts as Opportunity Zones in April 2018 in which communities and economically-distressed properties across Delaware could see additional private sector investment. These Opportunity Zones are designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The 25 Opportunity Zones in Delaware are found in specific census districts in the following towns and cities, from the top of the State of Delaware (located less than 15 miles from the Philadelphia International Airport-PHL) to the bottom (located 20 miles from Salisbury Regional Airport – SBY).

Click here for more information.

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