Governor Carney Announces Transformative Seaford Economic Development Project

Watch the video.

SEAFORD, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday joined local officials, business leaders, and community members to announce a transformative economic development project in the City of Seaford. A combination of private and public investment will fund the redevelopment of the Nylon Capital Shopping Center into a multi-purpose community facility that includes on-site health care services, an education hub, early learning center, co-working space, and a job skills center.

This project is the result of a state, city, and nonprofit partnership to redevelop a shopping center in a city that was hit hard by COVID-19.

 

Funding for this project came from the following entities:

  • $3.1 million from the City of Seaford
  • $2 million from the State of Delaware
  • $500,000 from 9th Street Development Company

The new facility will have the following features:

  • Public Wi-Fi availability
  • A higher education hub focusing on workforce development trainings and courses
  • A medical facility
  • An early learning center
  • A co-working space for start-up companies

“We need to promote prosperity for all areas of our state, and we have the opportunity to revitalize this center in Seaford that was once a source for good jobs and an economic engine for Sussex County,” said Governor Carney. “This investment represents not just the revitalization of this center, but the future of western Sussex. I want to thank Mayor Genshaw, Representative Short, Senator Richardson, members of the Seaford Council, and Rob Herrera for partnering with us and transforming this center to be the core of the community once again.”

 

“The sale of the Nylon Capital Shopping Center is a positive step forward for the city of Seaford,” said State Senator Bryant Richardson. “Mayor David Genshaw, City Manager Charles Anderson and the city staff worked for years to negotiate the terms for the purchase of the center. I know Mayor Genshaw was in regular contact with Governor John Carney to request his help with the sale. Our city will benefit greatly from the improvements to the center. This is an important day for Seaford.”

 

“This shopping center has not only been an eyesore for decades but it’s also been a drag on redeveloping this portion of Seaford,” said State Representative Danny Short. “This project will not only remove a major impediment to revitalizing the western gateway to the city, it’s doing it in a way that will set this area up for success for many years to come.”

 

“This is a great day for Seaford and our surrounding area. The Nylon Capital Shopping Center for years was an icon of Seaford’s success, only to become a reminder of where we once stood. Today is a new beginning,” said Mayor David Genshaw. “We thank Governor Carney for his partnership in the vision of a better Seaford. To any current or past elected officials, as well as any current or past City of Seaford employees, we say thank you for getting us to this point of revitalization. Thank you to Sussex County who played an integral part in the start of this conversation. Lastly, Rob Herrera and the team with 9th Street Development Co., we thank you for your willingness to take on this project. Your gifts and talents will make this site something really special.”

 

“This Nylon Shopping Center project is the result of a community of leaders coming together and demanding a change,” said Rob Herrera of 9th Street Development Company. “It’s impossible to quantify the importance of the Nylon Shopping Center to the local community, and our team at 9th Street Development Company does not take that lightly. We are eager to breathe new life into this shopping center with a diverse group of tenants spanning co-working, health care, higher education, and the workforce training that DelTech will provide.  Our team is eager to continue to engage with the local community to program the site for success for years to come!”

 

“As a lifelong resident of the Seaford and Laurel area, it is very exciting to not only see the development of this center coming to fruition for this community I care deeply about, but also to be a part of the project through my role at Delaware Tech,” said Justina Thomas, vice president for academic affairs at Delaware Technical Community College. “We are planning to offer industrial training and comprehensive healthcare programs at the center when it opens. As always, Delaware Tech will bring its experience in offering programs that meet the needs of the community and industry.”

 

View video of the announcement on Governor Carney’s YouTube page.

View photos from the announcement on Governor Carney’s Flickr page.

 

###


Delaware Celebrates One Year of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

WILMINGTON, Del. – This week, Governor John Carney, Lt. Governor Hall-Long, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester celebrated a year since the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

 

Since its passage, Delaware has received more than $750 million to improve the lives of Delawareans, rebuild our infrastructure and create good-paying jobs. This historic investment prioritizes Delaware’s communities hit the hardest by the pandemic and helps the First State – the lowest-lying state in the country – tackle the climate crisis.

 

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in the future of our state with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law championed by our Congressional delegation,” said Governor Carney. “It is a historic commitment to improving roads, bridges, transit, water and wastewater systems, broadband, energy, and other infrastructure projects thoughtfully – with sustainability, equity, and climate resiliency in mind.”

 

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is going to be indispensable in helping us strengthen Delaware’s economy and infrastructure for many years to come. This investment will help ensure that we deliver to families and businesses across our state on promises to advance critical infrastructure in our state to improve our roads and bridges, protect our environment, and provide access to broadband internet,” said Lt. Governor Hall-Long. “We are fortunate to have such an effective federal delegation that helped deliver these funds to help improve the lives of all Delawareans.”

 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was championed in Congress by Delaware’s congressional delegation and signed into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021.

 

“In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we cut across partisan divides to deliver extraordinary investments in everything from our roads and transit to drinking water and wastewater to broadband and flood control. These historic investments are helping rebuild our infrastructure in Delaware and creating good-paying jobs across the First State,” said Senator Carper, who authored major highway and water infrastructure provisions in the law. “As a recovering Governor, I know that the hard work of carrying out this law is not just a federal responsibility—state and local agencies play a critical role in implementing these programs as well. To that end, I’m working to ensure that Delaware receives its fair share of federal infrastructure investment under this historic law.”
“One year after the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Delaware is only beginning to feel the impact of this transformative law. We’ve already been able to invest $50 million in our state’s ports and waterways, $1.4 million for modernization of the University of Delaware, and put $6 million into the Route 9 corridor, creating good-paying jobs across the state,” said Senator Coons. “This is just a fraction of the approximately $760 million designated for our state under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I’m confident that every Delawarean will ultimately experience the benefits of this generational legislation for our state.”

 

“A little over a year ago, I was proud to vote to pass the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law represented a major breakthrough for our country – after decades of promises when it came to infrastructure, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ensured that we would finally deliver. Investing in our roads, bridges, ports, and broadband, the Delaware Congressional Delegation has been able to, thus far, bring hundreds of millions of dollars home,” said Representative Blunt Rochester. “We’re now working with Governor Carney and the State of Delaware to ensure that those dollars are put to best use to benefit our urban, suburban, rural, and coastal communities across our state. I’m so proud to have worked with my colleagues to pass a bill that spurs economic development, lowers costs for working families, and helps us fight the climate crisis. I can’t wait to see all the impact it will continue to have across Delaware.”

 

Some of the ongoing Delaware Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects include:

  • Funding for highway and bridge projects around the state, road safety projects and initiatives, operations and upgrades DART’s public transit system including a grant for electric and propane buses, and a grant for transforming roads and intersections in the areas of Route 9 and I-295 near New Castle
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects for dredging and beach replenishment
  • Grants to restore wildlife habitat in the Blackbird area and remove a dam in Brandywine Creek to restore fish passage
  • The first year of funding to install electric vehicle charging stations along major highway routes, as part of a national network of chargers
  • Funds for improvements to drinking water and wastewater systems, including specific funding for addressing PFAS found in drinking water systems
  • Money to purchase Delaware’s first electric school buses
  • Improvements for airports in Georgetown, Cheswold and New Castle

 

In addition, planning is now underway to apply for a number of community development projects. More than 30,000 households are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides free or discounted high-speed internet access for those who qualify. Governor Carney and the Delaware General Assembly also created a grant assistance program through the University of Delaware’s Institute of Public Administration to help towns and cities apply for BIL funding. Most recently, Delaware was awarded the first $5 million in funds for extending broadband internet access to every home in the state as well as expanding digital equipment, skills and training in underserved areas.

 

A description of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects and funding to Delaware so far can be found on Governor Carney’s website at governor.delaware.gov/BIL based on data also found at www.whitehouse.gov/build/maps-of-progress/

 

Related Coverage

Delaware Wins Federal Grant to Support Cleaner School Buses – State of Delaware News

DNREC, DelDOT To Deploy New EV Charging Stations Along State’s Major Travel Routes Via BIL Initiative Funding – State of Delaware News

Governor Carney Announces New Projects, Protecting Transportation Network Part of Infrastructure Funds Focus

Governor Carney Announces Five-Year Effort to Improve Water and Wastewater Systems, Protects Residents


Governor Carney Formally Extends Public Health Emergency

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor Carney on Thursday formally extended the Public Health Emergency order another 30 days to allow the State of Delaware and medical providers to continue COVID-19 vaccination and testing programs.

 

“As we enter the holiday season, it’s important that we keep doing the things we know that work,” said Governor Carney. “Stay home if you’re sick. Get vaccinated and boosted when you’re eligible. And get your flu shot if you haven’t yet.”

 

Under Delaware law, Public Health Emergency declarations must be renewed every 30 days.

 

Visit Governor Carney’s website to view the Public Health Emergency extension.

 

###


Governor Carney Appoints Dennis Greenhouse as Auditor of Accounts

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor Carney on Thursday announced that he will appoint Dennis Greenhouse to serve as Auditor of Accounts for the State of Delaware. Greenhouse will serve in this role until such time as the person duly elected at the upcoming election on November 8th takes office in January 2023.

 

“We’re grateful that Dennis is willing to serve the State of Delaware as the Auditor of Accounts, an office that he previously held,” said Governor Carney. “As Auditor, he will be tasked with completing the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report over the next several months. Because of his experience, I’m confident that Dennis is right person for the job and can hit the ground running.”

 

Greenhouse has previously served as the Auditor of Delaware, elected in 1982. He later served as New Castle County Executive, Assistant Associate Director of the Bureau of State and Local Affairs at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and various positions at the United States Department of Justice including Deputy Director of Community Oriented Policing Service, Deputy Director of the Office of Victims of Crimes, and Director of the Community Capacity Development Office.

 

###


Governor Carney Formally Extends Public Health Emergency

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor Carney on Thursday formally extended the Public Health Emergency order another 30 days to allow the State of Delaware and medical providers to continue COVID-19 vaccination and testing programs.

 

“It’s important that we keep doing the things we know that work,” said Governor Carney. “Stay home if you’re sick and get tested. Get vaccinated and boosted when you’re eligible. I’d also encourage all eligible Delawareans to get a flu shot to prepare for flu season.”

 

Under Delaware law, Public Health Emergency declarations must be renewed every 30 days.

 

Visit Governor Carney’s website to view the Public Health Emergency extension.

 

###